Psychedelic Integration and Spiritual Growth in a Christian Context

Psychedelic drugs show promise for treating mental health conditions by disrupting prior patterns and increasing neurogenesis and neuroplasticity. The social context during and after psychedelic experiences causally impacts outcomes. Modern cultural contexts may thwart spiritual integration, but local support groups help, especially for those reflecting on spiritual or religious themes. Christian communities can provide both a local social context and a set of theological beliefs that support spiritual growth and psychedelic spiritual integration.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Psychedelic drugs show promise in treating a wide range of mental health conditions. These drugs are beneficial in part because they disrupt prior ideas and patterns of behavior and because they increase neurogenesis and neuroplasticity. It is important therefore to consider the causal impact of the social context not just during but also following psychedelic experiences. Modern cultural or social contexts might thwart or discourage spiritual integration, but local integration support groups are shown to be helpful, especially for those seeking to reflect the meaning of spiritual or religious themes. These groups might be offered within Christianity, which can provide (1) a connection to a community or a social context at the local level together with (2) a set of theological beliefs as an interpretive context that supports spiritual growth in general and psychedelic spiritual integration in particular.