Very thoughtful input Morbo, Lol. But realistically, billions of people care what jesus did 2000 years ago. Where do you think all those Conservatives and Republicans come from? You are directly affected by their belief systems through their political input, cultural input (christmas, easter, etc.) and are legal system is as well, as it is largely based on Biblical concepts of law. Even mid-east policy and the founding of the nation of Israel are deeply influenced by what occurs in the Bible.

"it might actually work or not , time will tell"

Glad to see we have made some progess as well.

All the more reason one should not combine perceived blasphemy with marijuana reform. Getting high is not much of a religious experience since the altered state of consciousness is shared by everyone whether they believe in God or Darwin. Marijuana is a drug. See how irrefutable the truth is?



Aye, it is rather curious to me that nobody I know has yet to wean themselves off their dependence on pain killing prescription drugs in spite of being a med pot patient. Not that I`m in favor of eliminating med pot; it`s a very safe platform from which to build on. I just wish these assholes would quit dealing drugs using their OMMA Card like DML uses storefront harm reduction bullshit to sell drugs to addicts, or Brother Tucker using a church as a cover for drug dealing, or ME comparing himself to..........
.......

A lot of US already know what never succeeds. We went through that F/U already. http://reason.com/archives/1993/06/01/selling-pot Let me venture an educated guess; marijuana needs cultivation in order to produce good results, just as marijuana law reform movements need to learn a little more about cultivating acceptance from a solid majority of public opinion. Dealing drugs and comparing the Holy Spirit to getting high on cannabis ain`t going to make the cut, boys and girls.

Percieved blasphemy? LMAO You are priceless I think you need to ask yourself "What would Satan do?"

"Marijuana is a drug." Actually, it is a plant, and it has been used as a medicine for millennia long before anyone even used the term "drug".

Benji,you love marijuana as much as me, that is why you have been on this site every day for years admit it, you are obsessed with pot and the pot movement, particulary here in Vansterdam, that obsession is your reason for being. Come to terms with it man, embrace it.

Cannabis has always been a part of religion, and that relationship predates Christianity by 3500 years, that is a historical, documented, fact, and there is not a thing you can say to change that fact. learn to live with it. Moreover, cannabis is the inspirational source of the world's oldest existing relgions. As well, since then, there has always been religions that used cannabis and there always well be. My spiritual use of cananbis is part of a continual tradition that goes back at the very least 5500. Its just that now i have had enough of these upstart religions, and I am going to shake the once and future Tree of Life, just watch don't hold your breath though, these things take time, but i am in for the long haul.

In regards to the sacramental use of cannabis and religious freedom, I would first point out the right to cannabis, indeed all plants, cacti and fungi, is a natural right that supersedes even the religious use issue, more akin to our right to air, earth and water - this is about life on earth and indigenous natural relationships. I can say to you with confidence, there is no religious doctrine not transcribed by the hand of man, but no matter what god or goddess one believes in, they should also believe that god created the plants of the earth. Indeed, in the case of the popular belief of our own culture, the Biblical God quite clearly states: “Behold, I have Given you Every Herb Bearing Seed which is Upon the Face of all the Earth” (Genesis 1:29).

