Posted on 03/04/2008 6:46:14 AM PST by crusty old prospector
High on Mount Sinai, Moses was on psychedelic drugs when he heard God deliver the Ten Commandments, an Israeli researcher claimed in a study published this week. Such mind-altering substances formed an integral part of the religious rites of Israelites in biblical times, Benny Shanon, a professor of cognitive psychology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem wrote in the Time and Mind journal of philosophy.
"As far Moses on Mount Sinai is concerned, it was either a supernatural cosmic event, which I don't believe, or a legend, which I don't believe either, or finally, and this is very probable, an event that joined Moses and the people of Israel under the effect of narcotics," Shanon told Israeli public radio on Tuesday.
Moses was probably also on drugs when he saw the "burning bush," suggested Shanon, who said he himself has dabbled with such substances.
"The Bible says people see sounds, and that is a classic phenomenon," he said citing the example of religious ceremonies in the Amazon in which drugs are used that induce people to "see music."
He mentioned his own experience when he used ayahuasca, a powerful psychotropic plant, during a religious ceremony in Brazil's Amazon forest in 1991. "I experienced visions that had spiritual-religious connotations," Shanon said.
He said the psychedelic effects of ayahuasca were comparable to those produced by concoctions based on bark of the acacia tree, that is frequently mentioned in the Bible.
With the apparent low humor IQ around here, I’m beginning to think that a disclaimer is necessary...but I refuse to cynic to that level. I’d rather have someone get P’d for no reason...it’s more fun that way.
Maybe he should’ve gone for “The Book of Bob” and made it more obvious....:)
I was wondering to. Just states he is an Israeli. Jewish, Arab?
Peter’s dream sounds good to me, I’m a meat eating man. But wasn’t it also Peter who had a wife, became the first Pope, and then his church turned around and said wives are not allowed? What’s good today is bad tomorrow, so maybe I better research that “herb bearing seed” instruction again before my waistline makes it impossible to hold a book!
Um, I know that. I was simply answering the question of Enosh in post #42 (he seemed unsure).
“oops...I meant to call you a COWARDLY moron.”
Yea, you got some real balls calling me names over the internet. You sure wouldn’t do it to my face.
Well let us see: Two all beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onions on a "SESAME SEED" Bun.
YES! WE HAVE A WINNER!!!
As I mentioned to pillut48, I was addressing Enosh's post #42. Where you find an inability to comprehend humor I don't know, but guess who's being testy (hint, the name sounds like a part of Czechoslovakia).
ROFLMAO!!!!
STOP IT
STOP IT...
YOU’RE SOOOOOOOOO FUNNY!!
Nope. Not always. Three years out of every nineteen year lunar cycle the Gregorian e*ster comes a month early (after Purim) instead of during Pesach. These are the years that the Julian (Eastern Orthodox) e*ster falls a month after the Gregorian. That is the situation this year, when Purim is 3/21, Gregorian e*ster is 3/23, Pesach begins the night of 4/19, and Julian e*ster is 4/27.
Obviously a different Moses this twit has come to know. Maybe it is just from oral tradition making such ungodly or of another god divination.
Was there a section that lays out what plants people should not consume?
Just wondering if there are guidelines for what we’re not supposed to do. Plants to avoid, animals that are off limits.
Dude. Like, I totally get the whole burning bush part now...
I am not saying the Moses was high, but drugs have been a part of mystical religious experience forever. Just because it is not accepted in society today does not mean that has not occurred in the past.
Some folks around here really need to lighten up...and you are one of them. Is your faith so weak that you feel the need to refute all inane stories coming out of so-called academia?
This guy is a joke and what he claims is inane, insulting, and unworthy of any "series" response. Get a life!
My guess is that you are related to Pat Robertson.
What do you care if I respond to this guy's claims? Its my time, not yours (and if you choose to read my posts that is your choice). I don't think that anyone here seriously believes this idiot psychologist's claims, but I thought that it would be instructive to post a few facts about what is written in the 5 Books of Moses for everyone here to ponder. It is always easy to poke fun of inane claims like those made - but having some facts at your disposal never hurts, does it. You don't like that, fine, that's your choice. Why you need to be so abusive is beyond me.
BTW, I'm not Moslem, I'm not related to Pat Robertson (not by blood or belief), and my faith in the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is quite strong, thank you very much.
Blasphemy is becoming more and more in vogue ... . This dope ought to read how the word sorcery is used ... or look up the word pharmacy and how that is used in the Bible .... No, God doesn’t approve of mind altering drugs ... .
I got the joke but was still stressing the point that the article made a false claim about Scriptural content.
“What was he on when he parted the Red Sea?
“
Steroids.
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