BY ITS FRUITS? MYSTICAL AND VISIONARY STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS OCCASIONED BY ENTHEOGENS
Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science September 2, 2014 Leonard Hummel 10 citations
Clinical trials on entheogens, notably at Johns Hopkins University and sponsored by the Council for Spiritual Practices, are reshaping psychological studies of religion. The author argues that this research aligns with William James's pragmatic approach in the psychology of religion, which evaluates religious practices by their practical benefits. Concerns that entheogen-induced religious experiences threaten the integrity of religious communities are largely unfounded. However, the research poses risks of colonizing religious life and commodifying its practices, as well as significant individual harm from entheogen use, warranting ethical scrutiny.