Recently I had the opportunity to appear on Talk Heathen, from the Atheist Community of Austin’s Atheist Experience Network, and spoke to Jimmy from Texas about an important and often misunderstood paper (Survey of subjective “God encounter experiences”: Comparisons among naturally occurring experiences and those occasioned by the classic psychedelics psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, or DMT) by the late Dr. Roland Griffiths whose work at John’s Hopkins has become synonymous with the modern world of psychedelic psychology. Like many aspects of psychedelics, Griffiths efforts to organize, conceptualize and demystify the power of awe and mystical experiences has led to something of a deification of these medicines and a common misconception about the power of plants. When we dive into the particulars however, it becomes clear that none of the forces at play here have the power to forcibly convert or even particularly convince beyond what we already know and believe. By better understanding psychedelics and related therapies, we can harness these tools without false promises or fear of divine judgment.
To clear up Jimmy’s misconceptions about all this let’s start with what this particular study actually says and what is at best common confusion or at worst wishful thinking. The way the research is portrayed is pretty far from what the paper actually states and certainly is outside of what the data supports. He stated “Atheist volunteers who signed up for a psychedelic induced mystical experience… after they had undergone this experience they were no longer able to identify as atheists… it does specifically say about uh refer to atheists who were converted by this experience.” This is just patently false- the paper addressed here isn’t experimental, it’s a survey. It discusses the self-report of people who had already experienced psychedelics outside of a research context and then asked them about their religious affiliations both before and after their experience. It’s important to realize that the survey population was made up of people who self-identified as having had a “god encounter experience” and are therefore not at all representative of the general public. Effectively this is information exclusively about people who say they experienced god while using psychedelics and then after the fact reported that they used to be atheists (or other belief systems). He further claimed that “neuroscience doesn’t necessarily establish that consciousness is something generated by the brain…. I don’t think that there’s anything in neuroscience that definitively states that consciousness is generated by the brain.” Like I said at the time, I don’t exactly know what to do with the word ‘definitively’ here but will plainly state that there is no meaningful research suggesting that consciousness comes from anywhere other than the body. Please feel free to prove me wrong.
Many people who experience psychedelics DO report mystical experiences, and many researchers even believe that the sense of awe and wonder that comes from encountering something seemingly infinite or much grander than ourselves is central to what makes these therapies so powerful. Whether a sense of connection to all living things or a feeling of profound insignificance in the face of a vast and infinite universe, standing in awe at the world around us can have every bit the mental and emotional impact of our deepest therapy insights. While that may cause some people question or realign their cosmology, my clinical work with psychedelics tell me that these medicines are less of a pen for writing deep truths about the universe and more of a highlighter, for bringing vibrancy and engagement to things we already knew. If you’ve ever witnessed someone on mushrooms proclaiming “I love you man… no, I really love you” you may have some idea of what I mean.
No doubt psychedelic medicines can have an incredible impact on how we see and experience the world- not to put too fine a point on it but THAT’S WHY WE INGEST THEM. Psychopharmacological strategies that show us a new perspective, empower derelict neural pathways or open new doors in our mind can offer us incredible insights into our own psychology or help us to re-experience thoughts and ideas we may not have previously integrated. But for now, until there’s any good reason to believe otherwise, you can rest assured that completing a course of KAP with me or communing with nature in a Brazilian ayahuasca retreat will teach you nothing you don’t already know.
- There’s No Good Evidence That Psychedelics Can Change Your Politics or Religion by Matthew W. Johnson & David D. Yaden for Scientific American
- Psychedelic Drugs and Atheism: Debunking the Myths by Wayne Glausser Religions 2021, 12, 614. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12080614
- Psychedelic Epistemology: William James and the “Noetic Quality” of Mystical Experience by Ron Cole-Turner Religions 2021, 12, 1058. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12121058
