Ok, so I believe that naturally occurring hallucinogenic experiences are at the base of many religious foundations and texts. If a person ingested something foreign like a shroom or Jimson weed or something like that, it is likely that they would trace the hallucination back to the ingestion. A naturally occuring one would be much more convincing though of divinity to the subject

For instance, Christians rely on the works of many individuals such as Paul or Isaiah or John, that were clearly seeing extraordinary things. I've believed that DMT could be behind these experience as that would be the only naturally occurring hallucinating agent in the brain, if it exists there and is released in astral dreaming or whatever. However, I've read recently that delirium is another large source of hallucinations, and sets in when a person is under fatigue or very old. However, Near death experiences which are thought to release DMT come under these same circumstances many times.

So, in order to understand the effects of natural delirium on hallucinations, I read accounts from deleriant experiences. Are these two hallucinations similar? I also have read DMT accounts.

When I read the bible, expecially Revelations I don't know whether delirium or DMT would have produced these visions. Do you have any thoughts or insight on how to distinguish the two and if you believe they inspired religion?

well regarding judaeo-christian religion (which you seemed to be intrigued by), it seems a distinct possibility tuthmosis drank acacia (referred to as shittah [shittem plural] by the hebrew, symbolic of an immortal soul, and regarded as "kadoish"[holy]).
it is already theorized that moses drank of the acacia on mt sinai and negev. there is also a possibility of using peganum harmala, from what i understand (the plant grows in the area, but there is no references to it, nor mythology about it, from what i understand - though this may have been knowledge well known to the egyptians).

the recipe for anointing oil given to moses from YHWH included the ingredient "kaneh-bosm" which is the etymological origin of the word cannabis (though the septuagint translates it to calamus, which is also mildly psychoactive - so there is some debate).

also moses was well raised in the mysticism of the egyptians (acts 7:22), and there is a fair amount of evidence that egyptians partook of the acacia; primarily in their mythology regarding Iusaaset and the tree of life and death (which spilled "waters of wisdom" which, imo, sounds like a brew to me).

so the origin of judaeo-christianity may indeed have had origins related to tryptamines (There are also theories of manna being cubensis, and early christian cults using amanita)

i had heard (And i cannot remember where) that John of Patmos had imbibed of sarpa salpa (used by early roman christians, and supposedly the origin of the ichthys symbol), but i can't find any information on it when i research it, not even the original source i got it from..

so i don't know how reliable that info is, but reading the book it seems believable, imo.

revelations is trippy as heck. you will never see a dragon swipe stars out of the sky sober, as far as i am concerned, lol.

in other religions, it can be found to be more blatant (it some cases), especially hinduism (soma pavamana, datura, and hash, theories about cubensis and other psychs) and the various pockets of shamanism (amanita, cubensis, yopo, ayahuasca, peyote, et al) flung throughout the world.

also, afaik psilocybin and DMT are the only two scientifically documented molecules proven to catalyze spiritual experiences, so the hypothesis isn't entirely unfounded or unbelievable, imo.

fun fact: alchemy (The origin of science) came from al-khemet(egypt), meaning that it too may have originated as a derivative of egyptian knowledges of the chemistry regarding the acacia.

so it could be science and religion sprung forth from the roots of the acacia.


not that we could ever know for sure either way, but it is still fun to think about

by naturally occurring you mean the dmt is not being ingested but is being manufactured and released/absorbed by the brain? and that it is being experienced in the waking state? it is my feeling that dmt is the bio-chemical part of enlightenment. i've read a few stories where the experience of the individual seemed similar to an aya trip but without taking anything. enlightenment being a constant ego death one would assume that dmt is involved. i believe moses possessed the wand of the elements or something? which i believe is akin to awakenened kundalini. to enter the house of death whilst still living

Thanks, that's interesting about the acacia and the ancient middle east. That very well could be, because it says all the people, not just one person, saw the lord.
About new testament visions though it gets a little different though. You would like to think that if these people, such as paul were eating substances, they would make references to them. Same with Joseph Smith and the mormons.

i am not convinced they didn't.

are you familiar with the works of john marco allegro?

Alright, for ancient religion, I believe that ingested substances, such as mushrooms or acacia caused the spark. Reason 1. why i think this: someone once said is it more probable that some early human came up with the idea of a metaphysical realm that we go to after we die and meet these incredible beings that we have never seen here, or that some early human just ate a mushroom?

Reason 2. why I think this is that cave paintings around the world have universal symbols, regardless of when they were made or where. These symbols strongly correlate to experience accounts of people on psychedelics. The labyrinth and zigzag chevron lines are two examples.

However, as we approach modern times, you would think that if someone ingested a psychedelic substance, they would reference it? And people can have psychedelic experiences without substances. I heard the Kalahari bushmen dance around a fire for ten hours and then fall down into a trance. Another story to consider:

From Frank Bartleman, early 1900's Pentecostal preacher: "One evening, July 3, I felt strongly impressed to go to the little Peniel Hall in Pasadena to pray. There I found Brother Boehmer ahead of me. He had also been led of God to the hall. We prayed for a spirit of revival for Pasadena until the burden became well nigh unbearable. I cried out like a woman in birth pangs. The Spirit was interceding thorough us. Finally, the burden left us. After a little time of quiet waiting a great calm settled down upon us. Then suddenly, without premonition, the Lord Jesus himself revealed himself to us. He seemed to stand directly between us, so close we could have reached out our hand and touched him. But we did not dare move. I could not even look. In fact I seemed all spirit. His presence seemed more real, if possible, than if I could have seen and touched him naturally. I forgot I had eyes or ears. My spirit recognized Him. A heaven of divine love filled and thrilled my soul. Burning fire went through me. In fact, my whole being seemed to flow down before Him, like wax before the fire. I lost all consciousness of time or space, being conscious only of His wonderful presence. I worshiped at his feet. I was lost in pure Spirit.
For some time He remained with us. Then slowly He withdrew His presence. I could not doubt His reality after that experience. Brother Boehmer experienced largely the same thing. We knew now we were workers with Him, fellowshippers of his sufferings, in the ministry of "soul travail."
The presence of God eliminates all sense of time. For days, that marvelous presence seemed to walk by my side. I could scarcely take up with human conversation again. It seemed so crude and empty. Human spirits seemed so harsh, earthy fellowship a torment. "

Would an experience like this be from DMT or from delirium? Frank stated that he had been fasting before the occasion. Also due to the trip time, it seems unlikley that he ingested some psychedelic substance.