Interesting MAPS article - psychedelic and system change
Link: http://www.maps.org/news/bulletin/articles/407-bulletin-spring-2016/6098-psychedelics-and-systems-change-%E2%80%94-spring-2016
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| written by Charles Eisenstein |
Notes:
- Compared to alchohol and tobbacvo, psychedelic drugs are incredibly safe.
"Given statistics comparing the annual number of alcohol-related deaths in the U.S. (88,000) to the number of cannabis-related deaths (zero), the hysterical warnings of prohibitionists that legalization would destroy society as we know it seem ridiculous."
- Article speaks about why these substances are illegal
- Article comments on the current state of the world in terms of peoples lack of connection to nature and consumerism
- Quotes from Alan watts
"Mystical experiences often result in attitudes that threaten the authority not only of established churches, but also of secular society. Unafraid of death and deficient in worldly ambition, those who have undergone mystical experiences are impervious to threats and promises....Use of psychedelics in the United States by a literate bourgeoisie means that an important segment of the population is indifferent to society’s traditional rewards and sanctions."
Key topics
The themes in this article and some of the comments and opinions made by the author are relevant to my topic. Although most of the article is opinionated it is backed up by some evidence. Overall the article raises some interesting questions and provides food for tghough that could help with my essay.
