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.
In the Hebrew Scriptures acacia is not mentioned as an ingredient in concoctions.
It is referred to as a building material and as one of several other plants in an idealized landscape.
Nowhere in the Hebrew Scriptures are any rituals involving psychoactive substances discussed or described.
Caleb is a book in your Bible?
Just another leftist seeking to denegrate our Western Judeao-Christian value system.
Nothing to see here.
Is'nt that what that dips#!+ Casteneda had a degree in? Or was it some form of Anthropology?
So if I write up all the goofy crap that I saw when and heard when I was on L and 'shrooms and Peyote, and then say that this is what must have been Jean d'Arc's problem and that the Normans that ran France got everybody messed up on Bella donna just like their Viking ancestors, can I get a degree in incognito psychology, too?
Moses supposes his toes-es are roses.
“it was either a supernatural cosmic event, which I don’t believe, or”
or this researcher can make up whatever he likes, the more inflammatory the better to get media attention, and believe that instead. I suppose the Pharoah and all his court were also tripping like mad when the plagues came or the rods turned into snakes and started eating each other, etc. etc. Yep, one giant party there in ancient Egypt. :p
Passover is always the week of Easter - before.
That’s why we get the deMille flick “Ten Commandments” on network TV on Palm Sunday, instead of something dealing with the way-controversial Christian subject matter.
:)
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
“...but Moses (AND SHANON) supposes
erroneously!” :-)
(Gosh, how nerdy am I that I recognize this?!)
:-)
What is the intended purpose of your post? Are you trying to express an idea of some sort?
I would love to know what this guys research budget was for this cockamaimie crap?....$2 Mill? $4 Mill?...seems the quest continues to take down Christians...If you say enough, people start believing it...
Like, psychedelic, dude.
Green mulberry berries will also make you hallucinate, while you’re convulsing.
There was a case of ergotism in France a few decades ago (Hoffmann thought it was mercury poisoning, but most thought it was ergot on rye), and the people acted crazy for a while, but I don’t think anyone thought it was divinely inspired.
That burning bush must have been some good stuff.
Well, there you have it. Must have been drugs then.
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