Posted on 02/21/2006 7:42:06 AM PST by AntiGuv
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Tuesday that a small congregation in New Mexico may use hallucinogenic tea as part of a four-hour ritual intended to connect with God.
Justices, in their first religious freedom decision under Chief Justice John Roberts, moved decisively to keep the government out of a church's religious practice. Federal drug agents should have been barred from confiscating the hoasca tea of the Brazil-based church, Roberts wrote in the decision.
The tea, which contains an illegal drug known as DMT, is considered sacred to members of O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal, which has a blend of Christian beliefs and South American traditions. Members believe they can understand God only by drinking the tea, which is consumed twice a month at four-hour ceremonies.
New Justice Samuel Alito did not take part in the case, which was argued last fall before Justice Sandra Day O'Connor before her retirement. Alito was on the bench for the first time on Tuesday.
Well we need more like you here dear, so don't take too long coming back!
Fair enough, I retract that sentence. It wasn't true anyhow. Have a g'day!
Its also a well know that drug use produces paranoia
You should be a little more concerned about our leaking borders then recreational drug use
It's not any more ridiculous than engaging in cannibalism and blood-drinking & calling it a holy ritual.
Thank you, apology accepted
Thank you, I'll be back within 2 years!
YeeHaw!
Great, now what am I going to do with this religious garb?
This is not about Religion it is about faith.
Will this thinking & reasoning cover more than the use of drugged teas during rituals? E.G. Catholic Churches in MA have recently been banned from prohibiting same-sex couples from adopting babies and children.
A little over 40 years ago an acquaintance of mine gave me some DMT (that's what he said it was anyway). It was a waxy, brown substance kind of like beeswax. He said to blend it with tobacco and smoke it. I did this and was struck first by its pungent and rather awful stench and second by the lack of immediate effect. I was in the middle of my 4th inhalation when I felt a very pronounced vibration start in my feet and move steadily and quickly up to my head. When it reached my head my surrondings appeared to vibrate and colors intensified so that objects seemed to be glowing. Hearing became very sensitive as well. The effect lasted about 10 minutes. I have no idea what the effect would be if it is ingested rather than inhaled. A couple of years later I read that DMT was thought to cause pinpoint brain hemmorhages (no doubt explains much about my behavior over the past 4 decades).
Good one , who cares what they do ? I'm more concerned with the "religion of peace " myself .
Oh dude, you left out the best part of the new version of the song:
It will help me smell purple
It will help me smell purple
It will help me smell purple
It's good enough for me.
parsy, who smelled purple once a long time ago.
I didn't, I said quote, "I believe" NOT "I know"
There's a difference
Of course I haven't attended every church and neither have you
Very NIIIICE!
Hey, who took my fritos....mmmmm sacramental fritos...
2 years??
damn the coffee is going to get cold :P
I'll convert. Pass the tea.
Another assumption on your part, as opposed to fact
Just to set the record straight, I am a conservative, first and foremost, I do not belong to any political party and I give no money to any political party
I support the candidate, with my vote and my money, who best represents and upholds conservative principals , period
Not Catholics.
Ahhhhh yes, all the "worship" produces the munchies!
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