107. Psychedelic Christianity: Mystic Medicine & Jesus

About this Episode

Craig is joined by Ivan Soto, as we venture into the compelling and controversial territory where Christianity, anarchy, and psychedelics intersect. Listen in as Ivan recounts his personal experiences with these powerful substances, discussing their sacred nature and how they've impacted his spiritual journey. We tackle the tough questions about the role of psychedelics in cognitive enhancement and spiritual awakening, all while examining the risks and misconceptions that come with their use.

Venture with us through the spiritual and emotional landscapes that psychedelics can unlock. We ponder the government's role in regulating these substances and the societal stigmas attached to them. From the debated connection to witchcraft to their legal status, we don't shy away from the tough discussions. Discover why an open dialogue about these substances is crucial within the Christian community and what it means to engage with psychedelics responsibly.

Finally, we explore the transformative potential of psychedelics for personal growth and healing. Reflect with us on how these experiences can offer profound insights into our own psyches, sometimes through challenging "bad trips" that ultimately lead to personal development. Ivan and I consider the potential for psychedelics to be a tool in coping with life's hardships and the intriguing idea of achieving enlightened Christianity. Tune in as we also examine the broader spectrum of spiritual knowledge, questioning whether the Bible is the sole source of divine inspiration or if other experiences, like those with psychedelics, can provide a path to understanding.

Connect with Ivan Soto:

• Facebook

• Instagram

Episode Timestamps:

Timestamps:

01:02 Introduction: Exploring Psychedelics and Christianity

• Ivan Soto opens the discussion with his personal journey with psychedelics.

• The sacred nature of psychedelics is recognized.

02:00 The Double-Edged Sword of Psychedelics

• Ivan underlines the fact that psychedelics aren't suitable for everyone.

• Importance of understanding individual mental health when considering psychedelic use.

06:00 Stigmas Surrounding Psychedelics

• Discusses the societal stigmas and misconceptions about substances like marijuana.

• The damaging effects of misinformation on the perception of these substances.

09:16 Exploring Psychedelics and Spirituality

• Discussion on the potential of psychedelics for inducing humbling experiences.

• A reminder that not everyone is suited for these experiences.

11:00 Government Regulations and Psychedelics

• A critique the government's role in regulating these substances.

• Historical association of psychedelics with witchcraft.

12:00 The Christian Perspective on Psychedelics

• Ivan calls for open Christian dialogue on the topic of psychedelics.

13:01 Debunking Misconceptions About Witchcraft

• Discusses misconceptions about witchcraft and its overlap with prayer and reality manipulation.

17:00 Psychedelics as Tools for Spiritual Insight

• The use of psychedelics for gaining spiritual insights.

• Drawing parallels between religious figures and psychedelic users.

20:00 The Cultural Significance of Psychedelics

• Exploring the cultural significance of substances like the Amanita muscaria mushroom.

22:54 The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelics

• The healing potential of psychedelics for emotional and cognitive issues.

27:45 Importance of Set and Setting in Psychedelic Use

• The significance of environment and mindset when using psychedelics.

• Personal insights on the experiences with MDMA and LSD.

30:00 Using Psychedelics for Personal Growth

• The role of intention in using psychedelics for personal growth.

32:26 The Dark Side of Psychedelics: Bad Trips

• Discusses "bad trips" as opportunities for personal insight and psychological understanding.

34:00 Recreational vs Therapeutic Use of Psychedelics

• Highlights the differences between recreational and therapeutic use of psychedelics.

35:00 Psychedelics for Depression and Grief

• Psychedelics as potential aids for coping with depression and grief.

35:09 Spiritual Enlightenment: Scripture vs Psychedelics

• The debate on attaining spiritual enlightenment through scripture vs. psychedelic experiences.

40:00 The Role of the Holy Spirit in Guiding Truth

• The Spirit's role as a guide to truth.

• Early church writings enhancing understanding of the Bible.

43:00 Beyond the Bible: Other Sources of Divine Inspiration

• Questioning the Bible as the sole source of divine inspiration.

• Introduction to the concept of 'apocatastasis'.

