Was the vision of the burning bush a psychedelic experience? Did use of drugs inform early Christianity? Scholars who linked the emergence of religion to altered states of consciousness once paid a heavy price, but that may be changing
For decades, the United States government has shared horror stories about the dangers of hallucinogens, claiming psychedelic drugs serve no medicinal purpose and threatening prison time for those who dare to experiment with a mushroom or two. But the federal narrative has crumbled in recent years, with local governments either legalizing or decriminalizing the use of hallucinogens while a growing number of Americans are using them to treat medical issues and seek spirituality a cultural awakening scholars refer to as a psychedelic renaissance.
The renewed interest in psychedelics is what brought Jerry B. Brown, a founding anthropology professor at Florida International University, out of retirement to teach an expanded version of the course he taught for 39 years before retiring in 2014. The online course, titled Hallucinogens and Culture, begins on January 11 and is open to students and nonstudents alike, with 300 spots total. (Registration information for nonstudents can be