That said, historically cannabis has played a paramount role in the spiritual life of man, dating further back than any existing religion. The late archaeologist Andrew Sherratt of the Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, pointed to the use of cannabis incenses at a gravesite of a group known as the Proto-Indo-Europeans, the Kurgans, who occupied what is now Romania 5,000 years ago. The discovery of a smoking-cup which contained remnants of charred hemp seeds at the site documents that at 3,500 years before Christ humanity had already been using cannabis for religious purposes for millennia.
These same people were the first to domesticate the horse, and it was with them that we find the linguistic roots of the term ‘cannabis’, which comes from an ancient Proto- Indo-European root word, “kanap”; the “an” from this root left traces in many modern terms for cannabis, such as French “chanvre”, German “hanf”, Indian “bhang”, Persian “bhanga”, Dutch “Canvas”, Greek “Kannabis,” and so on. Through their high mobility, these ancient ancestors of numerous modern cultures spread not only the plant and name, but also the religious and magical connotations that had grown around it. Evidence of this has even left their traces in some of the world’s oldest existing religions.
Anthropologist Sula Benet initiated decades of theological debate by identifying the Hebrew terms keneh, and keneh bosem, (cane, fragrant cane) as cannabis, noting the similarities to the modern term cannabis, and also the name used by contemporary Assyrians for the plant, qunubu, as well as the similar way they used it. In Assyria, qunubu was not only a widely used medicine, but also a key ingredient used in incenses and other preparations for the “Sacred Rites” and a means to commune with God: ‘So that god of man and man should be in good rapport: - with hellebore, cannabis and lupine you will rub him’” (Russo 2005).
Interestingly, a similar scenario appears in the Biblical narrative, where the Lord, who curiously first appears to Moses as a burning bush, commands him to make a holy anointing oil with roughly 6 pounds of cannabis, mixed with myrrh, and cinnamon into about a gallon and a half of olive-oil. When Moses is to seek the Lord’s advice, he enters the enclosure of the
“Tent of the Meeting” anoints his body with this cannabis infused preparation (THC is fatty soluble and such topical preparations have been reported to have a psychoactive effect), as well as anointing the alter of incense, and then proceeds to talk to the Lord in the pillar of smoke that forms over the incense altar! Adding the factor of a psycho-active substance into this scenario produces some troubling alternatives to current theological beliefs, and turns Moses into a Shamanic figure that used plants to achieve spiritual insights. Even at the time of Moses, its use was strictly prohibited to the priest caste and then later extended to kings.
Ironically later Old Testament references to cannabis via Benet’s identifications, indicate that as the Israelites went from a wandering nomadic tribe to a settled kingdom with a huge infrastructure, such shamanic visionaries took the backseat to establishing laws and taxation amounts, and by the time of Jeremiah cannabis had clearly fallen into disfavour amongst the ruling Hebrews. According to Sula Benet an error later occurred in the oldest Greek translation of the Hebrew Texts “where the terms kaneh, kaneh bosem were incorrectly translated as ‘calamus’” and that this error followed through in later translations down to modern times.
Despite these early prohibitions, use of the Holy Oil re-emerged during the early Christian period, particularly amongst Gnostic sects. Indeed, the Greek term “Christ” is a translation of the Hebrew “messiah,” and means the “Anointed One”. New Testament and Gnostic texts indicate a role for the cannabis-infused Holy Oil and incenses for both healing and enlightenment, only to again be later repressed by the machination of the Roman Catholic Church and the inception of the Dark Ages
Recent archaeological finds in China indicate that Indo-European culture also penetrated the Han Chinese region much earlier than previously thought. From 2000-400 BC, China hosted the Indo-European Guchi culture, who cultivated and collected potent strains of female cannabis for spiritual and likely medicinal purposes, as attested to the over two pounds of the herb which accompanied a 2700 year old Shaman’s tomb. Undoubtedly the Gushi culture came into contact with indigenous Han Chinese users, who recognized cannabis as the “plant of immortality” and where it had a huge influence on the Taoist religion.
In China, the local indigenous name hu-ma term stuck to the plant, and was exported with it into the Bactria-Margiana region of Afghanistan, where a drink made from a mixture of cannabis and Ephedra was made in to drink known as Haoma, the sacrament of the Avestan religion, and later Zoroastrians. From Afghanistan cannabis and the sacred beverage made from it were travelled with the Indo Europeans to India, where linguistic changes resulted in its name Soma, the psychoactive beverage that inspired the Vedic religion, and as a result the sacramental use of hemp has survived in Indian religions such as Hinduism and Sikhism, and through both Indian Persian Zoroastrian influences cannabis use filtered into the Islamic Sufi movement.
Thus in answer to the question “Can Smoking Marijuana be Considered a Religion?!”, I would state: Cannabis – the once and future tree of life – is the inspirational fountain from which whole religions have sprung forth!
“Religious use of psychedelic plants is a civil rights issue; its restriction is the repression of a legitimate religious sensibility. In fact, it is not a religious sensibility that is being repressed, but the religious sensibility, an experience of religion based the plant-human relationships that were in place long before the advent of history." –Terrence Mckenna (1946-2000)

"How many Professors have you got to read your 3, 500 page, books?"

You sure are a proud one ain't ya? In the bible it says pride goes before a fall. Heres what ya do, get some backing from a large christian group, not some bunch of stoners out worshiping a plant, and see what the leaders of that christian group have to say about your theorys.

"Undo the hard work of others?"