---

Related Episodes

Related Blog Post

82. What do jiu-jitsu and anarchism have in common? with Tyler Rose

About this Episode

What happens when the Bad Roman meets a Christian Anarchist while training for jiu-jitsu? He invites him on the show, of course. Tyler Rose and Craig discuss Christianity, anarchy philosophy, self-reliance, and their experiences in the jiu-jitsu gym. They discuss why the term “good cop” is an oxymoron and contrast the need for a sovereign state with enforcers with self-reliance and the benefits of learning jiu-jitsu.

There seem to be a lot of libertarian or anarchism-inclined people amongst those who are regularly at the gym training in jiu-jitsu; many hold to ideas of decentralization, individualism, and self-reliance. Tyler suggests that jiu-jitsu has everything for the intellectual and anyone who is athletically built. Craig and Tyler talk about the various types of people they’ve met and their experiences grappling in the gym. As a Christian and a pacifist, one of the neat things about jiu-jitsu is its ability to teach anyone how to control any violent situation while deciding exactly how much damage their opponent will sustain as they take control of any violent incident to protect themselves or their family. If you practice a martial-art or have ever thought about taking up jiu-jitsu, this episode is a must-listen!

Tyler Rose:

Fountain Memphis – Pentecostal church in Bartlett

Brotherhood jiu-jitsu in Mountainview Arkansas

Memphis Judo and Jiu-jitsu

Episode Timestamps:

1:48 – Who is Tyler Rose?

• Pentecostal 

• Got into politics at age 15 with an interest in American political history

• Saw the revolutionary war as ‘God inspired’

• Became libertarian, then anarchist

• Self-reliance is important

• Grew up in North Memphis

7:56 – We don’t need a sovereign government or their cops

• The church should help the vulnerable, widows, and orphans

• It was done with consensual aid in the early church

• All laws end in death

• If it’s not worth someone dying over, don’t call the cops

• Good cops cannot exist

• The job of governing others is inherently evil

• Law enforcement is nothing but a gang

• Cops can disrespect a man, and he can’t do anything back

• If any man without a badge and gun spoke like a cop, they would be punched

• Cops have lost respect for other men

• “Just following orders” is a terrible excuse

• Tyler’s “friend” who was a cop, was bragging about injuring a man on the street

21:40 – Don’t rely on the police; learn jiu-jitsu instead

• Men should be able to defend themselves and their families on their own

• That’s why jiu-jitsu was attractive to Craig

• The jiu-jitsu community is very encouraging

• The anarchist and jiu-jitsu communities seem to overlap quite a bit

• People who are athletic and smart tend to enjoy jiu-jitsu

• Jiu-jitsu is great for increasing physical strength

• But it's still better to use defense and control the fight than overpower anyone

• Jiu-jitsu is good for teaching children discipline and self-defense

• Jiu-jitsu is the most popular art that avoids punching people but will still give the sportsman the advantage in a fight

• There’s no need to harm your drunk uncle 

• You can put someone out calmly with jiu-jitsu

• The argument can be over without ever injuring a person

• At 56 years old, Henzo could defend himself against a random attack on the subway

• It gives confidence in one’s capabilities to be well-prepared in any situation

• Jiu-jitsu can aid women in self-defense as well

• When Tyler began, he got his but kicked by a teenage girl who weighed much less than him

52:40 – Anarchy philosophy

• No King But Christ means, “I already have a king. I don’t need a politician.”

• There are two responses to the term anarchy

• People would just run the streets shooting people because there are no laws

• No, people don’t shoot other people because they are good people

• It’s still wrong to violate life, liberty, and property

• Anarchists aren’t out there throwing Molotov cocktails

• It’s in our best interest to get along

• Craig thinks jiu-jitsu and anarchy are similar in that everyone encourages and helps their fellow man to do better and succeed 

• Tyler agrees

• Tyler has noticed that most regular jiu-jitsu practitioners hold to ideas of decentralization and self-reliance

• They are intelligent enough to know they need to defend themselves

• They are mostly libertarian and close to anarchism

• Maybe even anarchists without realizing it or saying it

---

Related Episodes

Related Blog Post