I've just read an overview of John Allegro's book "sacred mushrooms and the cross"

Allegro was a leading aramaic scholar, one of few to be allowed to dicipher the dead sea scrolls. the jist is quite humurous; that the true figurehead of early christianity lies in a fungus. the general idea seems that 'jesus' was a construct of early gnostics in order to trick the romans and give certain leeway to the real guys. While the followers of this sect really worked with a pyschadelic fungus native to local caves in jerusalem (i think?)

Gnostics, from my understanding, were the foundation of christian doctrine. However, instead of focusing on all the dogma and minipulated details of todays church, the gnostic message was one of inner power. That truth is within us, the 'kingdom of heaven' was around us, that we are our own gods.

what interests me most about this is that it coincides with other bits and pieces of information ive picked up along the way. From the gospel of judas (the nag hammadi library); mckennas stoned ape theory through to my own meandering thoughts and logic. I mean, how likely is it that a guy had true magical powers? in the sense that he minipulated water to wine....


It's really got me thinking; ill be looking to buy the book asap.

Anyway, im sure theres a good proportion of you out there who have a fuller understanding of what im rambling on about. Do you think my inference about all this is correct?

has anyone here read the book? what do you guys think about the whole matter...

Haven't read the book, but I do quite like the idea of this Whether it'e true or not

Have only read parts of the book myself, but it seems to explain a lot of things. The whole "water to wine" bit takes on a new meaning when you look at the life cycle of the Amanita mushroom. As it matures and the cap opens it actually turns into a chalice, a cup. Morning dew can fill this concave space and mix with the red coloring of the mushroom to produce a deep red (wine-like or even blood-like) liquid on top of the mushroom. This could be the source of the "water into wine" phrase and also the sacred chalice or holy grail source as they knew the Amanita mushroom to be extremely sacred. "Eat of my body and drink of my blood" takes on a completely new meaning when you think of it as the Amanita mushroom and not a human being. It actually makes sense that they were referring to a mushroom that you could actually eat. "Eat of my body and drink of my blood" and experience the sacred for yourself.
I believe there is also something in the book about how some of sacred clothing has been passed along through time so that if you look at a lot of the clothing that is worn in the Vatican it really looks like mushrooms - the Pope has one outfit that is red on top and white on bottom, looking like an Amanita mushroom. The red skull caps that many Cardinals and Bishops wear, the same thing. Red and White clothing is very popular in the Roman Catholic Church and many other Christian sects.

I really want to get back to reading this book myself and encourage others to explore it as well.

makes me love him even more!

i suppose uve seen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyQOeiY11RA

biopsylo, Have only seen shorter versions, not the (almost) two hour version. Lots of info in the film is directly from Allegro's books. Thanks for the link to the longer version. I'll have to carve out some time to watch. Peace!

I started reading the book and the way he presented and based his ideas made me stop rather quickly.

Amanita mushrooms I guess can get one tripping, but I highly doubt a whole religion is based on it's effects and essence.

The only thing is that the whole Jesus character and story is completely unoriginal. There were many to come before him from all over whose mythologies are highly similar. I think trying to tie the fungus to Christianity is an off-shoot of its alleged implications in the whole reindeer/Christmas story.

Christmas is based on jesus. And supposedly there is a huge tie between christmas and the amanita mushroom. Apparently a lot of the old christmas cards displayed amanita mushrooms. And Amanita mushrooms grow underneath Fir Tree's (where you put presents) and people would hang the amanitas to dry like stocking over a fireplace (christmas stockings) And Santa wears a red and white suit (amanitas are mostly red with white dots)

Also, Reindeer actually seek out this mushroom and trip after consuming it. And if you drink the urine of someone that ate the mushroom supposedly you dont get the toxic effects. And you can do this up to around 4 times. Nordes would put there urine containing the hallucinogen in something and spray it around to attract the reindeer.

I have tried to research as much as i could but there are some things I cant substantiate.

One thing I found was false was that it was said that shamans would wear the same suit as santa when mushroom hunting, and would use the chimney to enter his yurt. This is just simply false.

but it is original. it is the original story being retold throughout millennia. names and regions change, but the real underlying significance remains the same. and supposedly they all point to the psychedelic experience, enlightenment, etc. the Jesus version is just the latest (2000 yrs old).

at least thats what i got out of it

i love Jesus (even if he is a mushroom)

Christmas is based on the winter solstice. Numerous older winter solstice festivals practice many similar traditions and customs as on Christmas. The story can be understood on purely astrological terms from one point of view.

Jesus and his cross:







Before the cross there was


The Ankh:


A familiar Egyptian symbol, which we know pre-dates christianity.


Before the Ankh there was


The cross of Agadez:



A north African ikon, from the same region as the following cave painting:



There sure seems to be a progression, a lineage in this series of images.


Yep, he was a mushroom alright. For the record--jeebus was a psilocybe. Santy clause an amanita.


Jesus was also Bachus...who was obviously the same guy as Pan (who is only ever devilish when you deserve it). Jesus had horns, was rather horny, encourages us to frolic with nymphs, trip, fornicate and be merry, man that guy did everything except die for your sins. Eat the flesh of the gods and die for 'em yourself.


Oh, and that other stuff the rest of you said was also true, all of it. Mythological characters are like that.

Another "Ankh with horns"....




A well known symbol for magick, the sign of Mercury, also seems to be derrived from this Tassili mushroom thang.

Jan Irvin's "Astrotheology & Shamanism: Christianity’s Pagan Roots
A Revolutionary Reinterpretation of the Evidence" is another good read on the subject. He was pal's with Allegro and carries on his work with this book and re-publishing "The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross".