Timeline of Drug-Religion Interplay from Ancient Civilizations
Unleashing the Past, Embracing the Future: A Millennia-Long History of Drugs, Spirituality, and Connection
By Dr. Gary M. Laderman, Goodrich C White Professor of Religion, Emory University
Give Me a Hit of History
Psychedelics are making headlines, with celebrities like Aaron Rodgers, Miley Cyrus, and Mike Tyson praising their mind-bending effects. But many are microdosing or booking shamanic retreats, demonstrating that the interest in these mind-altering substances isn't just limited to the famous. In fact, the recent "psychedelic renaissance" mirrors a centuries-long trend of humans using drugs to seek spiritual enlightenment and connection.
This newfound fondness for psychoactive compounds might seem like a revolution for the future, but let's dive deeper and learn from our past. As a scholar of religion and sacred drugs, I've found that history has a way of repeating itself—especially when it comes to drugs!
Stoned Out of Your Gourd: Drug Use in the Animal Kingdom
It's not just humans experimenting with psychedelics. In the 1989 book "Intoxication," psychopharmacology researcher Ronald Siegel from the University of California, Los Angeles, shed light on the fact that animals will deliberately seek intoxicating substances.
Take, for instance, the reindeer of Siberia or the members of the bird and bee families, who repeatedly encounter substances that are harmful but offer alluring effects. The reindeer, in particular, are famous for their religious-like devotion to the hallucinogenic fly agaric mushroom, exhibiting peculiar behavior such as twitching and strange vocalizations after consuming it.
Siegel postulated that there is a universal drive for intoxication in various species, stating that drugs tap into specific brain activities and connections that are advantageous for behaviors like creativity and performance enhancement.
Our Drugged Ancestors
But the connection between human drug use and spirituality goes far beyond animal instincts. The archaeological record reveals that psychoactive substances have been integral to religious practices for millennia.
One such find took place in a Bronze Age funeral site on the island of Minorca, off the coast of Spain. Researchers analyzed human hair samples preserved in wooden or antler containers and discovered direct evidence of the consumption of nightshade plants, including substances which can stimulate, hallucinate, and induce delirium.
Similarly, research in western China revealed evidence of cannabis cultivation and use dating back around 2,500 years. Although this is not conclusive proof of drug consumption, some propose that ceremonies for the dead may have incorporated music and hallucinogenic smoke to induce altered states.
Why get High in the Past?
There are many theories about why humans consumed drugs in the past. Perhaps they used psychedelics to escape everyday life, heal wounds (physical and emotional), or simply feel good. However, it's essential to remember that our ancient ancestors weren't living in modern societies. Instead, they likely consumed drugs for religious sensibilities, social bonding, and group identity.
In a study of the funeral site in the western Mediterranean, the researchers concluded that the powerful alkaloids found indicated the involvement of an expert—likely a shaman—in their production and consumption. The term "shaman" refers to religious leaders, healers, and spirit communicators prevalent in ancient societies.
High Times Now
Drugs are everywhere in modern American society, whether we think about them as drugs or not. From morning coffee to evening wine, prescription pills, bongs, e-cigarettes, or psychedelically-assisted therapy sessions—people indulge in substances that alter consciousness daily.
So, what can our past teach us about this contemporary landscape? Perhaps the desires to consume mind-altering substances and enter altered states is an inherent aspect of the human experience, much like our ancestors. In both the past and the present, humans have sought to understand reality, their place in it, and the mysteries of the universe, often turning to drugs to aid in these spiritual pursuits.
Here and now, these spiritual uses of psychedelics have transformed into clinical science, focusing on specific disorders like addiction and PTSD. But even today, the deeper connections between drugs and religious life have proven difficult to ignore.
Originally published by The Conversation, 07.14.2023, under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution/No derivatives license.
New Insights:
- While the current use of psychedelics is often associated with clinical Science, it has deep roots in spirituality and religious practices throughout history.
- hallucinogenic mushrooms like the fly agaric have been consumed by reindeer for centuries, reflecting a religious-like devotion to the substance.
- Evidence from a funeral site on the island of Minorca revealed consumption of psychoactive compounds produced by nightshade plants, which may have been used in religious rituals.
- The healing potential of psychedelics, along with their abilities to facilitate personal growth and spiritual experiences, is a key focus of the renaissance.
- The historical use of psychedelics paved the way for modern scientific studies into their therapeutic potential, particularly in treating mental health disorders.
- Ancient societies, such as Native American and South American cultures, integrated psychedelics like peyote and psilocybin mushrooms into spiritual practices.
- The cultural acceptance of altered states of consciousness has been documented in folklore and storytelling, especially in Japan and South America.
- Researchers have found archaeological evidence of cannabis cultivation and use dating back around 2,500 years, which may have been part of rituals for the dead.
- The lead author of a study on the funeral site in the western Mediterranean discussed the role of a shaman in the production and consumption of the substances.
- The ideology of "shaman" encompasses religious leaders, healers, and spirit communicators, which were crucial roles in various ancient societies.
- Through history and modern times, humans have used psychoactive substances for both spiritual enlightenment and mental health treatments, as seen in the recurring utilization of psychedelics for this purpose.
- Ancient practices like the reindeer's religious devotion to the fly agaric mushroom or the consumption of nightshade plants in religious rituals represent examples of this enduring connection between drugs and spirituality across civilizations.
