Decline Of Christianity Sparks Rise In Claims For Religious Protections Of Psychedelics
In February, a group called Singularism scored a troubling victory under the Utah Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), claiming police violated their rights by confiscating otherwise illegal magic mushrooms (psilocybin) used for tea ceremonies and their “scriptures” (recorded insights during trips). A mental health counselor had allegedly formed the organization to alleviate suffering and facilitate practitioners’ (called “voyagers”) connections with themselves and God.
A federal judge ordered the return of the items, rejecting the government’s argument that Singularism was “essentially a drug-dealing business in a minister’s robe.” The judge further found that Singularism held sincere religious beliefs and that each day the group was “deprived of the sacrament they suffer harm to their religious exercises.” Although the judge noted that individuals could perhaps achieve the same experiences from meditation, as opposed to illegal drugs, she said “most people do not have that luxury of time,” accurately distilling the zeitgeist of American obsession with a quick fix. And then she called it religion.
Litigation continues, but meanwhile, the decision sets a disturbing precedent. And a movement is afoot to capitalize on the win. Led by well-funded educated elites that includes scholars, lawyers, religious leaders, and entrepreneurs, the goal is obtaining widespread U.S. legalization of psychedelics.
How did we get here?
During the 21st century, the percentage of Americans attending religious services steadily shrank, while the percentage of those claiming no religion more than doubled. Christianity in particular has been in rapid decline. In 2007, 78 percent of U.S. adults identified as Christians; in 2024, that number had dropped to 62 percent.
Expanding Research into Psychedelics
As memory of Nixon’s “war on drugs” faded and the mental and physical health challenges of Americans began to reach crisis levels, research on psychedelics exploded.
Johns Hopkins University was the first to acquire regulatory approval to study psychedelics and claims psychedelics may help smokers quit, ease cancer anxiety, suppress depression, etc. Before his death, Roland Griffiths, the agnostic scientist who ran the show, made the tall claim that psychedelics may be “critical to the survival of the human species.”
Over the last few decades, research exploded; companies grabbed patents. Biden signed funding bills.
Bookings for psychedelic retreats outside the U.S. increased 200 percent in the last two years, with a four-day journey at one luxury establishment starting at $15,000. The global market for psychedelic drugs was $3.07 billion in 2024. It’s projected to increase to $8.35 billion by 2032.
And then the big moment came, last year, when drugmaker Lykos Therapeutics sought approval for ecstasy, illegal under the Federal Controlled Substances Act, for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. After an FDA committee recommended rejecting the application, the FDA followed suit, citing safety concerns and insufficient data. It was a crushing blow to those who had their sights on gaining legitimacy through medical means.
Supporters Claim Drugs are Divine
But a parallel track for legality had been brewing, with claims that people taking psychedelics had encountered the divine. A few weeks after the Utah decision, movers and shakers met to strategize. Harvard Law School sponsored the sold-out March symposium.
In 1993, Congress had passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which provided that the federal government could not substantially burden an individual’s exercise of religion unless the burden was by the least restrictive means and furthered a compelling government interest. Thus far, very few exemptions have been granted and primarily relate to Native American religious practices. Most states have now adopted RFRAs too. Pockets of psychedelic legalization are also cropping up in states such as Colorado and Oregon.
At the symposium, lawyer Victoria Litman opined that she believes state law holds the best promise for decriminalization. She also indicated that churches formed as charitable nonprofit organizations may not be required to show sincerity of religious belief (a key component in the Utah decision) to receive tax-exemption.
Christian psychedelic believers spoke enthusiastically about the potential to reinvigorate Christianity with psychedelic journeys. Hunt Priest, an Episcopal priest who runs an educational psychedelic nonprofit organization, was part of a Johns Hopkins’ clergy study ten years ago, which he claims was life-changing. He argued that the Christian church has engaged in healing since the days of Jesus. It’s time to build a “Christian container” for psychedelics, he urged. Ron Cole-Turner, professor emeritus at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, believes liberal Protestants will probably be most receptive to Thursday night sessions in the “basement of the church,” asserting that many who reject the idea come from a place of ignorance or war on drugs mentality. But philosophy professor Bryan McCarthy thinks he can make the case to conservatives, maybe even Catholics.
Other Christian presenters analogized psychedelic experiences and practices to mainstream Christian worship, lining up their evidence. For example, Baptist minister Jaime Clark-Soles said scripture is replete with instances of non-ordinary states of consciousness, pointing to Paul’s conversion experience, Mary’s encounter with Gabriel, and the resurrection. “Mystery” is mentioned 24 times in the Bible, she said, along with “secrets” of the Kingdom of God. Blasphemy?
Although the percentage of Jews in the U.S. is small, religious observance has also been declining. Rabbi Zac Kamenetz called the psychedelic movement a “recovery mission” for Jews. Natalie Ginsberg said psychedelics can be a bridge for integrating Jews suffering from intergenerational trauma back into traditional Judaism. Author Madison Margolin noted her hippie father was friends with Ram Dass and said her psychedelic journey started “in the womb.” During the panel discussion, she observed that no one had mentioned God. A cue to stay on message?
Thankfully, a number of symposium participants reiterated the need for safety protocols. Even the industry has acknowledged lapses.
Pushback
It’s unknown whether a counter movement is developing. But there has been pushback. A former college of Griffiths’ at Johns Hopkins filed an ethics complaint concerning the studies. An exposé reported that a wealthy philanthropist apparently participated in both research and widespread funding. A former Harvard Divinity School student involved in the psychedelic work has made a host of challenges. Another psychedelic insider has questioned the “large-scale appropriation of indigenous practices by ‘first-world’ people” with so-called “messianic” views.
Amid the questions and serious concerns, it’s hard to envision the upside potential outside of Wall Street, if there is one. It’s much easier to foresee where all this might lead.
The federal RFRA was initially passed to ensure protection for religious freedom. Likewise, for state statutes. The intent was not to open the door either to profits or false prophets taking notes during psychedelic trips and calling it “scripture.”
After Mother Teresa died, I was surprised to learn about her decades-long dark night of the soul, during which she couldn’t feel God’s presence. But imagine our loss and hers if she’d been convinced psychedelics were the answer.
For Christians, such practices diminish the holy and the sacred, wrenching the mystery from God’s hands, when being filled with the Holy Spirit and nothing else is God’s plan.
Jesus Christ is King
