Psychedelics, the Bible, and the Divine

The current psychedelic renaissance presents two intersections with Christian practice: Christians in psychedelic-assisted therapy may need help integrating mystical experiences into their religious lives, and others may explore psychedelics spiritually outside medical contexts. This essay argues the Bible provides rich material for such integration because it contains accounts of mystical experiences involving altered states of consciousness. It summarizes the psychedelic renaissance's relevance to Christian spiritual formation, reviews biblical scholarship on embodied religious experiences, examines the Apostle Paul's mystical encounter in 2 Corinthians 12:1–10 as an example, and suggests directions for further research.

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Abstract

The current psychedelic renaissance intersects with Christian practices in two key ways. First, as psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) becomes more common, Christians undergoing therapeutic medical treatment may seek outside support for integrating into their religious lives mystical experiences that occur during psychedelic sessions. Second, with increasing legal access to psychedelics, more Christians may explore their spiritual potential outside of a medical context, either individually with spiritual guides or collectively in organized retreats. Many will have mystical encounters related to the Divine. Whether the experience involves the overwhelming presence or absence of the Divine, these Christians, too, will seek integration support. This essay argues that the Bible can serve as a rich source for such integration, because it contains significant material about mystical experiences marked by altered states of consciousness. First, I summarize the importance of the psychedelic renaissance, especially the scientific studies being conducted, as it relates to Christian practices of spiritual formation. Second, I explore new work being conducted by biblical scholars regarding embodied religious experiences with the Divine (and others), including mystical experiences. Third, I consider the Apostle Paul’s embodied mystical experience, with special attention to 2 Corinthians 12:1–10, as one example of biblical material that might intersect with or inform psychedelic mystical encounters that contemporary Christians might experience (whether in a medical therapeutic or non-medical spiritual formation setting). Finally, I indicate directions for further research and discussion.