Religion & Spirituality - 2 August 2006

2006-08-02 17:17:47 · 17 answers · asked by Coffee-Infused Insomniac 2

Now what do you think?
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Mushrooms From Heaven
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There are a great many people who would never consider the use of visionary plants to be a spiritual experience. These people believe that spiritual experiences must come directly from God and that the use of visionary plants goes against the teachings of the Bible. Contrary to this notion, the Bible never explicitly prohibits the use of visionary plants or potions. What you will find however, is many curious references to a spiritual food sent down from heaven by God, called manna.

The Bible never tells us exactly what manna was and where it came from, but there are many Old Testament passages which describe its physical qualities and conditions associated with its appearance. The Bible's first reference to manna is in the Book of Exodus as the children of Israel are fleeing from Egypt and following Moses into the wilderness. After six weeks of wandering, they began complaining to Moses that they are tired and hungry. What happens next is truly extraordinary:

Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will vain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law or no (16:4). And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground (16: 14). And when the children of Israel saw if, they said one to another It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat.

When I read this passage, I was struck by the fact that manna easily fits the description of psilocybe mushrooms. For one thing magic mushrooms are small and round, and since they sprout so rapidly they would seem to appear overnight, as if out of the sky. Also, anyone harvesting them would immediately notice that they turn blue where torn and had no roots, giving more reason to believe that the mushrooms were of celestial origin. Note that manna does not just fall from heaven, but instead it is described as coming with the frost and dew, during the wet seasons. These are the precise weather conditions for mushrooms to thrive. And finally, manna is described as a bread.

Although translations have obscured the intent of this passage, it seems to be a description of how to find and identify manna and distinguish it from other non- psychoactive (or possibly lethal) mushrooms. Look for the small round things which are like bread, come with the rain, and seem to have heavenly (bluish) coloring. Psilocybe mushrooms also sprout in tiny pin heads which branch out in all directions and bear a resemblance to hear frost.

It is also interesting to note that Moses tells the children of Israel that manna comes directly from Heaven to test them on whether or not they will walk in God's law. Here is evidence that manna was endowed with unusual spiritual powers, like those of magic mushrooms. However, manna does not automatically confer spiritual power. Instead, it serves as a test. Magic mushrooms would provide visionary experiences that would certainly test all who ingested them. Moses also said that the manna is literally the "bread of the lord" which is remarkably similar to the literal Aztec name for psilocybe mushrooms, "flesh of the gods."

But how and why did the manna suddenly appear? Again referring to the Bible, it is clear that the children of Israel had journeyed to a land where there was dew in the morning. As a large, nomadic tribe, the Israelites brought a lot of cattle and sheep together in the area. That meant a great deal of manure. The change of climate from the arid lands of Egypt to the dewy climate of the wilderness created ideal conditions for the propagation and spread of psilocybe mushrooms in livestock dung.

In Exodus 12: 19-20, we find more references to manna.

And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning (16:19). Notwithstanding they harkened not unto Moses. but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms and stank: and Moses was wroth with them(16.20). And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating. and when the sun waxed hot it melted...(16:21).

Anyone familiar with wild mushrooms knows that they go bad very quickly and shrivel up under the heat of the sun, exactly like manna.

It seems curious that Moses recognized the manna instantly when the children of Israel showed it to him. He knew that the manna would spoil if it was not picked and eaten in the morning. But how did Moses know about manna? Perhaps Moses knew about manna because he had already encountered the mushroom at the time he saw the burning bush. Referring to art earlier period of his life, we find that Moses:

...kept a flock of Jethro, his father in-law the priest of Midiam: and he led the flock to the back side of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb (3:1). And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed (3:2).

Had Moses eaten the sacred mushroom while camped at the mountain? Here again we can only speculate that manure from his flock and a change in climate had created the proper environment for the mushrooms to fruit. Perhaps Moses ingested the mush- rooms purely by accident, or perhaps his father in law, who we know was also a priest, had introduced Moses to the mushroom. Archaeological evidence of psychedelic mushroom use in Biblical times is well documented by Terence McKenna, so it is reasonable to conclude that Moses could have had some experience with visionary mushrooms. (1)

Later, in Numbers 11:6-9, manna is again described in terms that are remarkably similar to magic mushrooms:

But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes. And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdelliaum. And the people went about and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar and baked it in pans: and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil. And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.

