Christianity and Mushrooms

[Stewbert]

"In a book called The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross, the Biblical scholar John Allegro broadens these speculations even further by the use of etymological arguments to propose that Christianity originated as a hoax in which the rabbi Jesus was invested with the powers and names of the fly agaric, the true body of Christ. In effect, according the Allegro, Christianity was the exoteric disguise of a secret mushroom cult whose original content was eventually forgotten. His arguments are not considered plausible by either religious or secular Biblical scholars, but we mention them here for their interest and boldness."

(Grinspoon & Bakalar, Psychedelic Drugs Reconsidered, pages 40-41)

From the book The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross:

"For the way to God and the fleeting view of heaven was through plants more plentifully endued with the sperm of God than any other. These were the drug-herbs, the science of whose cultivation and use had been accumulated over centuries of observation and dangerous experiment. ... "

"The means of conveying the information were at hand, and had been for thousands of years. The folk-tales of the ancients had from the earliest times contained myths based upon the personification of plants and trees. They were invested with human faculties and qualities and their names and physical characteristics were applied to the heros and heroines of the stories. ... Here, then was the literary device to spread occult knowledge to the faithful. To tell the story of a rabbi called Jesus, and invest him with the power and names of the magic drug. To have him live before the terrible events that had disrupted their lives, to preach a love between men, extending even to the hated Romans. Thus, reading such a tale, should it fall into Roman hands, even their mortal enemies might be deceived and not probe further into the activities of the cells of the mystery cults with their territories."

Any thoughts?

[PatrickHenry]

Hmm. Hallucinogenic substances (especially psilocybe fungi) have brought ecstatic experiences to many for milennia. Now there's synthetics like LSD-25 and MDMA.

They are akin to looking into a room full of wondrous items through the window from a gray industrial neighborhood. When you walk away, you lose the view.:eek:

Encountering Christ and walking with His Spirit is like living in that room.

[Nathan Struth]

lol druggies.

[another day]

Quote by: Nathan Struth lol druggies.

Inciteful. :rolleyes:

Typical high school kid's response.

[Mr. Blue Sky]

What is referred to as the mystical experience is practically indistinguishable from a revealing, meaningful psychedelic experience.

Granted, some people take these drugs for the pretty colors and wiggles, but about a quarter (I think? give or take) of people who take hallucinogens get smacked in the face with a religious/philosophical awakening - in fact it's been postulated that alot of bad trips, freakouts, and the like can be attributed to huge revelations that the user just isn't ready to see.

And with regards to jesus tripping on shrooms, I mean, just look at the guy - white robe, long hair, preaching peace and love... Total hippie

[Jack]

If Jesus took 'shrooms, would he see...people?

Many culture's mystical beliefs came about from early experimenters with natural hallucinogens.

[Yusuf]

Greetings all

A thousand miracles will not suffice unless the Prophet at hand has been carefully prophecied in ancient scripture, awaited to arrive, such as in the cas eof Christ. Such prophecies were not "open to interpretation" as your typical skeptic would claim.

Jesus is said to have been literally elevated unto the Lord (after his crucifixion in Christian tradition, or the false crucifixion in Muslim tradition). Can a mushroom really be responsible for such an event?

Regards,

Yusuf

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Quote by: Yusuf Jesus is said to have been literally elevated unto the Lord (after his crucifixion in Christian tradition, or the false crucifixion in Muslim tradition). Can a mushroom really be responsible for such an event?

I think it can. I have been elevated unto the divine many, many times, with revelations very concordant with the teachings of Jesus and most other religions.

[JohnMK]

Quote by: another day Inciteful. :rolleyes: Typical high school kid's response.

. . . processing . . . processing . . . ah, yes. Humor.

[Yusuf]

Quote by: Mr. Blue Sky I think it can. I have been elevated unto the divine many, many times, with revelations very concordant with the teachings of Jesus and most other religions.

Keyword literally.

[Jack]

Jesus is said to have been literally elevated unto the Lord (after his crucifixion in Christian tradition, or the false crucifixion in Muslim tradition). Can a mushroom really be responsible for such an event?

Among those who later claimed to have witnessed this? Certainly.

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Quote by: Yusuf Keyword literally.

The key word may be "literally", but the key implication here is "Western." To be literally elevated in the sense of Western religions is to be elevated both mentally and physically to a heaven that is separate from earth, transcendent - just as the Western God is. To be literally elevated in an Eastern religious sense is to remain where you are physically but reach a mental plane that is higher, as the closest Eastern equivalent of heaven is the true unseen reality coexisting with our own, which lies just beyond our senses. In this way the elevation is equally as literal, but you are not literally moved physically to another place.