Exactly! Your self-rightious beligerence does more harm then good. Your trying to make jesus a stoner for your own personal gain of adulation. Who cares if it steps all over a religions toes as long as you can feel importent, right?

"you are a laugh a minute you anonymous little fellow. How about your attempt take claim for non-accomplishments. You can't even identify any for yourself...."

I don't need to feel importent to feel my worth. I know what I am, and thats all I need. The issue is whats importent, not me or what I have done. I don't care for adulation as others seem to. You wear your activismn as a badge for others to see and praise. To me that makes you untrue to the cause.

"I am on a mission from god"

I love the Blues Brothers. Great movie. I doubt any god has picked you to do anything for them though. What you do you seem to do for yourself. Evidence of this is your continued harping on the things you have done and how that translates into worth for you.

" Numbers of churches have formed around it though, all over the place."

I am not surprised at all. Churches spring up around all manner of crazy shit. Hell, I might even go to church if I can sit around and get high there.

"is by no-means the extent of my activism"

Your deeds mean nothing to me as I see you as doing them for you, not for the movement.

"the business Mama Indica's Hemp seed treats, the first commercial wholesaler of hemp food products, and also manufacturer of hemp clothes and paper pads, 1992-1999, then i ran pot.tv from 2000-2005 taking it to 12 million shows viewed"

Making a living off the movement are ya? Figures.

"but all that fails in comparison to the effect you have proabably had telling your mama and daddy about hemp, as well as your puff buddies."

Do you think non-stoners went to pot tv? The fact that you think you did so much while others efforts were nothing says a lot about you. You have just insulted all the people that have actually did the true work, and went to the people with the message and changed the minds of people that normally would not visit your stoner site. Your sitting on your high horse taking crdit for what others have done and acting like your the only one that makes a difference in the drug war. You are nothing without the grass roots my egotistical friend. You would do well not to forget that.

"it was likely through Paul"

What did paul say about it?

"It was likely also"

"Likely, the rejection of the Gnostic sacraments"

I am starting to see a pattern of "likely" here. Do you have any solid evidence at all?

"Acts 9:8-9"

Says nothing of paul using or sampling anything. Your speculating. I have never heard of anyone losing thier sight for days from a little hash oil, have you? What were the scales that fell from his eyes?

"Corinthians 12:2"

I went and smoked a thumb sized joint, but still did not see any reference to weed in that. It's "likely" that your trying to twist what is said to fit your agenda.

"It is possibly here with Irenaeus, that we first see the entheogens condemned by members of the Roman congregation."

It's just as possible that it was not. Why would christians condem something jesus did?

"the continued utilization of the entheogens, as in the faith’s beginnings, would mean continuing revelations from the ingesters."

You mean ingesters like jesus? You have any solid evidence of this speculation, or do I just have to believe it on faith?

"Throughout the Old Testament the recipient of the anointing oil interpreted its psychoactive effects as the Lord’s blessing in form of possession by the Holy Spirit. As Jesus himself is recorded to have stated on claiming his messianic mantle: “The Spirit of Yahweh God is upon me, because Yahweh has anointed me.” (Bennett & McQueen, 2001)"

What was wrong with using the whole quote?

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

I think it is likely that jesus was saying that god picked him to do the things listed. I doubt that god came down and got jesus stoned with some oil.

"“At these meetings you should heed the bishop and presbytery attentively, and break one loaf, which is the medicine of immortality and the antidote which wards off death but yields continuous life in union with Jesus Christ…. Thus no devil’s weed will be found among you.”

You believe the devils weed is in reference to pot? It says nothing of oils, only the devils weed. You have to speculate as to the meaning of devils weed to get to your theory.

"the Christian emperor Theodosius decreed that all sacrifice to idols, meaning libations of wine and burning of incense, were declared treasonous-crimes against the state punishable by death."

Hmmm, so you reckon this emperor thought of jesus as an idol? Is that what the emperor said, or is that what you decided he was likely saying?

" Indeed, as much as for ridding the land of all pagan deities and their various Mystery Cults, Theodosius’ prohibitions were directed at ridding the Empire of the entheogenic sacraments and the shamanistic revelations they provided…"

So they knew jesus did it, and went ahead and did away with it because of other religions doing it too? That is an interesting theory. Do you have any solid evidence for this theory?

"Thus a concerted attack on the use of sacred inebriants was mounted"

By whom? When did this take place, and where is the record of it?