Here we find manna described as before our eyes, having a neutral taste like fresh oil, and once again, the Bible mentions that manna appearing in the morning when the dew fell. The Old Testament even tells us what manna looks like, the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof. When psilocybe mushrooms are dried, their range of colors is virtually identical to dried coriander seed. In both cases, with mushrooms and coriander seeds, we see great similarities in the texture, color, tones, contrasts and general visual appearance. The Children of Israel must have given great thought about how to transmit the appearance of manna so as to aid future generations who might encounter it. However, mushrooms were a mystery to the Hebrews and they were unable to predict where manna could be found. Little did they realize that the manure from their cattle was providing a means for the mushroom to find its way into their mountain campsites.

Notice that the manna was ground in mills or beat it in a mortar. That is odd because earlier we are told that manna was quite delicate and, then the sun wax hot, it melted. However, if manna was the psilocybe mush- room, then it was probably dried and then ground in order to be used for baking. In fact, dried magic mushrooms are quite hard. Grinding or crushing the dried mushroom and then baking with the powder would insure that the delicate psychoactive molecules retained their highest potency.

In the next passage, the Bible describes manna as having light tan color and texture like a wafer, certainly an accurate description of the color and texture of a dried psilocybe mushroom. We also learn that the taste of manna is no longer that of fresh oil but rather that of honey. According to McKenna's re- search', honey has long been used in Mexico as a preserve medium for psilocybin containing mushrooms. Perhaps the children of Israel had begun to mix honey with the manna to preserve its potency. We find that Moses announced that manna must be kept for future generations:

And the house of Israel called the name there of manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey(l6: 31). And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commandeth. Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations: that they may see the bread where with I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt (16: 32).

Again we are told to fill an omer with manna But how much is a omer? Isaac Asimov, in his book on the Bible, concludes that an omer is about four liters, while the King James version of the Bible estimates an omer to be six pints. Psilocybe mushrooms are 92% water and only 8% remains when they are dried. Also, fresh mushroom take up a lot of space, due to their shape. So four liters of fresh magic mushrooms would yield less than a tenth of a liter, or about 1/4 cup of dried, powdered manna This corresponds closely with the amount of magic mushrooms required for a moderately strong dose when used for baking This is important because it clearly shows that not only does manna have similar qualities to magic mushrooms, it also shows that it was also used in the same quantity as mushrooms. So manna matches psilocybe mushroom on both a qualitative and quantitative analysis providing a compelling argument that psilocybe mushrooms are in actuality "manna from Heaven."

Of course there are those who will remain eternally skeptical, but keep in mind that the description of manna given in the old testament bears an exact resemblance to mushrooms. Even if psilocybe mushrooms are not manna the similarities have indicated mushrooms as a possible candidate, and they certainly fit the bill for a "spiritual food'. Unfortunately, when the Children of Israel finally reach the arid land of Canaan, the mysterious manna no longer appeared.

And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land: neither had the children of Israel manna any more.

The children of Israel must have been deeply disappointed when they ran out of their sacred manna. We can see that they went to great lengths to preserve their knowledge about identifying and using manna The Old Testament contains detailed information about the color, texture, appearance, and relation- ship to dew, and the Old Testament even explains how manna is to be ground and then used in baking cakes. If the Israelites thought that manna was a magical event caused by God would they have bothered to note all the details about the identification of manna? What about the manna that Moses said must be put away for future generations? Turning to Hebrews 9:3&4 we find:

And after the second vail, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all: Which had the golden censer and the Ark of the Covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna...

Here we learn that manna was to be kept in the Holiest of all, the Ark of the Covenant. Clearly, the manna was something of great spiritual power since the Hebrews treated it with such reverence and even went to such great lengths to see that manna be given to future generations. We must also consider the covenant that the Jewish people held with God which was celebrated through the act of circumcision. Why was this covenant with God associated with the removal of foreskin from infant males. Why not a tattoo, scar, article of clothing or jewelry? Perhaps the answer is that the circumcised penis bears a remarkable resemblance to psilocybe mushroom just be- fore the partial veil has broken away from the mushroom caps and they are at their greatest potency. If the Ark of the Covenant was specifically built to store manna it is logical was also tied to manna through the ritual act of circumcision, which gave each Jewish male his own mushroom-like penis.

