Written by: Simon McGregor-Wood (ABC News)
JERUSALEM, March 5, 2008 — Moses and the Israelites were on drugs, says Benny Shanon, an Israeli professor of cognitive philosophy.
Writing in the British Journal Time and Mind, he claims Moses was probably on psychedelic drugs when he received the Ten Commandments from God.
The assertions give a whole new meaning to Moses being “high” on Mount Sinai.
According to Shanon, a professor at Hebrew University, two naturally existing plants in the Sinai Peninsula have the same psychoactive components as ones found in the Amazon jungle and are well-known for their mind-altering capabilities. The drugs are usually combined in a drink called ayahuasca.
“As far as Moses on Mount Sinai is concerned, it was either a supernatural cosmic event, which I don’t believe, or a legend, which I don’t believe either, or finally, and this is very probable, an event that joined Moses and the people of Israel under the effects of narcotics,” he told Israel Radio in an interview Tuesday.
The description in The Book of Exodus of thunder, lightening and a blaring trumpet, according to Shanon, are the classic imaginings of people under the influence of drugs.
As for the vision of the burning bush, well obviously that too was a drug-fueled hallucination, according to Shanon.
“In advanced forms of ayahuasca inebriation,” he wrote, “the seeing of light is accompanied by profound religious and spiritual feelings.”
Shanon admits he took some of these drugs while in the Amazon in 1991. “I experienced visions that had spiritual-religious connotations,” he said.
The initial reaction to this controversial theory from Israel’s religiously orthodox community and the powerful rabbis who lead it was less than enthusiastic.
Orthodox rabbi Yuval Sherlow, quoted by Reuters speaking on Israel radio, said: “The Bible is trying to convey a very profound event. We have to fear not for the fate of the biblical Moses, but for the fate of science.”
How then do they explain the chariots found at the bottom of the red sea. These would confirm Moses’ account of parting the seas and the sea swalloing the egyptians. I suppose he hallucinated them to the bottom of the sea?
And this is Sci-Fi based how?
so… it was all in his head? It was all a dream? Is this the origin of the lamest of all tv-show cliches?
I heard it was Mushrooms….
How is it sci-fi related? Hmmm, some feel that the prophets, sages and scribes were some of the greatest sci-fi and fantasy writers of all time.
Could be what many consider religious stories was, 5000 to 10,000 years ago, their form of SF entertainment around the campfire after a long day on the hunt for that night’s dinner. Stories that eventually got adapted and codified by the religious elite to help control developing “herd mentality” civilization from its “baser” instincts as hunter/gatherers.
Jeff: Well obviosuly there can’t be any rational explantion for it, because you said so.
Oh wait, no, that’s not rational thought at all, excuse me.
Of course it is Science Fiction. There is no evidence that Moses ever existed anywhere except for in bible. No evidence for Exodus, Moses or burning bushes. Nada. So it’s a bit like speculating as to whether Sherlock Holmes ever did drugs or not.
If you want a good sf novella about a potential flood of biblical proportions try Harry Turtledove’s Down In The Bottomlands (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_in_the_Bottomlands). An alternative history in which the Mediterranean basin has never filled with water.
Jewish people restrict themselves from the outside community, even today. They are dry and diligent about their records. Nobody made up anything about anything, Moses regularly talked with Yahwhw, the people would see events simultaneously, many times, a million people at once. You will admit nothing, little bitches. If we found a camcorder that belonged to Moses, showing the proof, you say that he PhotoShopped the footage, {derogatory remark removed by management}.
correction:
last line should read: “…you’d say he PhotoShopped the footage…”
DavidHowell: “little bitches”? Open to other possibilities other than the accepted explanations perhaps, but that doesn”t qualify for lumping a whole segment of open-minded people into the “little bitches” column. But, I will admit that a basket full of cute little girl puppies is a sweet picture.
One other correction to your line of thinking: Most Jewish people do not restrict themselves from outside communication with others. There is a small sect of Judaism call the ultra-orthodoxy that does limit their exposure to outside world contact but they are the exception, not the rule. I know this for a fact because I am quite Jewish myself and, as one my suspect from my involvement in the entertainment industry, am not cut off from the rest of the world.
ALL OF MY LIFE I’ve been hearing the “peyote or hallucinogenic mushroom” theories and their “possible” role with Moses. You people are little tykes, little boys, to let some tosser come up and tell you his “brand-new” conclusion about Moses’ experiences. New idea? And, let’s not overlook that you all are so eager, as a group, to put everything you have behind every idea that is presented to you at the moment of its introduction to you. Wow. You’ve made fools of yourselves since BEFORE Darwin, but Darwin was the party where you, the atheist, had too much to drink and wore the lampshade on your head. Just shut the f___ up and go with the program. You have lost: The Bible is all proven, you pathetic, uneducated psuedo-intellectuals. Scientists, lawyers, doctors, and corporation presidents everywhere believe that Moses parted the Red Sea and saw an ACTUAL burning bush from which Yahwh ACTUALLY spoke. Even Issac Newton believed it the Bible in it’s raw, miracle-based presentation, and he was a hardcore scientist in an age where science was highy antogonistic to the miracle-based essence of the Bible (like today). He was the Cream. So, everytime you open your f___ing mouths it’s like seeing someone vomit in an alley behind a bar. Seriously, It’s that unpleasant. So, shut the f___ up, and do as you’re f___ing told, you f___ing Tossers.
Sam: Forget about Barbara Streisand and and the many visible Jewish people when I mention the closed-off community. I just took your head off. You didn’t correct anything. You just got your ass kicked and I didn’t even try. This is a huge, noteworthy group to which I refer, these orthodox, and they produced the Moses records to which we are referring. “Actually, most Jewish people… I know this because I am quite Jewish myself.” Grow up and away from your stale arguments. There’s a new sheriff in town.
David – you obviously have some kind of axe to grind, and you sound like you are trying to make this into some kind of competition. It’s simply an article giving one researcher’s opinion, in a manner that doesn’t call anyone names or move on that razor’s edge of being derogatory. I’m cutting you some slack because this is the first time I’ve seen you here, but perhaps you need to take HAL’s advice, take a chill pill and relax. If you are unable to find it in yourself to do that then your future posts will be closely monitored for content and determined if they are suitable for posting in our normally PG-13 environment here.
Remember — you don’t always have to agree with the articles here or comments from our readers, but you do need to be civil.
Yes indeed Sam, you are correct….. As Professor Shanon has stated, this is his theory, his opinion. His studies into the hallucinogenic properties in some plants of the region is correct and researchable. There are many factors to take into account regarding his theory and I do believe he has a valid point. Provable, no…..but in logical thinking, yes. We must remember that the Bible was indeed, written by man, not God. Having read the entire Bible, I tend to find his theory quite viable. I have also studied in depth, the Sacred Keys of King Solomon….. One has to go with your own belief’s and theory’s and everyone is entitled to their own opinion, whether you believe it or not….. I do not judge others but do like hearing other ideas and beliefs. It is amazing what you can learn by opening your eyes and ears in a positive manner. Peace, Love and Blessed Be……
And you’re right, I don’t belong in this discussion group.
Damn right you don’t. This is Slice of Sci-Fi, not Slice of Religious Idiocy and Propaganda.
moses is coming back soon so is elijah they will prophesy for 1260 days then be killed in the streets by the beast.if they did eat shrooms or something like that maybee they did maybee thats how he got connected with god?Know this that after they are gone Jesus Christ will come soon.so get ready