Abstract

This paper provides iconic evidence of the role of sacred visionary plants in early and medieval Christian art, based on field work conducted by the author at abbeys, chapels, churches and cathedrals in Europe and the Middle East. In this context, it re-evaluates the pioneering work of John Marco Allegro and R. Gordon Wasson on the role of entheogens (plants that generate the divine within) in religion and explores the question “what is the significance of psychoactive mushrooms images hiding in plain sight in Christian art?” This study is based on completed research presented in The Psychedelic Gospels: The Secret History of Hallucinogens in Christianity (2016) and Entheogens in Christian Art (2019).

Presenters

Jerry B Brown
Founding Professor, Global and Sociocultural Studies, Florida International University, Florida, United States

Details

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

Theme

Religious Foundations

KEYWORDS

Medieval, Church, History, Psychedelics, Entheogens, Christian, Ethnomycology

Digital Media

Videos

Downloads