Interest in psychedelics for spiritual seeking is growing in the US — Rolling Stone
In the United States, more and more people are using psychedelic substances not for entertainment, but in search of spiritual experience, self-knowledge, and a sense of connection with the divine. As Rolling Stone reports, experts estimate that there are at least 700 psychedelic churches in the country. The size of their congregations ranges from several dozen to thousands of members.
Searching for spiritual experience
The magazine describes people who view experiences with psilocybin, ayahuasca, ibogaine, MDMA, and other psychoactive substances as a path to personal transformation. One of the publication's interviewees, Wyatt from Pittsburgh, said that after a course involving ibogaine in Mexico, he reconsidered his addiction and religious beliefs. According to him, the experience strengthened his faith and helped him change his attitude toward his own life.
According to a report by Annals of Internal Medicine cited by Rolling Stone, the number of adults over 30 who used psilocybin during the previous year rose by 188% between 2019 and 2023. Philip Lucas, founder of the Global Psychedelic Survey, noted that religious and spiritual motives are among the main reasons for using such substances in North America.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Moving away from traditional institutions
Lucas links this trend to some Americans moving away from traditional religious practices and seeking spirituality in other forms. According to him, psychedelics can induce a powerful sense of awe, a reassessment of one's place in the world, and an experience of unity with the universe.
Rolling Stone also cites Pew Research Center data showing that fewer than a third of Americans attend church regularly. At the same time, seven out of ten US residents are more likely to describe themselves as spiritual than religious.
The publication described the work of the Costa Rican Rythmia Life Advancement Center, where visitors pay about $5,000 for a week-long program with ayahuasca ceremonies. The center's founder, Gerry Powell, stated that spiritual experiences without a stable structure and ethical restrictions can be dangerous.