The discovery that manna was (and is) psilocybe mushrooms is not simply an issue of theological or academic debate. So great was the power conferred by manna, that this small band of wandering slaves were able to defeat all enemies who crossed their path even when confronted by armies that were bigger and better equipped. Jews, Christians and Moslems can all trace their roots to the children of Israel who ate manna for forty years and saw themselves as God's chosen people. Again, we are reminded of McKenna"s thesis that those who ate psilocybe mushrooms had a survival advantage due to better visual acuity, heightened senses, better hunting skills, and for the children of Israel, better warrior skills. Manna gave the Hebrews their own covenant with God one that is even recognized today by Christians who believe that the Jews have already earned a special place as the Chosen People. Bible scholar Grant R Jeffrey explains:

"The covenant which God made with Abraham and the kingdom promises to David, Solomon and all the prophets will be finally realized in the Mellennial Kingdom... the Lord promised a new covenant with Ismel in which He would give them a new heart, forgiveness of sin, and the infilling of the Spirit to the renewed nation. This promised kingdom will provide the fulfillment of all the hopes and dreams of the Chosen People forever"'

What is the new covenant? It is the rediscovery of manna. Across the gulf of thousands of years the Bible transmits and accurate and detailed description of manna waiting for the time when the message can be decoded and manna can again fulfill its role as acelestial messenger. Manna was the basis of the Jewish covenant with God. Indeed, it is this covenant and the use of manna which has set the Jews apart as the Chosen People. The Bible is not the message, it only points the way. Manna is the holy sacrament that provides the means for God to "prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no."

If manna is indeed the psilocybin mushroom, then this means that the Koran, Bible, and Torah were all inspired by psychedelically induced visions. The very foundations upon which these religions rest were derived from the mushroom experience. Moses and the children of Israel used the mushrooms as true sacraments to communicate with a Higher Power, also known as Allah, God and Yahweh. The discovery that manna is real and is available to us today means that like children of Israel we too can use manna to experience the joy, wisdom and spiritual renewal of the Chosen People.

2006-08-02 17:14:08 · 32 answers · asked by g-day mate 5

Give a shout out in Jesus' name my sisters!!!!

Love in Christ,
Sabrina

2006-08-02 17:13:19 · 20 answers · asked by SS 3

if the 'we' and 'our' in genisis are the trinity and the samething, who was jesus talking to when jesus said 'forgive them,they no not what do.' also,' father why have you abandoned me.'

2006-08-02 17:13:13 · 7 answers · asked by Mickey S 1

Ok, so could it be that the reason why I am still alone, and feeling so unhappy with my life, and the reason why I feel like everything sucks....is b/c Im not doing what God wants. Its kind of hard to explain. I dont know what it is, but for some reason, its like hard for me to pray. I'll start to, but I seriously feel like there is something not letting me actually believe in it , rather than just say the words!! ya know. So, what do you think...is the reason why Im really so unhappy, is b/c God is unhappy with me!!? Im just really confused....how do I get back to praying, and trying to what God wants. What is blocking me!?

HELP!!

2006-08-02 17:13:04 · 31 answers · asked by Anonymous

God made everybody special and unique, but some non-believers who don't believe in Jesus, God, or both, just decide to live out their lives in a REALLY sad/bad way... I'm just really sad because that's happening in our world right now. Everyone should try to make a difference and change their bad ways. I wish the world was a happier place sometimes and when I think about this... I just wished that there was no such thing.

2006-08-02 17:12:29 · 24 answers · asked by Summer 1

Does anyone really know or understand?

