Making Sense with Sam Harris - Subscriber Content cover image

Making Sense with Sam Harris - Subscriber Content

#346 - The Best Kept Secret In History?

Dec 22, 2023
Sam Harris speaks with Brian Muraresku about ancient mystery religions and the possible psychedelic roots of Christianity. They discuss the Mysteries of Eleusis, the 'pagan continuity hypothesis,' the cult of Dionysius, the Dead Sea scrolls and the Gnostic Gospels, Christianity as a cult of human sacrifice, the evidence for the use of psychedelics in ancient rites, the chemical analysis of ancient wine and beer, why Brian hasn't tried psychedelics, and the need for a modern Mysteries of Eleusis.
01:09:51

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Ancient mystery religions may have had psychedelic origins, including the use of psychotropic substances in rituals like the Elusinian mysteries and the cult of Dionysus.
  • The discovery of spiked wine and ergotized beer in ancient Greece and early Christian communities suggests the presence of psychotropic substances in religious practices.

Deep dives

The Mystery Religions of the Ancient World and the Possible Psychedelic Roots of Christianity

Brian Murarescu discusses the mystery religions of the ancient world and explores the potential psychedelic origins of Christianity. He highlights the Elusinian mysteries, the cult of Dionysus, and the continuity hypothesis, suggesting that psychedelics may have played a role in these ancient Greek rituals. Murarescu also examines the evidence of spiked wine and ergotized beer in ancient Greece and early Christian communities, pointing to the possibility of psychotropic substances being used in religious practices. The discussion sheds light on the transformative and transcendent experiences sought by individuals in these ancient mystery traditions and their potential influence on the development of Christianity.

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