Altered States A Priest, a Rabbi, and a Muslim Leader Get High
Sep 24, 2025
Join journalist Michael Pollan, who explores the intersection of psychedelics and spirituality, alongside Sugra Ahmed, a Muslim leader dedicated to integrating Islamic perspectives on psychedelics. They discuss how a groundbreaking study at Johns Hopkins examined psilocybin's impact on religious leaders, revealing profound mystical experiences and personal transformations. Sugra shares her initial hesitations about participation, while Pollan highlights the tensions between science and spirituality. Their insights illuminate the potential for psychedelics to foster genuine divine encounters and community building.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Muslim Leader Joins Psilocybin Study
- Sugra Ahmed, a devout Muslim leader at Stanford, volunteered for the Johns Hopkins psilocybin study despite cultural and religious risks.
- She prepared extensively and entered the session with prayer and a blindfolded guided setting.
Using Science To Study Mystical Experience
- The study aimed to use psychedelics to probe the mystical experience common across religions.
- Researchers hoped religious leaders could judge authenticity and illuminate commonalities across traditions.
Who Took Part In The Trial
- Researchers recruited 29 religious leaders, mostly Christian, plus rabbis, one Muslim, and one Buddhist.
- They targeted leaders with congregations and psychedelic naivety, partly to assess burnout relief.