I see in your theory much speculation. Do you truely believe god is guiding you to see these things, or is it more likely that you are seeing these things to advance your agenda?

Warlord

"Actually, it is a plant, and it has been used as a medicine for millennia long before anyone even used the term "drug"."

Actually, it is a drug when it is consumed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug

Warlord

"Actually, it is a drug when it is consumed."

No its still a plant, by that standard every molecule in plants that has an effect on the human system, is a Drug. Are carrots drugs because they have vitamin A? oranges for vitmain C? Sugar? heck gluten has mild psychoactive properties... is bread a drug?

"Heres what ya do, get some backing from a large christian group, not some bunch of stoners out worshiping a plant, and see what the leaders of that christian group have to say about your theorys."

Why would I do that? I am not a Christian and few christians now much about the history of their faith.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners"

I do use the whole quote, just not there in that excert. Indeed a perfect quote for the return of the tree of life, healing and freedom.

Are you saying Jesus performed actual miracles? and some how this is more realistic than a medical explanantion through use of a healing plant?

"I think it is likely that jesus was saying that god picked him to do the things listed. I doubt that god came down and got jesus stoned with some oil."

So you think God came down from Heaven and gave Jesus magic powers? LMAO, now we are getting somewhere...... can see why you disagree with what I've been saying.

"So they knew jesus did it, and went ahead and did away with it because of other religions doing it too? That is an interesting theory. Do you have any solid evidence for this theory? "

Actually it has more to do with the suppression of religions of direct expereince as with Gnostic and pagan sources, to a heirachial claim that acts as an intercessor to god, and the practice of faith instead of experience. Its about political control.

"So they knew jesus did it, and went ahead and did away with it because of other religions doing it too? That is an interesting theory. Do you have any solid evidence for this theory?"

Yes, loads, much more than thee is that the miracls of the Bible are true. The Church father's recorded pages and pages of why they were supressing other religious groups, including Christian Gnostic sects. As well, we have accounts from Gnostics themselves about these same conflicts: From Sex, Drugs, Violence and the Bible:

The survivng Gnostic descriptions of the effects of the anointing rite make it very clear that the holy oil had intense psycho-active properties, which prepared the recipient for entrance into "unfading bliss". In some Gnostic texts like the Pistis Sophia and the Books of Jeu, the "spiritual ointment" is a prerequisite for entry into the highest mystery. 10

In the Gospel of Philip it is written that the initiates of the empty rite of Baptism:

"go down into the water and come up without having received anything. . . The anointing (chrisma) is superior to baptism. For from the anointing we were called 'anointed ones' (Christians), not because of the baptism. And Christ also was [so] named because of the anointing, for the Father anointed the son, and the son anointed the apostles, and the apostles anointed us. [Therefore] he who has been anointed has the All. He has the resurrection, the light. . . the Holy Spirit. . . [If] one receives this unction, this person is no longer a Christian but a Christ."

Similarly, the Gospel of Truth records that Jesus specifically came into their midst so that he:

"might anoint them with the ointment. The ointment is the mercy of the Father. . . those whom he has anointed are the ones who have become perfect."

The apocryphal book, The Acts of Thomas, refers to the ointment's entheogenic effects as being specifically derived from a certain plant:

Holy oil, given us for sanctification, hidden mystery in which the cross was shown us, you are the unfolder of the hidden parts. You are the humiliator of stubborn deeds. You are the one who shows the hidden treasures. You are the plant of kindness. Let your power come by this [unction].


As the German Gnostic scholar Kurt Rudolph recorded:


Anointing with oil has a greater representation than baptism in Gnosis and… is even regarded as more significant... This association… is linked up with the name of Christ, "the Anointed One". Magical connotations also played an important role: anointing oil expelled demons and gave protection against them; correspondingly it cured and dispelled the "sickness" of the soul and body. Hence exorcism (driving out) was performed by means of anointing. The ancient magical texts provide abundant evidence for this application of oil. Often the anointing is taken as a "sealing", the ointment as a "seal", i.e. it is a protective act and declaration of property. The deity in this way assures the believers through the priests and they enjoy its protection... In the foreground however is the concept of redemption, the gift of immortality which is transmitted by anointing.(Rudolph 1987)


(It should be noted that Rudolph was unaware of the keneh bosem connection and made no claims of psychoactivity)

