CHAPTER 4: Fungi as “Entheogens”
The American Phytopathological Society eBooks 2008 DOI: 10.1094/9780890547281.004 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key findings | Argues that hypotheses linking psychoactive fungi to ancient rituals and religion, such as Amanita muscaria and Vedic soma, remain controversial and debated, yet persist in modern culture through a blend of scholarship and speculative reinterpretation. |
Abstract
Historical and mythological accounts suggest that psychoactive fungi influenced ancient rituals and possibly religion. Scholars debate hypotheses linking Amanita muscaria to Vedic soma, fungi to Eleusinian mysteries, and psychoactive use to Christian origins. While controversial, these ideas persist in modern culture, blending scholarship with speculative reinterpretation.