The Role of Psychedelics in the Development of Human Religious Practices

The Role of Psychedelics in the Development of Human Religious Practices explores how mind-altering substances have shaped humanity’s search for the sacred. Drawing on neuroscience, archaeology, ethnopharmacology, and art history, Denis Paval offers an accessible, balanced synthesis of a rapidly evolving field. This Brief examines the phenomenology and neuropharmacology of psychedelic experiences, evaluates claims about their historical use in ritual and religion, and addresses the current psychedelic renaissance. Challenging both uncritical enthusiasm and outright skepticism, it provides a concise, evidence-based guide for researchers, clinicians, students, and readers interested in consciousness, spirituality, and the origins of religious practice across cultures worldwide.