Hallucinogens and Atheism. Experiences?
Some have said hallucinogens such as LSD and Mushrooms are known to cause spiritual feelings. In some Native American traditions as well as varying other religions, this is old news.
I haven’t done acid for just over ten years. When I was in high school, I did LSD close to twenty times. And shrooms, once, about two years ago.
I had a very close relationship with hallucinogens during my mid to late teens. I never did a lot at one particular time but I did it as often as I could. It was cheap. I hear it’s very common for teens suffering from anxiety and depression try/use psychedelics. I wasn’t allowed to see a counselor and a journal was my only other outlet.
Anywho, I’ve heard many stories (mostly online) regarding spirituality and these drugs. I’ve never experienced it in the same way that some other’s have. It didn’t do anything but cement my already forming views. It helped me feel a connection with all living things. A naturalistic love of everything I see, hear, feel, taste, and touch.
What I then referred to deridingly as “the system”, I later realized was a combination of organized religion and conservatism. The system of virtual mind control some would prefer to keep us locked within. Locked within a mock fifties sort of robot-like personality. Locked within a vicious spiral of gender roles and stereotypes. Locked within mistreatment and downright outcasting.
Acid helped me to see the perils of conservatism, though I had already seen it in my own family and on television. It aided my mind to being open to the world around me. It guided me to feel a great appreciation for all things around me, a loose collection of rainbows and dark alleys enabling life to be as meaningful and as adventurous as possible.
I wasn’t an out atheist then but I felt very similarly on almost every single matter. I despised organized religion as soon as I could open my eyes. But psychedelics played a small role. Never did I start believing in god(s) because of these “spiritual” experiences. If one must insist on using the word “spiritual”, then yes I guess we could say my experiences were. But not religious. And not supernatural. Just planet-loving people-caring, the usual hippy-esque bullshit. :P
Anyone hear of or have hallucinogenic experiences regarding religion, spirituality or lack thereof?
