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.
Diuretics.
I deny your denial!
Oops! We’ve been moved to the religion forum.
Everyone look busy.
It may not have been native to Egypt, which would explain how Moses would have been “surprised” to see such a miracle. Anyway, God used the ordinary in extraordinary ways to get people’s attention. Water from a rock, quails by the buckets (the birds migrate across the desert and some have to stop or fall to the ground from exhaustion); but the parting of the waters defie explanation. That is the defining moment for the Children of Israel. BTW, did you see where they have found the Egyptian chariots in the Red Sea?
I think the one high on drugs is the author.
Leave L. Ron Hubbard OUT of this!
Performance enhancing drugs. He was born a few thousand years too early. He could have made millions throwing a baseball.
ROTFL....diuretics!
I know what you mean. The caving is a bit harder than it was 25 years ago. It’s still great exercise!
Good post and I agree. One of the reasons FR is such a treasure is because of the knowledge here. If a person wants to make snarky comments, fine, but I don't see the point in insulting the knowledgeable and intelligent posters.
Hypothetically—I don’t believe in Moses nor do I adhere to 10 Commandments; therefore, I would simply explain it all away by saying Moses is on drugs.
BS.
I’d rather be stuck in a crawl while fat than while skinny!
What religion is this guy? The Church of the Holy Mushroom?
No, it’s, The Church of the Holy Morons.
WOW
I bet he gets run out of town on a rail by conservative jews.
Poor guy, he has no idea what a rucus he’s raised.
Yes, it does. Deuteronomy 13:1 says:
"All this word which I command you, that shall ye observe to do; thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it."
This is the assurance that the Torah (i.e. the 5 Books of Moses), the Word of the living G-d, are forever unchanged; that, and the incredible safeguards taken by scribes to ensure that no mistakes are made. My brother is a scribe, and I am very familiar with the requirements. But don't take my word for it - the fact is that the portions of the Torah discovered at Qumran (the Dead Sea scrolls) are identical to modern Torahs. Further, every Torah is identical anywhere in the world, regardless of the denomination of the synogogue that owns it.
Don’t send him to Daniel 5. The story would blow his widdle gaskets.
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