Why are a lot of people who smoke marijuana/do psychedelics atheists?

This has always bothered me, as I consider my work with marijuana and psychedelics a very real personal, spiritual and intellectual transformative process. It has me much more lucid about the realms of perception, the nature of the universe and the creation behind it (God).
Why do people like myself feel the presence of the ultimate oneness which is God and some issue a blind eye to it and do not feel the same way? I am ever so certain that there is consciousness, energy and a life after our physical being dies and a divine 'being' greater than us, and marijuana/psychedelics help me realize this in a much more direct and profound way.

I smoke a lot of weed and also indulge in psychedelics and I'm Christian. I don't think that them doing marijuana or any other drug has a lot with them being atheist, well it could.

imo, christians as a whole might be considered more conservative and therefore might not be as likely to smoke pot.

Simply because we don't believe in a theistic being doesn't mean we're unable to feel one with ourselves or nature. That's why psychedelic use in general is also very personal, because it's not only spiritual enlightenment, but intellectual enlightment and emotional discoveries. I don't need to believe in a deity in order to learn something from an insight or revelation, it simply occurs.

Drugs or no drugs, there have always been people, like myself, who were born with minds that cannot believe in deities or anything supernatural.

I'm an Agnostic, and I've seen religion as a benefit and threat to society, however, it has brought human expansion so pleasantly far, but the atrocities have been boundless in the past and they will be in the future. But why should those who don't even believe in the spoken God, become the victims of religious hate through death, murder, rape, and secrecy? I'm a spiritualist and a man of life, enduring a difficult chapter of our planet, and seek to see truth in life. If I die at the hands of religion, all sides take the blame, but I consider this long threatening creation the great obstacle of my life to accept as natural.

I've been Agnostic since I can remember, only my thoughts on atheism vs. religion was much obscure before I started cannabis.

I've never been a junkie, God Forbid. :D

im an atheist but then again ive always been, way before weed or psychedelics [lsd and mushrooms just further confirmed my 'atheist creed']. If anything i think its the other way around. Possibly more atheists tend to gravitate toward weed because they dont have that central pillar of religion that their lifes revolve around. The idea of having a 'god' looking over and judging you might deter people from smoking weed. Im not sure though. I know plenty of people that are religous and smoke weed, I know the fiendiest of fiends that are devout catholic. I know atheists that smoke and trip.
I am pretty sure that your not going to get a clear answer though, thats just too vast of a generalization to make.

So psychedelic experiences only induce spiritual experiences depending on your mindset?
It's amazing the variation between experiences depending on different types of set and setting.

I've never had anything 'spiritual' per say when it comes to psychedelic states, but that might be just me? The only thing close to spirituality is feeling one with the earth, or appreciating the complexity of nature from a scientific standpoint. It's interesting learning about physics, nature, biology, astronomy, ect when you're baked. Religious people might appreciate it for the fact it exists because they believe a god made it, but truly understanding the minute mechanisms of how nature works from a scientific standpoint is far more rewarding :)

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Originally Posted by Purple Banana

I've never had anything 'spiritual' per say when it comes to psychedelic states, but that might be just me? The only thing close to spirituality is feeling one with the earth, or appreciating the complexity of nature from a scientific standpoint. It's interesting learning about physics, nature, biology, astronomy, ect when you're baked. Religious people might appreciate it for the fact it exists because they believe a god made it, but truly understanding the minute mechanisms of how nature works from a scientific standpoint is far more rewarding :)

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You don't think that feeling of being one with the earth is spiritual? I do.

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Originally Posted by Purple Banana

truly understanding the minute mechanisms of how nature works from a scientific standpoint is far more rewarding :)

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amen!

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Originally Posted by Purple Banana

I've never had anything 'spiritual' per say when it comes to psychedelic states, but that might be just me? The only thing close to spirituality is feeling one with the earth, or appreciating the complexity of nature from a scientific standpoint. It's interesting learning about physics, nature, biology, astronomy, ect when you're baked. Religious people might appreciate it for the fact it exists because they believe a god made it, but truly understanding the minute mechanisms of how nature works from a scientific standpoint is far more rewarding :)

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The greatest truth about what this website is all about, right here.

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Originally Posted by Purple Banana

truly understanding the minute mechanisms of how nature works from a scientific standpoint is far more rewarding :)

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Originally Posted by Metaphor

amen!

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Can't you have both? Understanding the minute mechanisms of how nature works and also realizing that an all-powerful god created it in all its perfection?

No, because we can actively see and observe these natural processes. It's simply much more rewarding.

Why does it bother you that people have psychedelic experiences who do not believe in a deity? Should we not be allowed to experience it? Everyone experiences psychedelics in different states of mind, why should this deity issue be any different?

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Originally Posted by Purple Banana

No, because we can actively see and observe these natural processes. It's simply much more rewarding.

Why does it bother you that people have psychedelic experiences who do not believe in a deity? Should we not be allowed to experience it? Everyone experiences psychedelics in different states of mind, why should this deity issue be any different?

