In this episode of Psychedelics Today, we welcome Jeff Breau from Harvard Divinity School’s Center for the Study of World Religions. Together, we explore how psychedelics and religion are coming together in new and important ways.
Jeff shares his firsthand insights from researching modern psychedelic churches. He explains why harm reduction is so important in these spaces and highlights how music can shape therapeutic experiences.
We also discuss why collaboration between different fields—like science, religion, and mental health—is key to understanding the bigger picture. Jeff offers thoughtful critiques of popular research tools like the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ), and outlines the promise of psychedelic chaplaincy as a growing field.
Whether you’re curious about the future of spiritual care or how religious communities are engaging with psychedelics, this episode offers plenty to think about.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:18 Music in Psychedelic Therapy
02:13 Cultural Context of Music in Therapy
06:08 Personal Journey into Psychedelics and Religion
08:40 Living at an Ashram and Spiritual Practices
15:52 Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ)
33:01 Psychedelic Churches and Legal Challenges
46:11 The Intersection of Law and Religion
46:34 Emergence of Psychedelic Churches
48:41 The Democratization of Mystical Experiences
49:49 Technologies of Revelation
51:10 Novel Rituals and Spiritual Practices
53:49 Humor and Irreverence in Religion
56:44 Reevaluating the Term ‘Cult’
01:10:11 Psychedelic Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care
01:18:44 Burning Man as a Model for Religiosity
01:22:43 The Rise of Iboga in American Christianity
01:25:56 Conclusion and Future Directions
Links
https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/people/jeffrey-breau
