psychedelics

[Christos Anesti]

I think sometimes they just help us to hit rock bottom so that we finally open our eyes.

I think you make a good point here. When I first started experimenting with drugs I did so to have "spiritual" experiences and try to break through to some higher reality. Any substance I could get my hands on I would try even the more addictive and dangerous . I had some experiences that seemed very profound at the time but they never had any sort of lasting positive effect on my life nor did they make me any more "spiritual" of a person. In fact when they were over even the most seemingly profound experiences seemed rather trivial. I think I learned the most from the bad trips (they would always cause me to think "what the heck am I doing with my life!") It did bring me to rock bottom though and that did force me re-evaluate my life.

When people try to say that drugs are a shortcut in the spiritual path they simply do not know what they are talking about. They might be "fun" (for a time), they might make you have some sort of thought provoking experience, but they wont make you a Saint or a better person. If you notice it's usually the people who are new to drugs or do them only infrequently who make the claim that they are "entheogens" or "pathways to the divine" or whatnot . People who have used a lot of drugs generally know better.

 

[hownow]

actually, people who refer to drugs as "entheogens" tend to be those involved in the occult and using drugs for occult purposes. they tend to be quite heavy users as well, not newbies or dabblers. the real difference comes in with what drugs get used and why, not the length of time someone has used or the frequency or intensity of the drugs they choose.

 

[Christos Anesti]

actually, people who refer to drugs as "entheogens" tend to be those involved in the occult and using drugs for occult purposesPossibly

I started out that way but the longer I used the less seriously I took the claims about it making you more spiritual. It eventually became all about nihilistic self indulgence and ignoring the pain of reality. I'm sure other people are differnt though and many might hold onto the optimistic "it's going to make you spiritual and enlightend" view longer.

 

[Mayflower1]

Jesus is the real stuff! I tell you, get high on Him, and you will become a Jesus Junkie! He is so wonderful!

 

[TheMainException]

actually, people who refer to drugs as "entheogens" tend to be those involved in the occult and using drugs for occult purposes. they tend to be quite heavy users as well, not newbies or dabblers. the real difference comes in with what drugs get used and why, not the length of time someone has used or the frequency or intensity of the drugs they choose.

Well, not exactly. Certain substances are considered ethnogens because of the fact that they are still coming straight from the plant and for various other reasons. Those who use ACTUAL ethnogens are infrequently using them for occult purposes (myself included). I currently do not use drugs, chemicals, ethnogens, or other kinds of substances.

But you are right, the drug being used and why it is being used are extremely important questions...altho frequency and dosage also become important if they are becoming detrimental.

I've learned that substances, altho to some they may not be harmful really, they so often turn damaging. So many people who do pot graduate from that life and move onto what people call a "normal" life...living the life of working, buying a house, having a family, etc...and don't smoke it anymore. I don't know if it set them back spiritually or not. Maybe some people find it spiritual. Maybe substances such as ethnogens or the base plant, like the coca plant were originally okay to use but then we turned it into a hard drug, pure powdered cocaine...something that's too much of a rush...or we just started using it for fun. Whatever, we've gotten too far from the original truth of the plant so we should probably back away and focus on Jesus...cuz in the end, that's all that matters...not gaining spiritual experiences from hallucinogens, which can lead us to any spiritual path it chooses...whether we see Jesus or Satan is not for us to decide.

 

[hownow]

You might have misunderstood or mistaken the word "entheogen" for the word "ethnogen". Two different words. In fact, I'm not sure there's any such word as "ethnogen".

 

[TheMainException]

You might have misunderstood or mistaken the word "entheogen" for the word "ethnogen". Two different words. In fact, I'm not sure there's any such word as "ethnogen".

Actually....you are quite right. What I meant to say at the time was "ethnobotanicals" and somehow got quite off the correct track...must have been off that day or tired when I wrote that. Not quite sure HOW I got there...but I did.

Kinda makes most of what I said void...never mind most of that then, eh?