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Just because you can actively see and observe the natural processes means a god didn't create it? That doesn't make any sense.

I'm just curious... most, if not all, psychedelics come from different cultures/tribes who use it for spiritual purposes. It seems many have 'westernized' it though to mean nothing.
I never said you shouldn't be allowed to experience it. This experience is something built-in that every person can access.

The way spirituality is described is
"Having to do with deep feelings and beliefs, including a personâ??s sense of peace, purpose, connection to others and beliefs about the meaning of life."

That seems very similar to my experiences with cannabis. Deep feelings and beliefs (much deeper than normal thinking). A sense of inner peace (thoughts aligned, content), purpose (in your face reality -- everything is more purposeful), connection to others (as you said, feeling one with earth, connection to earth, plants, living things, nature, etc) and beliefs about the meaning of life (I OFTEN go into deep philosophical thinking about the meaning of life.. there is no way of knowing for sure, but you can have beliefs and theories)

I'm just wondering if people experience something similar to that spiritual experience above, or if experiences are so completely different with other people, or if we are simply misinterpreting the definition of spirituality.

I'm not talking about a deity.. I've never encountered one on any of my experiences (although I think it is certainly possible with certain plants.. especially DMT, on high enough dose, the right set and setting and mindset -- going in really deep throughout it all). And I'm not saying that the deity is God.. I think God is all around us, in nature, the universe and in our selves.

They went into the experience much more close minded is what i would assume, when you enter the experience with an open mind you will get much more profound effects.

You can be spiritual while being atheist though, I really don't see why it's an issue to believe in a god, otherwise you're not spiritual?

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Originally Posted by Cannabis-Sativa

They went into the experience much more close minded is what i would assume, when you enter the experience with an open mind you will get much more profound effects.

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That is what I was thinking. Certainly those who just smoke pot and watch TV or listen to rap music are not getting the full effects of cannabis. Cultural diversion from what is real, as Terence McKenna would put it.

But I'm still unsure.. does that suggest that those who are atheists/do not believe in anything simply have a close mind?

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Originally Posted by Purple Banana

You can be spiritual while being atheist though, I really don't see why it's an issue to believe in a god, otherwise you're not spiritual?

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I don't really see those being compatible. If you are spiritual you believe in a spirit other than the physical body. Atheism just means when you die, you're dead.. absolutely nothing, correct? These direct spiritual experiences while on cannabis or on psychedelics to my are almost evidence that there is a greater being than myself and that I am apart of a spiritual realm/dimension.

This discussing is also in another website (Rollitup), but it is posed "Do you believe in God? In poll form it was 29% yes, 19% higher power , not a Christian God, 29% no and 8 undecided. Its turned into a bunch of people trying to chane one another belief, with athiest giving links to big bang theories and such. I myself am a Christian, and i believe that growing has made me feel closer with God, and the earth I love it, its wonderful!!!

I certainly don't have a closed mind; I used to be Christian, but after some serious soul searching, I turned away from it. I live my life by my own rules, I have very few regrets, I respect people enormously, I'm very spontaneous, and I love learning about everything and anything- History, science, philosophy, medicine, physics, english, everything.

It is because I rejected the life that Christianity asked from me- the Bible as a set of rules, ect. and I find I maintain the general peace-emitting figure that Jesus is supposed to be, I simply believe he was a good role model and nothing more.

There are far too many confusing passages in the Bible that contradict, and I think following the Bible and rejecting everything else seems close-minded if anything else. I'm not saying all Christians are this way- most aren't, but I still like to have full individual freedom from worrying if I'm 'sinning' or not.

I can simply connect directly with an object without the middleman, ad appreciate it for what it is, not who made it, if anyone. I can have these feelings.

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Originally Posted by 1puff2puff3puff

This discussing is also in another website (Rollitup), but it is posed "Do you believe in God? In poll form it was 29% yes, 19% higher power , not a Christian God, 29% no and 8 undecided. Its turned into a bunch of people trying to chane one another belief, with athiest giving links to big bang theories and such. I myself am a Christian, and i believe that growing has made me feel closer with God, and the earth I love it, its wonderful!!!

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Yeah... basically I'm wondering how those that presumably have the same/similiar spiritual experience that I have with cannabis/psychedelic can just shrug off any spiritual meaning from it whatsoever. And for me that direct spiritual experience is DIRECTLY related to a higher power/God. It doesn't seem one can be spiritual and not believe in a higher power.. it almost seems like like a contradiction of sorts.

Spirituality for me is more about being in tune with myself, my body, and my surroundings. It's just always been that way, I've never really felt a divine presence, and I'm just as happy without that higher power presence. Hard to explain, really. I grew up in a very scientific exploratory household, and I simply could not fathom the idea of everything being created and managed by any god. It just seemed unreasonable to me.

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Originally Posted by Purple Banana

I can simply connect directly with an object without the middleman, ad appreciate it for what it is, not who made it, if anyone. I can have these feelings.

