Psychedelics, Atheism, and Naturalism Myth and Reality

Journal of Consciousness Studies 29 (7-8):69-92 (2022)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

An emerging body of research suggests that psychedelic experiences can change users’ religious or metaphysical beliefs. Here I explore issues concerning psychedelic-induced belief change via a critique of some recent arguments by Wayne Glausser. Two scientific studies seem to show that psychedelic experiences can convert atheists to belief in God, but Glausser holds that academic and popular discussions of these studies are misleading. I offer a different analysis of the relevant findings, attempting to preserve the insights of Glausser’s critique while setting the record straight on some important points. For one thing, the studies provide stronger evidence for atheist deconversion than Glausser allows. For another, Glausser’s arguments against the “Metaphysical Belief Theory” of psychedelic therapy involve scientifically dubious claims and inferences. Finally, in evaluating this theory, we ought to focus on its strongest version, which posits belief shifts from metaphysical naturalism to non-naturalism, rather than from atheism to classical monotheism.

Other Versions

No versions found

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 98,109

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Philosophy of Psychedelics.Chris Letheby - 2021 - Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
The Varieties of Psychedelic Epistemology.Chris Letheby - 2019 - In Nikki Wyrd, David Luke, Aimee Tollan, Cameron Adams & David King (eds.), Psychedelicacies: more food for thought from Breaking Convention. Strange Attractor Press.
Naturalistic Entheogenics.Chris Letheby - 2022 - Philosophy and the Mind Sciences 3.
The Philosophy of Psychedelic Transformation.Chris Letheby - 2015 - Journal of Consciousness Studies 22 (9-10):170-193.

Analytics

Added to PP
2022-01-29

Downloads
88 (#202,668)

6 months
13 (#210,124)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Chris Letheby
University of Western Australia

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references