What Will Replace Christianity? Everything


We have reviewed before growth in the Wiccans. The most popular Halloween costume is the witch. There are real witches. Another group meeting in small groups across the country are what we can call the psychedelics. They do not call themselves atheists. Instead, they believe there is a spiritual experience in the use of psychedelic drugs. This group is separate from Native Americans who say use of peyote is a spiritual experience.  

While I'm not an expert in drugs and their effect on the mind, it does not seem different than what is found in the Bible. The Bible is full of people, including Paul, who had out of body experiences. So far as I can tell, these experiences are treated by most of the faith as historical events. Paul claims to have talked to Jesus several times long after Jesus was dead. Is anyone else old enough to remember the term from the 60's, "Far out, man." Paul talking to the dead Jesus is Far Out.

These churches have a variety of religious experiences. The Divine Assembly is located in Salt Lake City and was founded by an ex Mormon. Psychedelic drugs are not used in the church but instruction is provided as well as interpretation of the mind-altering experience. Drugs are used elsewhere.

Another is the Psanctuary Church in Bible Belt Kentucky. This church is all about the beneficial effects of the mushroom. Apparently, there is much to be learned from the effect of the mushroom on the mind and positive experiences abound.

These churches skip the big after-life pitch of Christian churches and focus on the good life available in the here and now. That life needs to be reached, however, and this is where such a church can help.

Besides Paul's weird conversations with the dead Jesus, there are other places in Christianity where stresses are placed on people brains. I knew of religious people in Fargo, ND, who liked to become sleep deprived because it induced some kind of euphoria. Do three and four hour church ceremonies do the same thing? I do not know.

If anyone wants to predict how many religions or belief systems will be active in coming years, I've always said just count the number of TV channels. Further, to a site like You Tube and see how many tiny "networks" each have their own following. New gods come along because people are interested in a new god. It's the same with TV.

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