2006-08-02 17:12:07 · 31 answers · asked by agent_starfire 5

WE HAVE FEELINGS 2

2006-08-02 17:10:44 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-08-02 17:08:58 · 5 answers · asked by Rich G 1

There are many misconceptions on the identity of the Holy Spirit. Some view the Holy Spirit as a mystical force. Others understand the Holy Spirit as the impersonal power God makes available to followers of Christ. What does the Bible say about the identity of the Holy Spirit? Simply put - the Bible says that the Holy Spirit is God. The Bible also tells us that the Holy Spirit is a Person, a Being with a mind, emotions, and a will.



The fact that the Holy Spirit is God is clearly seen in many Scriptures including Acts 5:3-4. In this verse Peter confronts Ananias as to why he had lied to the Holy Spirit and tells him that he had “not lied to men but to God.” It is a clear declaration that lying to the Holy Spirit is lying to God. We can also know that the Holy Spirit is God because He possesses the attributes or characteristics of God. For example, the fact that the Holy Spirit is omnipresent is seen in Psalm 139:7-8, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.” Then in 1 Corinthians 2:10, we see the characteristic of omniscience in the Holy Spirit. “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.”



We can know that the Holy Spirit is indeed a Person because He possesses a mind, emotions, and a will. The Holy Spirit thinks and knows (1 Corinthians 2:10). The Holy Spirit can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30). The Spirit intercedes for us (Romans 8:26-27). The Holy Spirit makes decisions according to His will (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). The Holy Spirit is God, the third “Person” of the Trinity. As God, the Holy Spirit can truly function as the Comforter and Counselor that Jesus promised He would be (John 14:16,26; 15:26).

2006-08-02 17:08:18 · 7 answers · asked by ereyes7089 3

2006-08-02 17:07:53 · 12 answers · asked by BigPappa 5

And shouldnt I be more concerned with how people around me here are affected by my actions than with how some invisible, all powerful being in space thinks of me?

2006-08-02 17:07:48 · 28 answers · asked by Chaoboy 2

The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood:but the mouth of the up right shall deliver them-Proverbs 12:06
God Bless and good night.

2006-08-02 17:07:19 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous

i asked a question before about God vs Allah and i got really good answers.now i want to know,why do the teachings of mohammed differ so much from the teachings of jesus?like somewhere in the koran it says if you are caught stealing,they are to have ur limbs cut off,but in the bible jesus says forgive.jesus is a prophet in the koran.would someone with an idea help me out here?

2006-08-02 17:04:51 · 19 answers · asked by mykall306 2

Fine. Stupid questions done for tonight, willing to bet the stupid answers aren't done though.

2006-08-02 17:04:32 · 11 answers · asked by Ann Tykreist 3

Look it up on the web if you don't believe me. Please don't act like I'm making this stuff up and don't have any sources. They're out there.

2006-08-02 17:03:30 · 33 answers · asked by Scott P 2

My common sense tells me its easier to believe in nothing, than to believe in a Being more powerful than all in creation in existence. Does anyone share this perspective with me?

2006-08-02 17:03:00 · 31 answers · asked by an ambassador for risen Christ 2

Let's say that there was a person called Alexander. You and me--none has seen him. He lived 5000 years ago. You think that he was a stupid curly haired person and I think he was quite smart swarthy guy . So, do you and I believe two separate persons?No.
The Jews, Christians and Muslims believe in the same God Of Abraham--but they differ in His nature. The Christians believe in Trinity and atonement,salvation etc. which makes them separate from Jews and Muslims.

2006-08-02 17:02:16 · 5 answers · asked by Mahfuz R 1

I am talking about the kind of notoriety that has been or will be remembered historically for generations.
"Jesus" doesn't count.

2006-08-02 17:01:19 · 26 answers · asked by creativKru 2

If you are born in a Christian/Muslim/Jewish/Buddhist family or country, you will most probably become a member of the dominant religion there. How many of you can say that you still would have chosen your present religion, if you had been born in another land with another religion ?

2006-08-02 16:58:50 · 33 answers · asked by Moosty 2

I just saw that another user said that (and got Best Answer for it), and I can't see why anyone would say that. Animals (at least mammals) have such distinctive personalities! If they don't have souls, we don't either!

Well, that's my opinion. What's yours?