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Interesting. That almost to me, seems like you're leaving out a part of what it is. When I do that, I cannot differentiate myself with the two. When I think of what it is, I think it is a creation, and thus who made it.. I get that immediate connection. It (nature for example), is simply too beautiful, too complex, too perfect to just be something that is basically nothing, just something that is and sporadically popped up with no significance.

Like you said PHX..some people arent willing to fully open their minds, i for one cant wake up every morning seeing a beautiful sun, and everything around it and not know that there is more to our existance. Purple, the Bible reads one way, people INTREPRET how ever they please some for personal gain some for power, what you need to do is find a person you can trust and have them break down the true meaning of Gods Word.

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Originally Posted by Purple Banana

Spirituality for me is more about being in tune with myself, my body, and my surroundings. It's just always been that way, I've never really felt a divine presence, and I'm just as happy without that higher power presence. Hard to explain, really. I grew up in a very scientific exploratory household, and I simply could not fathom the idea of everything being created and managed by any god. It just seemed unreasonable to me.

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Hmm... well I would consider being in tune with my self, body and having those direct connections with my surroundings a divine presence in and of itself.

Most pot smokers I have known in the past believed in god. I am an agnostic leaning towards the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

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Originally Posted by 1puff2puff3puff

Like you said PHX..some people arent willing to fully open their minds, i for one cant wake up every morning seeing a beautiful sun, and everything around it and not know that there is more to our existance. Purple, the Bible reads one way, people INTREPRET how ever they please some for personal gain some for power, what you need to do is find a person you can trust and have them break down the true meaning of Gods Word.

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Well, good point.
What do you think about this Purple Banana? Do you think if you cannot open your mind to something greater you are essentially closing your mind to this sort of thinking and having a closed mind about this?

I simply don't associate those things with a god or higher power. That's just the way I am; people may argue my logic, but in the end, I'm still going to believe what I believe; and I wouldn't try to convince you towards my beliefs; if you feel the way you do, I'm all for it, but it seems like you said a more personal issue.

The point you're trying to get across it seems is that you're making the argument that I am close-minded when it comes to these types of issues; I am fully willing to hear others viewpoints on these sorts of things, and you could certaily be right, but after carefully reviewing each bit of information regarding religion, I have decided that my belief structure fits me best, and no other. It's not being close-minded, simply choosing the most personally reasonable idea.

Wow this is an excellent thread...


Anyways, I think the answer is quite simple: you see past the bullshit in life; god seems like an imaginary being (which he is, in my opinion)

I have always been an atheist... and many intense fungus trips confirmed that...

I havent tripped for a while, but I know I always have major epiphanies about my life whenever i indulge... I go into my own world, deep into my own mind where it is impossible to go without certain substances...

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Originally Posted by Unknown American

Most pot smokers I have known in the past believed in god. I am an agnostic leaning towards the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

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Yeah... a lot of people do believe in god as well.

I guess it makes sense what someone said earlier... it is more so what you believed before you've had these experiences. I suppose I just find that kind of strange because I consider these vision plants spiritual tools... Whether you are not opening yourselves up enough is a different, perhaps more difficult question.

My cousin gets extreme intellectual insights when he smokes; he's an architecht. I don't think he's ever had anything BUT ideas come out of a psychedelic experience, I'll have to ask him.

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Originally Posted by FUNKNUGGET

Wow this is an excellent thread...


Anyways, I think the answer is quite simple: you see past the bullshit in life; god seems like an imaginary being (which he is, in my opinion)

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Yeah, well, I guess that is maybe the thing... for me, god does not seem like an imaginary being... for me he is more REAL than ever!

I don't know if 'he' is the correct word, because I don't really know what God exactly is. Is there a name for me? I typically say I'm spiritual but do not affiliate myself with any religion...

And yea, this is a great thread.. I am learning a lot

I think many people talk about what they see, what they gather from these experiences... but I don't really see many people talk about what they feel during these experiences.. and I think that may be one of the more important things. Perhaps its just more harder to put into words.

No one trying to change your opinon, I am just stating mine. , I know God gave us Free Will, and that also goes with accepting Him or not cause He wants us to do that freely....

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Originally Posted by Purple Banana

Simply because we don't believe in a theistic being doesn't mean we're unable to feel one with ourselves or nature. That's why psychedelic use in general is also very personal, because it's not only spiritual enlightenment, but intellectual enlightment and emotional discoveries. I don't need to believe in a deity in order to learn something from an insight or revelation, it simply occurs.

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You just explained what I was going to explain! :)

What if someone said God isn't a deity... God is you, God is Nature, God is the Universe... God is everything?
Then would you say you believed in God?

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Originally Posted by phx123

What if someone said God isn't a deity... God is you, God is Nature, God is the Universe... God is everything?
Then would you say you believed in God?

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I would believe that.

No, because that's not what I believe. I think nature is independent from any higher power.

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Originally Posted by Purple Banana

No, because that's not what I believe. I think nature is independent from any higher power.

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So what if I said the Universe is God? Obviously we know the universe is EXTREMELY powerful, and thus could be considered a higher power.