Beyond Description: A Critical Analysis of the Theological Construction of Entheogenic Discourses

The term “entheogen” is often treated as a neutral label for certain psychoactive drugs, but this article argues it functions as a theological construct. Entheogenic claims about historical use, spiritual meaning, and transformative power are presented as descriptive when they are actually normative. The article examines how the term was created, how advocates portray entheogens as exceptional, how shamanism is used for legitimacy, and the eschatological hopes for social and religious renewal. Instead of judging these claims or proposing a new term, the article interrogates the theological interests and rhetorical strategies involved, suggesting a more reflexive and contextual approach is needed.

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Abstract

This article provides a critical analysis of the term “entheogen” as a name for certain psychoactive drugs, arguing that it functions more as a theological construct than a neutral designation. The article analyzes how entheogenic discourses present claims about the historicity of their use, their supposed spiritual or religious meaning, and their ultimate significance for individual and social transformation as descriptive, when they are, in fact, normative. Particular attention is given to the creation of the term “entheogen” as an alternative to other designations, how advocates understand the alleged exceptional nature of entheogens and what they do, appeals to shamanism as a legitimating discourse, and the eschatological hopes invested in these substances as agents of social, cultural, and religious renewal. Rather than adjudicating the truth of these claims or creating an alternative designation, the article interrogates the theological interests and commitments at work, and the rhetorical strategies that sustain them. In doing so, the article argues that entheogenic discourses often blur the boundaries between description and prescription, or advocacy. The article suggests the need for a more reflexive, contextual approach to how we understand the use of these substances.