The Psychedelic Mystical Experience in the Human Encounter with Death
Harvard Theological Review 1969 DOI: 10.1017/s0017816000027577 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness Mystical experience |
| Keywords | Mystical experiences Entheogenic experiences Hallucinogenic experiences Encounter with mortality Re-humanizing death Death acceptance End-of-life perspective Spiritual understanding Spiritual awakening Existential insights Profound spiritual experiences Fear of death Peace with death Psychological well-being Anxiety relief |
| Citations | 147 |
| Key points | Argues that birth and death, as profound human experiences, are becoming insulated from everyday existence due to modern technological efficiency, adding to dehumanization. |
Abstract
This Spring I received a long distance telephone call from Dean Samuel Miller, who invited me to give this year's Ingersoll Lecture on human immortality. Three days later, Dean Miller was dead. When I heard the sad news, I, as many of you no doubt, began to think about the way he had influenced me, especially during my theological training here at Harvard Divinity School. One of my most vivid memories was a point which he emphasized in his class on Religion and Literature. Sam Miller felt strongly that in our modern 20th century two of the most profound and important experiences of human life are becoming more and more insulated from everyday existence. These two experiences, birth and death, have the potential for affecting the character and quality of the rest of life. But in each instance, they are falling victim to modern technological efficiency and adding to the process of dehumanization rather than counteracting it.