Celsus reports of the Ophite Gnostics that they possessed a "seal" the recipient of which was made a "son" of the "Father"; his response was: "I have been anointed with the white ointment from the tree of life." The Gospel of Philip says the same: "But the Tree of Life is in the midst of paradise and the olive tree from which the oil of anointing (chrisma) comes; through it [came] the resurrection." (Rudolph 1987)

Besides the "tree of life" and "plant of kindness" referred to in The Acts of Thomas, the surviving Gnostic work refers to two different plant candidates that are once each openly identified with the anointing oil; Olive oil as above, which was in fact the base that cannabis resins were extracted into in the original Hebrew holy oil (Exodus 30:22-23); and balsam oil as recorded by their persecutor, the church father Ireneaus, who admits being confounded by Gnostic texts dealing with the anointing rite, and whose descriptions of the ointments effects, clearly give indications of a topical entheogen of some power . It is likely that the identification of these candidates was purposefully misleading and was meant to throw off potential persecutors, such as Ireneaus. The Naasenes particularly referred to the anointing oil as an "ineffable chrism" , meaning that it was so secret it was not to be fully expressed in words. As well, the Gnostics were known for openly lying during the early Roman persecutions of Christians, often denying their faith and telling their would be persecutors exactly whatever they wanted to hear, and then going back to business as usual after the Romans had left. The practice of "intellectual reservation" (reservatio mentalis), meaning the concealment of their faith from persecutors, has been carried into modern times by the only surviving Gnostic sect the Mandeans, (and also ironically by modern day users of kaneh bosm, who find themselves the victims of the 'Pharmacratic Inquisition').

The Gnostics had many levels of initiations, and the mysteries of these different grades were not recorded in the more general surviving texts, but were given verbally at special ceremonies. Thus elements such as the identification of the obviously psychoactive ingredients of the holy oil were guarded with the closest secrecy, not only from outsiders but also novice members of their groups, and were only trusted to the sect's highest initiates. This was a standard mystery school method, as "magic revealed is magic lost". As Hippolytus recorded of the Gnostic view "it is not right to speak their mysteries at all; one must keep them hidden in silence" . "Gnostic treatises did not reveal the whole matter... the final revelation was only communicated by word of mouth in the body, and by vision out of the body"(Mead 1900). "It is certain... that Gnostic texts even in cultic matters favor a metaphorical symbolic manner of speaking and ... clearly avoided communicating precise details about their 'mysteries'"(Rudolph 1987). In his discussion of Gnostic texts which dealt with the anointing rite, the Church Father Irenaeus (130-200 AD), who accused the Gnostics of initiating with "secret sacraments" , stated that they were written in an archaic manner "to baffle even more those who are being initiated". We can add to Irenaeus's comments, that the Gnostics likely wrote in such a concealing fashion to "baffle" their persecutors, like Irenaeus. "Irenaeus may have heard some of the formulae of the lower grades, but the higher grades could only be understood by the picked disciples of these very intellectual and highly mystical schools. The documents pertaining to the higher degrees seem never to have come into the hands of the Church Fathers"(Mead 1900).

The Gnostic Anointed Ones would obviously have ensured that the Church Father's never found out the secret source behind the entheogenic power of their anointing oil, and from Irenaeus’s mistaken identification of "balsam oil" as the holy oil's psychoactive ingredient, we can see in this respect they were successful . For, not only can the Holy Oil be identified as the original kaneh bosm unguent of the Jews through the visionary powers which its partakers attributed to it, but also by the numerous medical applications which they applied it for as well.

One Gnostic tractate 'The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles', which is older than the New Testament, estimated to have been recorded in the second century AD, has Jesus giving the disciples an "unguent box" and a "pouch full of medicine" with instructions for them to go into the city of habitation, and heal the sick. Jesus explains that you must heal "the bodies first" before you can "heal the heart". In relation, cannabis has been used since ancient times as a healing unguent, (a balm for burns and cuts), and a natural topical antibiotic ointment can be prepared from its leaves.

Knowledge and healing were two aspects of the same life-force. If to be rubbed with the "Holy Plant" was to receive divine knowledge, it was also to be cured of every sickness. James suggests that anyone of the Christian community who was sick should call to the elders to anoint him with oil in the name of Jesus (Jas 5:14). The Twelve are sent out among their fellow-men casting out demons and anointing the sick with oil (Mark 6:13). (Allegro 1970).

