I dont think there is anything wrong with consuming "recreational" drugs as far as they go, and as long as your smart about it. Because what really is so wrong with them? They don't seem inherently sinful to me, only illegal. And, whether you like it or not, clearly God created our bodies to react a certain way when certain chemicals like psychedelics or opiates enter and interact with them. According to what I've been told, everything "bad" entered the world when sin entered the world. And according to various people that I've talked to about this subject of psychedelics, most people have said that the effects came about due to the original sin, and that they are adverse effects to the body and mind. However the most intriguing answer I have gotten so far is that these 'tripping' effects have been around since the beginning, and whats happening while tripping is simply you (somehow) being exposed, maybe only partly, to the spiritual side of this reality (nobody can describe the experience of being on LSD, or shrooms, perhaps this is why?) All we know is this physical reality. We know very little of the spiritual world and how it operates, but the bible makes it very clear that such a thing does exist. Anyways... I see nothing wrong with psychedelics. But it would seem odd to me though for God to put the "answer" in a chemical found in a fungus...
but isn't that divine? if not, what was a more suitable place for him to put the "answer" in. why is something any better than a shroom?
I never said that you are a bad person if you do, or that it cannot be a gateway to God or anything, I just personally do not see the benefit of it.
Have you taken LSD? It's impossible to make a fair judgement about something like it without trying it first. (If you haven't, and you did, it is safe to say that you would feel differently about your spirituality, for better or worse.)
I also never said that it could be a gateway to god either. The reason I do not think that it is of any use spiritually is because I don't think God would make it that easy. Also, if LSD was a tool to find God, why would so many people have bad trips?
Eating LSD is easy, but just taking cid isn't going to automatically impart great truths or make you wise. It's all about realization. The trip is a journey, and you can either come out of it with nothing or come out of it with something. Bad trips happen by not relaxing and letting go. When you refuse to accept the truth and transcend yourself, it can be pretty scary. Some people are stubborn. Also, anxiety, fear, and anything negative can lead to it.
Who ever said it was easy? Again, without personal experience Burb your just going to run in circles with your opinion here. If you had tried magic mushrooms you would see that it in fact much harder to deal with what you learn because of just how much can be revealed to you. Experiencing God directly leaves one with many more questions than answers, and were not saying that psychedelic drugs are the be all end all tools. The only question they DO answer in a way that many people have yet to experience, is that there is a God. Other than that your on your own, and I would never call it easy to sort through that kind of mental baggage. Like I said in my above post, what method of coming closer to God does not have a bad reaction? Im not trying to be a jerk Burbs you know I love ya, but please name one, by all means.
I've only done LSD once (2 hits), and it was very fun, extremely interesting, and incredibly insightful as to the power of our mind. The things I saw and felt were beyond description. However, I would not consider it to be "enlightening". In all honesty, your just high. A chemical changing the way your brain works. I know I could be wrong, but I just think LSD, and other psychedelics might just be something God designed to reveal the power of the mind and the beauty of creation.
I think my over-arching point is that, in similar vein to Talby's post, an LSD trip is what you make it. If you take it and expect to have some sort of mind-expanding experience, then you probably will. If you are caught of guard, you will probably freak out. I als do not think I need to try LSD before forming an opinion on it. Based on what I've read and based on my own ethics I do not want to do it. If you feel the need to, I am not going to stop you. Do you have to get punched in the junk before you form the opinion that you don't want it to happen to you?
Well no of course not, but then again you dont have hundreds of millions of people throughout history, and from many diverse cultures, claiming that getting punched in the junk will show you the light. Stars, maybe, but nothing important And like you, I would never suggest anyone try psychedelics unless they were already interested. It will not ever be of more value than a sober approach to God, it's just an approach that works for some and disturbs others. But I just dont like when people say that it's not authentic spiritual experience because it's a chemical reaction, that's why I came off as such a jerk Burbs, and I apologize for it
I really don't know but I do know that marijuana is used in Christian Mysticism for meditation. I do know a few mystic friends of mine that use shrooms for meditation and insight as well.
I agree. Just because it's a chemical reaction doesnt mean its not, or cannot be, a spiritual experience. God created chemicals, He likes them.
So let me re-phrase my originial question about psychedelics - or actually, let me just ask a new question: Is it to sinful to consume psychedelic drugs for mere recreation? I think the answer is no, it is not sinful. But it becomes problematic because of its illegality, and it is more or less socially unnaceptable. This causes you to have to hide it, which is no doubt decietful. I dunno though...what do you guys think?
Well since this IS a Christian forum, Im going to have to put on my Christian thinking cap But Im going to have to say yes, if your doing something for mere pleasure or like you say recreation, ALONE, with absolutley no intention of doing anything BUT gratifying your senses, then it becomes absolutley destructive. Now I of course dont believe in such things as black and white as sin, but I do believe in a pre-programmed karma, and that being said, I do think your tying yourself to future hardship by such an action.
When then is it condonable to use psychedelics? If you go in your backyard with a pipe and some weed and start smoking with the intention to go back inside and pray or meditate or whatever, is it okay then? Or if you light up and get high and then go write some music becuase it helps the creative flow, is that sinful? I see what you mean, its pretty selfish to do it for mere pleasure. I'm just confused as to when psychedelics are appropriate.
