Back in the 60’s, when psychedelic, hallucinogenic drugs where relatively “new” to the average American (i.e. their EVIL hadn’t been recognized yet), they were used in several academic experiments studying the brain’s activity during reports of spiritual experiences. Since drugs like LSD and “magic” mushrooms (the active drug in which is psilocybin) were made illegal, these studies were for the most part discontinued by legitimate scientists and the thought of anyone conducting such a study gradually became associated with crackpots like Timothy Leary.

Of the 36 volunteers of the Johns Hopkins study, 22 reported having a complete mystical experience that they couldn’t put into words (compared with just 4 of the control-group, who took Ritalin under the same conditions). Of the 24 volunteers who responded to a survey given two months later, two-thirds referred to the experience of taking psilocybin as one of the top-five most meaningful experiences of their lives, and 80% reported a lasting sense of well-being.

The biggest positive of this study is that it opens the door for more of its kind, the existence of which will perhaps gradually reduce the stigmatization of hallucinogenic drugs. Many of these drugs are used in Native American religious ceremonies in order to heighten spiritual experiences.

The most important aspect of the study is its scientific credibility, the best testimony to which is perhaps the independently-made commentary of Dr. Charles Schuster of Wayne State University. The psychiatrist and behavioural neuroscientist is of the opinion that “this is one of the most rigorously well-controlled studies ever done” regarding the relationship between a hallucinogen and reported spiritual experience.

See the full story here.

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