Cannabis is one of the most useful plant medicines in existence, and it has been used to treat a wide variety of ailments throughout the centuries , (Mikuriya, M.D. 1973, Grinspoon M.D. & Bakalar 1993, Conrad 1997). The references to the early Christian healing with the anointing oil, seem to indicate that Jesus, and his apostles began to freely dispense the sacred kaneh-bosm anointing oil that had previously been under a strictly enforced prohibition which restricted its use to the Hebrew priests and Kings. Further, it can be shown that knowledge of cannabis, and other plants healing and psychic powers may account for many of Jesus' so-called miracles and exorcisms...

"By whom? When did this take place, and where is the record of it? "

Ah,the Dark Age persecution and suppression of Gnostic and pagan groups, medieval persecution of witches and alchemists, the new world chrisitan persecution of peyote and mushroom cults - these are all very well documented events. It continues on to day as the drug war:

Pharmakia
SOS MINISTRIES
TRACTS [potential side-bar] I think since this is a religious tract which they circulate and is posted on their website, we can be liberal with excerpting without any risk of being sued, but hack this up as you see fit]

http://sosmin.com/TRACTS/marijuana.html

TRACT

“Since 1996, nine states have voted to legalize "medical" marijuana. Still, marijuana remains illegal throughout the U.S. according to federal law. The U.S. Penal Code states that any person can be imprisoned for up to one year for possession of one marijuana cigarette and imprisoned for up to five years for growing a single marijuana plant. Is it wrong to use marijuana? “

“Does the Bible have anything to say about it?”

“The Greek word "pharmakia" is used five times in the New Testament, once in Paul's letter to the Galatians (5:20) and four times in the last book of the Bible --- Revelation (Rev. 9:21, Rev.18:23, Rev. 21:8, and Rev. 22:15). Three of these times, we are told that those who engage in "pharmakia" will not enter Heaven. According to W.E. Vine's expository dictionary of New Testament words, the word "pharmakia" refers to "a sorcerer, especially one who uses drugs, potions, spells, enchantments." While our word "pharmacy" is derived from "pharmakia," the Greek word does not refer to all drug use, but rather drug use which is related to sorcery. Sorcery involves using certain kinds of drugs to open up oneself to the influence of Satan or demons.”

“Revelation 9:21 states that after God poured out his wrath on rebellious humanity through plagues, people did not repent of their "murders, sorcery, fornication or their thefts." If Revelation has anything to do with the last days, these four sins will be prevalent at that time. While very few people today claim to be sorcerers, the use of mind-altering drugs is certainly prevalent in our world today.”

“Many non-Christian religions use mind-altering drugs as part of their ceremonies. Long ago, marijuana was used in shamanistic rituals in India, China, and Assyria. An ancient Chinese writing, the Pen Tsao Ching (100 AD) noted that "If taken over a long term, it [marijuana] makes one communicate with spirits." A Taoist priest wrote in the fifth century B.C. that marijuana was employed by "necromancers ... to set forward time and reveal future events." Today, many groups — including the Rastafarians, the Tepecano Indians of Mexico, and the Kasai Tribes of the Congo — use marijuana as a sacrament in their religious functions. The Kasai consider marijuana to be a god. THE NECTAR OF DELIGHT”

“The drugs used in sorcery are "mind-altering" -- they change a person's beliefs, personality and thinking. The change is long lasting and often permanent. In this respect, alcohol is different from marijuana. A person might use alcohol to reduce temporarily his moral aversion to some activity such as fornication (sex outside of marriage). However, once the alcohol wears off, the person is likely to have the same moral aversion to fornication. In contrast, marijuana changes a person's thinking and beliefs. A person who smokes marijuana will often find himself thinking and believing that fornication is not sinful, that the whole idea of "sin" is wrong, that he should no longer trust the Bible, that there are many ways to God, and that he himself is God. The marijuana generation of the 1960's correctly condemned the hypocrisy of the alcohol generation of the 1940's and 1950's. Marijuana users are not hypocrites -- they are deceived.”


“Marijuana use does in fact open up people to demonic influence. It changes a person's personality, desires, and beliefs. Although its effects are subtler than LSD, this does not make it less dangerous. In some respects, its subtlety makes it more dangerous, since it is more deceptive in the way it draws a person away from God and towards evil things. "Now the serpent [Satan] was more subtle than any beast of the field" Gen. 3:1. "By your sorceries all the nations were deceived." Rev. 18:23.”


