Metropolitan Hilarion Of Volokolamsk
In the Russian Orthodox Church criticized the attempt by American scientists to study religious experiences using hallucinogenic substances. The words of the Chairman of the Department for external Church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk leads RIA Novosti.
“This has nothing to do with religious experience, even if in this experiment involved a priest, and experience, in turn, has nothing to do with a hallucination”, — he declared on air of TV channel “Russia 24”.
The Metropolitan added that “there is a certain difference between the way old Testament prophets received revelations from God, and sensations from the ingestion of hallucinogenic agents”. He also indicated that he does not understand the essence of the experiment and is not possible results. In his view, the Orthodox understanding of the religious revelation, the initiative of scientists will have no effect.
According to published 8 Jul material The Guardian, scientists from Johns Hopkins University in the us city of Baltimore are studying the effects of hallucinogens on religious experience. The researchers invited two dozen leaders from different faiths to participate in the work. Its purpose is to establish if they can help “transcendental experience” to be more confident in their activities and more effective, and to assess how it affects their religious thinking.
In the experiment, with a difference in a month they are given two large doses of psilocybin — a substance found in hallucinogenic mushrooms. After taking the psychotropic drugs they are lying on the sofa with a sleep mask and headphones listening to “religious music” to an immersive experience “spiritual journey.”
According to William Richards (William Richards) — one of the scientists involved in the work, while none of the participants in the experiment did not regret his consent. “In most cases it seemed that people have a more profound understanding of their religious heritage. (…) The dogma alive. They realize that they really believe in what they say”, — he said. Full analysis of results will be conducted after observation of the subjects during one year.