PT 605 - Jeff Breau - Exploring Psychedelic Churches at Harvard Divinity School

In this episode of Psychedelics Today, hosts sit down with Jeff Breau from Harvard Divinity School's Center for the Study of World Religions. Key themes include the intersection of psychedelics and religion, harm reduction practices, and the burgeoning psychedelic church movement. Jeff brings insights from his ethnographic research on psychedelic churches and discusses the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration for advancing understanding in this field. He also delves into the role of music in psychedelic therapy, critiques of the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ), and the potential for psychedelic chaplaincy. Tune in for an enlightening conversation on the evolving landscape of psychedelics in society and spirituality. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:18 Music in Psychedelic Therapy 02:13 Cultural Context of Music in Therapy 06:08 Personal Journey into Psychedelics and Religion 08:40 Living at an Ashram and Spiritual Practices 15:52 Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ) 33:01 Psychedelic Churches and Legal Challenges 46:11 The Intersection of Law and Religion 46:34 Emergence of Psychedelic Churches 48:41 The Democratization of Mystical Experiences 49:49 Technologies of Revelation 51:10 Novel Rituals and Spiritual Practices 53:49 Humor and Irreverence in Religion 56:44 Reevaluating the Term 'Cult' 01:10:11 Psychedelic Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care 01:18:44 Burning Man as a Model for Religiosity 01:22:43 The Rise of Iboga in American Christianity 01:25:56 Conclusion and Future Directions Links https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/people/jeffrey-breau