Fredl
17th August 2005, 07:39 PM
I'm just finishing up a book, "DMT The Spirit Molecule" that deals with the effects of a peculiar substance named DMT. It occurs naturally in the human body, but is VERY carefully controlled within the body. At least MOST of the time. When injected, it has very peculiar effects, somewhat similar to LSD but more intense and briefer. This book is about a carefully conducted scientific investigation of the effects of this substance.
The results are very interesting. And strange.
Since the 1960s and 1970s, investigation of drug or otherwise induced alternative states of conscious and the realities they reveal has very much gone out of fashion but, at least by my take, understanding these experiences is key to understanding what happened to Joseph Smith. I just don't think it's possible to fully fathom his experience in terms of every-day "consensus reality". I don't think it's possible to fully understand how the Book of Mormon was produced in those same terms, either.
Similarly, I don't think we're close to understanding the "Alien Abduction" experience in terms of "Every Day Concensus Reality". I think that if a person is pretty much constrained by the constraints of "every day consensus reality", alien abduction experiences can only be regarded as a joke or hoax. To the people that are involved in them, they clearly are neither.
Now, that does NOT mean I accept Joseph Smith's interpretation or the view of the LDS church on the matter. But, similarly, I do not accept explainations based on the premise that the whole matter is easily enough explained in terms of the whole matter being a simple hoax.
I find myself being drawn to Paganism of late. I think the reason is that, despite its many problems, Paganism, as I understand it, evokes a healthy repect for mystery and the unknown. This is something that is pretty much lacking in Mormonism and something that I have found myself missing more and more in my life.
Fred
The results are very interesting. And strange.
Since the 1960s and 1970s, investigation of drug or otherwise induced alternative states of conscious and the realities they reveal has very much gone out of fashion but, at least by my take, understanding these experiences is key to understanding what happened to Joseph Smith. I just don't think it's possible to fully fathom his experience in terms of every-day "consensus reality". I don't think it's possible to fully understand how the Book of Mormon was produced in those same terms, either.
Similarly, I don't think we're close to understanding the "Alien Abduction" experience in terms of "Every Day Concensus Reality". I think that if a person is pretty much constrained by the constraints of "every day consensus reality", alien abduction experiences can only be regarded as a joke or hoax. To the people that are involved in them, they clearly are neither.
Now, that does NOT mean I accept Joseph Smith's interpretation or the view of the LDS church on the matter. But, similarly, I do not accept explainations based on the premise that the whole matter is easily enough explained in terms of the whole matter being a simple hoax.
I find myself being drawn to Paganism of late. I think the reason is that, despite its many problems, Paganism, as I understand it, evokes a healthy repect for mystery and the unknown. This is something that is pretty much lacking in Mormonism and something that I have found myself missing more and more in my life.
Fred