Plants of the Gods: Religion and Psychedelics is an elective course by William ‘Bill’ Barnard. It offers an in-depth exploration of the religious use of psychedelic substances, known as entheogens, such as psilocybin mushrooms, peyote, and ayahuasca. Through examining their use in various religious traditions throughout history, students gain a comprehensive understanding of the powerful visionary and mystical experiences entheogens can catalyze and their potential to facilitate communion with sacred beings.
In addition to exploring the religious and cultural significance of entheogens, the course also delves into the history of the reception and rejection of these substances in Western culture. The course highlights the scientific study of the therapeutic effects of entheogens, which flourished from the 1950s to the early 1970s and have recently resumed with promising results.
Taught by Dr G. William Barnard, a Professor of Religious Studies and a leading scholar in the field of mysticism and consciousness studies, this course provides a unique and comprehensive perspective on the religious and spiritual significance of entheogens. By the end of the course, students gain a deeper appreciation of the role of entheogens in human spirituality and their potential for therapeutic benefit.