2006-08-02 16:58:42 · 16 answers · asked by GreenEyedLilo 7

Tonight is the ninth of Av on the Jewish calendar this is the very day that both the temples in Jerusalem were destroyed and as such it has been day of mourning for the last 2,000 years.

This year we have something else to remember. And that is our people that are living in Israel right now. Just as the book of Eichah (Lamentations), which is throughout the world on this night, speaks about the affliction of Judah and the desolation of Jerusalem. Now to the north of Israel has been afflicted and its cites are virtually desolate with the remaining population living in fear.

So I ask all of you in light of this situation if you are able please fast and pray if not for the destruction of the Temple but for our people in Israel that this may soon be over and that they may continue to live in peace.

And if it is not too much to ask if you may please learn some Torah on their behalf.

Thank you

2006-08-02 16:58:28 · 5 answers · asked by Gamla Joe 7

I just want to know.

2006-08-02 16:58:05 · 44 answers · asked by Anonymous

Why are people religious? Christians, Muslims, Hindu, Jewish, and other.... Is it beucase they don't know what happens after death or are scared to die? I think that religion started out in the times of early humans to set up a system of government. If you look at history, every begining government had to do with a type of religion. I belive rulers came up with religion to help keep their subjects in line. But even today, it still exist, after the laws of Newton, Darwin, and Galeileio, most people still belive in a religion.

I myself am an atheist, but raised a Jew. I don't understand why people still belive in God even after reading these proofd?....I guess people are scared of the truth maybe.

If you are religious, please tell me why you still belive in relgion...I'm not trying to offend any one with this, even though this a very personal question with every one.

2006-08-02 16:56:07 · 21 answers · asked by Russian 1

These are some things to ponder on

2006-08-02 16:55:49 · 10 answers · asked by adb6311 2

An idea, when we speak of ghosts, spirits in the like, they are never just chillin on earth are they, they always seem to be attached to something. Now, i am christian, so my belief in ghosts is existant, yet small. But what if, when you die, if you love someone, or something enough that part of your soul goes into it. In that case, do you not need your entire soul to cross over? In which case when you die, could you be attached to your spouse, home, child, etc... and not be allowed to cross over until you come to terms and either take that part of you back or give it up?

2006-08-02 16:54:19 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous

According to the new testament Jesus drove the money changers out of the temple. What exactly where they doing there? Moneychangers presumably mean people similar to those at international airports who exchange one currency for another for foriegn travellers, but why would they be in the temple? As far as I know the only trade in the temple precincts was the Sadducee's sale in animals for sacrifice. Also if relevent why did JC object to these moneychanger's being there.

2006-08-02 16:53:49 · 9 answers · asked by deviANT 1

I am married and yet I feel so detacted to my wife and friends. I think about things they do not, like the meaning of life and stuff like that. Am I supposed to feel that alone?

2006-08-02 16:51:47 · 11 answers · asked by James L 2

99% of the time, I think the Bible, the idea of God and Jesus is stupid. I have too many questions (i.e caveman, incest, heaven, people in Africa will go to Hell even though they have never even heard of Jesus, God sending floods etc.) . But then that 1% of me really wants to believe in God more than anything. I want it so much, it hurts. I really want to commit suicide sometimes because I'm so overwhelmed (other areas of my life, too). I don't know what to do. I was happier being 100% atheist. But this summer, through an internship, I was "blessed" with three amazing people. They opened up my eyes to God. I mean, I had thought about God and Jesus before, but never like this. They really touched my life, and sometimes I think that if God does exist, this is His message to me. I am so alone and lost. I've been suicidal for quite some time, but since I've "converted" to agnosticism, I worry that I will go to Hell and that's the only reason why I haven't done it.

2006-08-02 16:51:34 · 33 answers · asked by Anonymous

Most Christians believe that the big bang theory is completely far fetched and there is no possible way it could have happened. Okay, Fine..but where exactly did their God come from? Meaning how did he come to be, where, when and why? I'm kind of hoping for a scientific explaination not a verse from the bible, I would also like to know why is it that some people seem to need faith in a higher power and others are fine living life for themselves and being fine with that, Why is it that these people need a crutch? Thank you so much for your answers.

2006-08-02 16:51:11 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous