Profs & Pints Baltimore: Psychedelic Churches
Profs and Pints Baltimore presents: “Psychedelic Churches,” on the growth and legality of religious communities that incorporate psychedelic substances into their practices, with Brad Stoddard, associate professor of history at McDaniel College, scholar of American religious history and author of The Production of Entheogenic Communities in the United States.
As psychedelic churches grow across the United States so do the legal questions surrounding their rights and protections. Join Brad Stoddard, a leading scholar of psychedelic religion, as he examines the proliferation, expansion, and evolving legal status of psychedelic religious communities.
Professor Stoddard will discuss how different religious traditions justify the use in their spiritual practices of entheogens—psychoactive, hallucinogenic substances or preparations. He’ll explore what legal protections exist for religious communities that incorporate entheogens into their religious practices and how these communities navigate the complex landscape of U.S. law.
We’ll look at key court cases deciding such communities’ religious freedom protections and at the ongoing legal challenges and risks that such communities face. You’ll learn about the role of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and how government agencies respond to claims of religious exemption, and you’ll gain insight into the legal precedents shaping this space and the future of psychedelic religious practice in the U.S.
Professor Stoddard will connect such discussions to broader conversations about religious liberty, drug policy, and the tension between state regulation and spiritual autonomy. His talk is sure to alter your thinking. (Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Doors open at 5. Talk begins at 6:30.)