“After millions of people started smoking marijuana in the 1960's, our society experienced dramatic changes. Millions of people, who believed in the Bible and Jesus Christ before they started using marijuana, began to reject Christianity and embrace Eastern religion, new age thinking, occultism, etc. They also began to reject Biblical morality. Instead they adopted the philosophy "if it feels good, do it." Most got involved in fornication, and many got involved in adultery, sexual promiscuity, pornography, etc. Marijuana weakens the natural moral restraints people have against engaging in these kinds of activities -- our conscience and moral upbringing. And it does this by changing a person's beliefs and thinking.”


“What about "medical" marijuana? The American Medical Association, the American Glaucoma Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the American Cancer Society have rejected the use of marijuana as medicine.A definitive study by Dr. M. Levitt found that neither marijuana nor synthetic marijuana were particularly effective in treating chemotherapy-induced nausea. Both marijuana and synthetic marijuana are ineffective in causing weight gain in AIDS patients. Marijuana can cause blindness in glaucoma patients by masking symptoms. Marijuana is not recognized as a medicine in generally accepted drug handbooks, medical references, or textbooks.”

“"Medical Marijuana" TRUTH AND LIES #1"
“Advocates of "medical" marijuana often suggest it will help relieve e pain in the dying. Knowing that marijuana opens people up to demonic influence, I certainly would not recommend that anyone use it, especially those who will soon meet their Maker.”

End Tract
SOS ministries


Such views are not limited to only a few Christian fundamentalists, they are also the subjects of sermons of America’s most well known and influential Evangelecists. Religious leaders who have strong political ties and even the ear of the president.

Bush "accepted Jesus Christ into [his] life" in 1986, after giving up alcohol and being led to conversion by the Rev. Billy Graham, whose influence on the Whitehouse can now be felt in Bush's Faith Based Drug treatment Programs. Indeed, after giving up a life of past alcohol and drug abuse, it seems George W. Bush is intent in making a whole nation, if not the whole world, follow that lead, even if by the brutal force of the State.

In 1972, when Bush Jr. himself was till puffing reefers, snorting cocaine and binge drinking, the man who converted him, Billy Graham, responded to a question posed by the Host of the The Hour of Decision "What part can organized religion play in combating the growing drug problem?", and his response is very telling of his own influence on Bush's faith based political agenda.

"I think that a professor has written a book over here at Berkeley on this subject of religion and drugs. And, he says that it's a very interesting phenomena to him that there is definitely a relationship between religion and drugs. The word "pharmacia," which is a Greek word that we translate in the Bible "witchcraft" is the root word that we get the word drug from. And, there is a relationship of some sort. And, he said this in this book, he said that the only total complete cure that he knows for hard drugs is a very deep spiritual experience. And he says I don't know that that's true, but he says, it is true. And, we only have two hospitals in America that are dedicated to the drug problem. One is in Fort Worth, Texas, and the other Lexington, Kentucky, Federal Hospital. And both of these hospitals, the psychiatrists say that they have less than one-half of one percent cured. And, the head psychiatrist at Lexington said the same thing. He said, "We find an interesting thing, when a person has a deep spiritual experience, we have much greater possibilities of curing their drug problem." And, of course we know the reason as Christians because we believe a supernatural act takes place when a person is born again."

The references to Pharmakeia, Graham refers to, became popularly related to Drug Use through the works of the Evangelical Christian writer Hal Lindsey, who, in his 1970 book The Late Great Planet Earth, pointed to Revelation 18:23 and the reference to the word "sorceries". “The word 'sorceries'" writes Lindsey, "comes from the Greek word pharmakeia, which is the word from which we get our English word, pharmacy. It means a kind of occult worship or black magic associated with the use of drugs. This word is mentioned several times in the Book of Revelation. It is said of the great religious systems that 'all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.'" Lindsey pointed at the revelations experienced by the psychedelic-ingesting youth of the time, noting that "these drugs reduce a man's thinking and mentality to a point where he is easily demon-possessed."

