Serious question : has anyone here ever used drugs to "find God"?

Question

In recent months, I have met and talked to several people who claim that using drugs (always hallucinogenics...go figure) gets them in touch with God. Often, when confronted with a simple question of "How?", I see the wheels of their brain spinning in the mud, searching for the right answer.

Even as an atheist, I see this as little more for a justification to use drugs, and not feel bad about doing it. I am, however, extremely and legitimately curious if there is anyone here who takes drugs as a way to reach enlightenment, and if so, if you would discuss your experiences here.

Answer 1

You will never find "God" through hallucinogenics, or by any other means. A couple of decades ago I experimented, probably too enthusiastically, with various hallucinogens. The most pronounced effect of such drugs is the way in which they allow you do delve into your own consciousness, layer by layer, as though you were peeling an onion, and then reassembling it back to its (relatively) original condition. Deep at the core, the heart of the onion, if you will, there is a primal place that one could misinterpret as "God". It is a point of clarity that gives the impression of the oneness of the Universe, that all things are not merely a part of each other but are in fact each other. How the mind interprets this part of itself is effected by how the brain has been educated. A person that believes in a God may well see that point as God, and thus be convinced that they have indeed found God. A person that has not been indoctrinated in the concept of a god will see it differently, depending on that person's own paradigms.
That said, I would like to warn anyone that thinks this sounds "cool" or "fun" not to go off and mess with this stuff. Hallucinogens are potentially quite dangerous to certain individuals. I have seen people destroyed by them. They force you to look deep within yourself and sometimes what you see there may be impossible to deal with. If you stumble in the process you may never be able to reassemble your consciouness properly. I have seen it happen to close friends and even now, 20 years later, it remains a permanent torment to them. I was lucky, you may not be, so stay away from them, please.

Answer 2

UMMM the drugs are hallucinagenics right? Hallucinating means imagining something to be there which really isn't. Now let me say this. I have in the past heard such a thing.. and in my youthful salad days I too ingested the occasional drug, which promoted hallucinating. And at times the theory was to "see God" but after a while I figured... if I am hallucinating... and I am talking to folks who aren't there then what is the probability that I am actually visiting with the real God if there is a real God.

Now several several years later I am a Christian, and I have met God, and I did so with out hallucinating, without drugs. And I know it is the real God, the truth, and not some imagined Timothy Leary experiment gone haywire.
The experience of living for Christ is much more powerful, real and adventurous, than any life with drugs, or alcohol or falsehoods.

Answer 3

I, being a recovering addict, have and never would try to use drugs to "find God." However having said that, there is a long history of halucinogens being used to help induce visions. The thing is that they break down the barriers in our minds that block the Astral out from our normal day to day experiences. This can be achieved without the use of drugs though. Again there is a long Shamanic history of the various methods for doing so in the history of ALL peoples. There is a very well documented Norse Shamanic tradition and I would probably be correct in assuming that at some point in the histor of the Teutonic peoples, halucinogens were used by their vitkar as well.

Answer 4

First off... let me say that anyone who seriously believes that Pujols is on steroids or PED's is an idiot. He's been consistent with his power and numbers since he got into the league 9 years ago. And I'm sure he gets tested regularly, and has never once failed a test. People are just cynical now that some other big names have tested positive (A-Rod, Manny). Some people are just going to forever doubt every player of being clean. Which to me... is stupid and pointless. Innocent until PROVEN guilty right? Sure it's easy to judge baseball players because they're hitting some home runs, but would you want people judging you based on what your peers are doing? Think about it. Let's say you're an Olympic Ski Jumper. And a bunch of ski jumpers got caught testing positive for PED's. Would you want people accusing you of doing it, just because some other people who happen to do the same thing that you do were doing it? Seems silly to me. I consider myself a huge fan of the game, but I couldn't imagine watching baseball if I thought that EVERYONE was juicing. At some point you have to get over it and move on. Not everyone is juicing, and we should continue to root for those who are clean and forget about the ones who aren't. And if you really are that cynical and think that all players in baseball are cheating then go watch football.... where you know that all the players are juicing.

Answer 5

When I used drugs, I was only seeking an escape from the pain of losing my Mother. I did know of many people that claimed to 'see' God on acid. This was usually when they were having a bad trip though. It always stuck me as odd, a good trip they would say nothing about a god sighting, but if they were having a bad trip god was right there to torment them. Go figure.
)o( Blessed Be!

Answer 6

I have used (not abused) marijuana and discovered that it calms my traumas enough to allow me to listen to what makes good common sense. I call it 'God' sense and it truly allows me to understand a great deal more than I could make sense of in many situations. It makes no sense to me that it is illegal when it has far more benefits than alchol or tobacco use. It is not addictive for me while the other two are both dangerous and addictive. I am certain that, were I to misuse it, it would be damaging but I have never known anyone to do harm to another by simple use. Abuse is not the issue here. I don't need to be wasted, baked, fried or stoned out of my mind. It slows drivers down and probably their reaction times as well. I'd say there is a need for us to slow down in this day and age. We may take the time to think about things before we act or react.

Answer 7

I only stepped in on this question because I knew that some genius was going to say that Native Americana's used drugs i.e. peyote to find God or to seek spiritual enlightenment. being a native American I felt it important to correct this as it is a misconception.
First the only tribes to traditionally use peyote are not Native American but are Native tribes of Mexico as the cactus that grows the peyote buttons is indigenous to Mexico and South America. Yes after the Europeans started herding the Natives North some tribes did learn of the peyote ceremony and adopted it to their own tribe. However people who do not believe in "God" cannot seek him also the use of peyote was strictly used by southern tribes for a specific ceremony to seek their animal guide.
As for the traditional Native Americans we never used hallucinogens for ceremonies. We used fasting and prayer to seek spiritual guidance. Oh and by the way the peace pipe...we only put tobacco in it never marijuana just to clarify that little misconception that is also indigenous to South America.

Answer 8

Sounds like a crock to me. I guess people would interpret these unexplained visions as supernatural before we understoof how hallucinogens affect the brain, but now it seems like just plain ignorance to attribute drug-induced hallucinations to "god." I do believe in god, but I know I could be wrong. There is no room for debate when it comes to brain chemistry, though. If you don't accept that, you're just being willfully ignorant, IMHO.

Answer 9

Personally I don't use them however I know some people have trouble relaxing enough to allow their minds to open to such possibilities. To me, there are much better methods than a drug induced stupor that is more likely to produce hallucinations rather than a true experience. Although I also believe there is a fine line between a drug induced hallucination and a true revelation.

Does that make sense to anyone but me?

Answer 10

I haven't, but throughout history, lots of people have. From the ancient Roman tradition of drinking Wine to find Bachus, to SW Native American's and Peyote, To Timothy Leary's LSD sacramentology, the imbibing of some "drug" to see God (Gods, Goddesses, Spirits, Ancestors) is a constant across cultures, so is probably an integral part of our humanity.