Psychedelic Churches Need Philosophy of Religion

New psychedelic religious organizations in the United States operate in a legal gray area and require philosophically well-developed doctrines to gain legal permission to use psychedelics. Philosophers of religion can assist in developing these doctrines. From a philosophical perspective, six criteria are derived that such doctrines should satisfy. A modernized Platonism is shown as an illustration that meets these criteria. Just as bioethicists aid medical practice, philosophers of religion can support the legal proceedings of psychedelic churches.

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Abstract

Many new psychedelic religious organizations have recently emerged in the United States. These psychedelic churches operate in a legal gray area, which provides job opportunities not just for lawyers but also for philosophers of religion. To gain legal permission to use psychedelics, these churches need philosophically well-developed doctrines. Philosophers of religion can help develop these psychedelic doctrines. Looking at the law from a philosophical perspective, I derive six criteria which these psychedelic doctrines should satisfy. As an illustration, I show how a modernized Platonism can satisfy these criteria. Just as bioethicists can help in the practice of medicine, so philosophers of religion can help with the legal proceedings of new psychedelic churches.