I have read many times that there is evidence of involvement of DMT and other psychedelics in the development of Christianity.

Other than the "sacred mushroom" book about amanitas, I have been unable to find detailed resources about the connections between these things. Do any of you have any good sources/links/reading materials relevant to the topic?

'Evidence' might be a bit of a strong word to use here. 'Wild speculation' might be more appropriate. There may have been sacramental psychoactive use that has been lost of history, but there's really nothing substantial to suggest that Christianity (as it exists today) owes anything to drug use.

Blessings
~ND

Some people have raised their eyebrows suggestively at the apparent construction of the Ark of the Covenant out of Shittim wood, AKA Acacia wood .

But that's Judaism, not Christianity. And anyways, it always seemed to me that Jesus was more of an MDA kind of guy...

Dread, unless you have poured over all of the information available it is premature to say there is no evidence linking the two

Not really relevant to the past at all, but this article discusses Christianity's modern day use of psychedelics, in the context of the Santo Daime and their sacrament of choice, ayahuasca.

http://psychedelicpress....the-ayahuasca-traditions

I don't claim to be an expert on historical theology, but I've done a fair bit of research into the two most believable theories: that the Israelite were eating naturally occurring psychedelic mushrooms while wandering in the desert and that John of Patmos was tripping out when he had the vision that would become the Book of Revelation.

The balance of evidence suggests that both these theories are unlikely, for a few reasons.

I don't know of any psychedelic plants that grow naturally in the Middle East, and there are no other records of psychedelic using cultures in that area around those times. Normally, if psychedelic plants or fungi exist, local peoples will make them into sacraments (the only place I've ever heard of where this is untrue is the Pacific Northwest of the USA). There's no record of use though, from early Christian writings, early Islamic writings, Jewish writings, Roman writings, or Zoroastrian writings, as far as I know.

Blessings
~ND

Check Rick Strassmans new book. DMT and Soul of Prophecy. its more related to the original hebrew bible, but i think you'd find it interesting none the less. Also he talks on you tube in a good amount of detail about the book if you wanna hear a little bit about it before you read

Don't forget about our good friend Peganum harmala. Not only does it grow in the Middle East, but it was used ceremonially by pretty much all Levantine cultures. Who knows what mischief could have occurred when you throw beta carbolines in the mix...

the idea that early xtians used a placebo sacrament (like they do now) is hilllllariouss to me. Not an effective way to start a direct access & non hierarchical mystical cult. i dont think they would leave the recipe written down for anyone to have, tho.

More importantly the messages and symbolism of what they are talking about are spiritual of nature, and of course some psychoactives can open them doors.

http://youtu.be/Zzj8aE1KPPQ





if your obsessed with something, everything becomes a reflection of that something. So let obsession become your answers: Acacia DMT & Rue burning bush, jesus is a mushrooom, everything is a shapeshifting lizard .....

My thoughts are that many mystical revelations pertaining to holy visions are the result of higher levels of endogenous DMT (in other words, they had visions because the DMT in their brain was at higher levels). This is as opposed to taking a chemical such as the burning bush being a cannabis bush that was on fire and Moses got a little intoxicated. There are many societies that have people that hallucinate such as schizophrenics being placed as shamans for a tribal group as they see visions. I think there is a significant link. One compelling bit of information regarding this point for me, is looking at the Art of Louis Wain, a painter who developed schizophrenia, and liked to paint cats. His pictures of cats grew more and more alien (DMT like) as time went on. So I think their may be a link in this, though speculation regarding history is always quite a difficult subject as most religious texts, aside from being a spirit of their times also utilize a great deal of metaphors that are not to be taken so literally.

more than a few books exist on this topic of entheogens & the foundations of religion:

Astrotheology & Shamanism: Christianity's Pagan Roots. A Revolutionary Reinterpretation of the Evidence

The Sacred Mushroom and The Cross

The Apples of Apollo: Pagan and Christian Mysteries of the Eucharist

The Road to Eleusis: Unveiling the Secret of the Mysteries

The Mushroom in Christian Art: The Identity of Jesus in the Development of Christianity

Persephone's Quest: Entheogens and the Origins of Religion

Sacred Knowledge, Psychedelics and Religious Experiences

Read the bible and you will find the answer.

What do you want? Second hand reports or first hand experience?
Forget the Bible, take DMT and you will find the answer.