Taking up this ideology, Media House International Director Jay Rogers stated in a review of the 1994 book, "Politically Incorrect," by Pat Robertson's former right hand man, Ralph Reed, that the "moral Law of God requires only two punishments for lawbreakers, restitution or execution. A repeat violent offender would spend the rest of his life in servitude or would be executed," Rogers elaborates further, revealing the hidden agenda of many Evangelecists with the shocking conclusion that convicted drug dealers who sold drugs to children would be executed for the crime of sorcery. ... Rogers bases his horrific claim on scriptural evidence "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live, "Exodus 22. Not to be left out of the fray evangelist end-times guru (and sometimes unofficial Whitehouse Policy Advisor) Jack Van Impe wrote regarding the latest outbreak of fad drug use in the form of 'Ecstasy', in his April 1997 Intelligence Briefing that references in the ninth and 18th chapters of Revelation were related to the modern day widespread use of 'drugs' noting "The term 'sorceries' in these texts comes from the Greek term -- pharmakeia -- translated 'pharmacy' or 'drugs.'" Indeed, pharmakeia is the word from which our terms "pharmacy" and "pharmaceutical" are derived.

"I see in your theory much speculation. Do you truely believe god is guiding you to see these things, or is it more likely that you are seeing these things to advance your agenda?"

Fair enough, I see that in many others work as well, such as Wasson's Soma and Allegro's Sacred Mushroom and the Cross, both of which I rip apart.


Religion is all theory and speculation,and therefore open up to debate and discussion. My Freedom of religion case is about what I believe, not what you think is believable. However, I do believe in that vision I had, more so now than originally. But i would not ask anyone else to bae their own beliefs on my experience. My books are written much more from an anthropological perspective than a religious one, and numbers of athiests have enjoyed them as well.


All that I can tell you is that I had an experience, which I doubted. At that time, 20 years ago, I had no background in religious studies or history, in fact I am a high school drop out. I figured if there were anything to it, then someone somewhere will have written about it and I started collecting datta. As it stands, I have presented that information in numerous publications and to numbers of experts in this field of study, and have found considerable support, and no really founded criticisms in response, that I could not overcome and explain away (inluding your "that's BS"). Do you know of any? can you present any? Because I am still kicking that ball down the field and no one has stopped it yet.

So now Warlord, time for you to answer a few questions.

Do you believe Jesus was born of a virgin?

Do you beleive that Jesus performed miracles through power given by God?

Do you believe that Jesus and others rose from the dead?

Do you believe in Heaven and Hell?

Anything possible to mimic God. Lucifer is his name; it means light bearer and his greatest efforts are within the churches themselves substituting the teachings of men for the commandments and teachings of God. A man who uses wine(alcoholic beverages) in moderation is clearly not charged with any wrong doing according to scripture, nor yet would a pot smoker who indulges with moderation be likely to be led astray by that thing which he allows. On the opposite side of Christian doctrines, we had(have) the Gnostic doctrine which says that excesses are to be pursued because God`s Grace and forgiveness increases to cover our iniquities. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

As you know, you are teaching men that marijuana is the source of spiritual awakening; substituting the earthly for the heavenly; the Lord. Gnosticism based their faith and trust on earthly pleasures, not in Jesus of Nazareth; in fact, you obviously place him in a subservient role dependent on cannabis to accomplish his work on Earth. Your deceit is already over a thousand years old. You have nothing new in your rant; the fact that you have three backslappers to help you promote an ancient lie is actually a very vain and obvious attempt to substitute the preeminence of Jesus Christ for earthly indulgences. "I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them."

Where your twisted teachings run afoul of Jesus` teachings can be perfectly illustrated in the book of Matthew chapter 24:21-30

21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

23Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

25Behold, I have told you before.

26Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

27For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

28For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

29Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Your Gnosticism is no different in effect than the odolatry of ancient Greece and Rome
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things.

24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: Romans 1:16-26

[size:14pt]Go your own way young man; worship your weed, sell your dope and fuck anything that moves. Pick that carcase clean in vain. God isn`t there; only three educated buzzards egging you on to commit greater errors for other vultures to follow. It was the Gnostic`s obvious hatred of God and his righteousness which earned their rejection more than anything else
which relegatesd them to the dung heap which often times re emerges and deceives people into worshipping another copycat.

The possibilities within Gnosticism for blasphemous opinions were limitless. Likewise, there seems to be few limits within your Church of the Universe. Start with dope dealing and the possibilities for unfettered hedonism just keep building from there.