Drug use in biblical times?

Question

Somewhere I heard that during biblical times, it was common for people to use drugs 2-3 times a day, especially holy men. They used drugs to "enhance" or create their interface with God. Does anybody know anything about this? Tell me everything you know.

Answer 1

well i can tell you that drugs did exist back then. and that they were used.

Answer 2

Before, during and after the Biblical times drugs are the only method to cure sickness prescribed by the doctors not only by the holy men. Ancient teachings in the Incas or Mayans have used this to communicate with their Gods not knowing that it is the same effects this generation have been experiencing. The only difference maybe is that the ancient way is done in search of medical cure or the answers to questions that bothers their mind in nature. Our generation is not using drugs for the same reason. They are doing this for pleasurable search and amusements. Irresponsible behaviour have lead them to the misuse and abuse of drugs resulting to oftentimes fatal activities.

Answer 3

The bible does not say and as a former Christian, I know Christians will not even think it was possible.

Holy men of old and even today in some areas used and still use drugs to have a spiritual experience, Pain was also a factor. some shamans and holy men would inflict pain to themselves and starve themselves and use drugs to get a holy experience..

The drugs that Holy men of Old was not what we think of today, but for example Native Americans used peyote and I am sure there was something like that over there, but not sure.*

Answer 4

It was common back then and it's common today, in practically every religion. Wasn't there some Christian sect in America that recently got the legal green light to partake of a hallucinogenic tea as part of its church service?

The correspondence between religious ecstacy (from ekstasis, which literally means "a standing out" as of the soul from the body) and intoxication is well known and well-attested. It's implicit in the idea of the "eucharist," even when direct intoxicants are not employed - when one "eats the body and drinks the blood" of "Christ," one is taking into one's body a substance which is supposed to catalytically induce a "spiritual" state.

Its frequently theorized that in the Eleusian Mysteries of antiquity, the "kykeon" or sacramental cup contained a beverage made from grain that had been infected with ergot, which would produce a hallucinogenic effect similar to LSD.

Answer 5

most ancient religions used some mind altering plants and herbs to enhance their ability to communicate with God (or gods.)

some still do. we call it an altered state of conscience.

Legal herbs like Saliva Divinorium (diviners sage)
Peyote, (legal if you happen to be Native American )

create a very relaxed state of mind and can help to catapult a person into astral travel.

Legal does not mean Safe. Saliva can be very dangerous if used in excess or under the wrong circumstances. it is not "legal pot"
and have almost no recreational use. a saliva experience can be absolutely terrifying.

Answer 6

I know that they are condemned in the Bible, and that folks who want to tell people if they do dope they will go to hell, use those scriptures as if it backs up that logic. Actually, what you said is exactly true. Christ was against those who used drugs to try to get to a higher level of spirituality, and therefore think they are closer to God. Has nothing whatsoever to do with whether you smoke a joint or not.

Answer 7

Exodus 30: description of the first bong and the "incense" which become "provided in sacrifice". Revelation 10: 9-11 What do you imagine become in that "little scroll"? Oh, and weed isn't a drug; it truly is a plant. i imagine it become available and authentic that extremely some spiritually enlightened human beings partook/take of the plant. It opens the guidelines.

Answer 8

the high priests of the Ark of the Covenent applied an ointment to their bodies before approaching the Ark, the recipe of which was apparently given to them by their god. the recipe included the herb calamus. calamus is an hallucinogen.


Exd 30:23 Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred [shekels], and of sweet cinnamon half so much, [even] two hundred and fifty [shekels], and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty [shekels],

Exd 30:24 And of cassia five hundred [shekels], after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin:

Exd 30:25 And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.

Exd 30:26 And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony,

Exd 30:27 And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense,

Exd 30:28 And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot.

Exd 30:29 And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.

Exd 30:30 And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that [they] may minister unto me in the priest's office.

Answer 9

Yes, it's in your ancient history texts. Many indigenous civilizations displayed a view of psychotropic plants as food sources, not as external chemicals altering internal homeostasis. The perceived effects by these groups were tolerance to thermal fluctuations, increased energy, and decreased fatigue, all advantageous to fitness by allowing longer foraging session as well as greater ability to sustain in times of limited resources. The plants were used as nutritional sources providing vitamins, minerals, and proteins rather than recreational psychotropic substances inducing inebriation. Due to limited resources within ancient environments, mammalian species most probably sought out CNS neurotransmitter (NT) substitutes in the form of psychotropic allelochemicals, because nutrient NT-precursors were not largely available in the forms of food. Therefore, drugs became food sources to prevent decreased fitness from starvation and death. It is believed that early hominid species evolved in conjunction with the psychotropic flora due to constant exposure with one another. This may be what eventually allowed the above civilizations to use the flora as nutritional substances, therefore increasing both their fitness and viability.

Drugs were also used by Holy men in ancient ceremonies. They didn't have laws and knowledge like today.

Answer 10

Wouldn't doubt it. Afghani weed is pretty popular now- I'm sure it was then too. Opium may have been a factor, as it certainly has a very spiritual feeling to it (until you smoke a cigarette and puke for a couple hours)- though I'm not quite sure, as it may not have reached that part of the world yet. There were always mushrooms, though. Maybe even mescaline (though I doubt it).

Answer 11

No, man created Drugs. God only provided the ingredients and the knowledge. Of course man being carnal, has managed to perverse this.

What we have come to call drugs are man-made. God created all those plants, it's how we use them and label them that makes there use questionable in the eyes of God.