Synopses & Reviews
In the early 1960s, scientists openly advocated for experimentation
with psychedelics. This effort, however, quickly turned into a
discredited enterprise involving recreational drug use. But what if a
study of psychedelics was undertaken with trusted scientific rigor?
William A. Richards does just that in Sacred Knowledge, the first
well-documented, sophisticated account of the effect of psychedelics on
biological processes, human consciousness, and revelatory religious
experiences. Richards argues that, if used responsibly and legally,
psychedelics have incredible potential to assuage human suffering and
constructively contribute to the quality of life on our planet. His work
is based on nearly three decades of legal research with volunteers aged
twenty-four to eighty-one.
Sacred Knowledge enriches
humanities and scientific scholarship, expanding work in philosophy,
anthropology, theology, and religious studies, as well as in mental
health, psychotherapy, and psychopharmacology. Richards's analysis also
contributes to social and political debates over the responsible
integration of psychedelic substances into modern society. His book is
an invaluable resource for readers who, whether spontaneously or with
the facilitation of psychedelics, have encountered meaningful,
inspiring, or even disturbing states of consciousness and seek clarity
about their experiences. Testing the limits of language and conceptual
frameworks, Richards makes the most of experiential phenomena that
stretch our concepts of reality and advances new frontiers in the study
of belief, spiritual awakening, psychiatric treatment, and social
well-being.
Review
"Sacred Knowledge is a seminal work and will become required
reading for anyone seriously interested in either religious experience
or psychedelic research." James Fadiman, PhD, Author, The Psychedelic
Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys
Review
"Richards' Sacred Knowledge is not a tome, but rather a concise
work rich with personal stories, observations and insights into a
compelling topic, long ignored and now garnering the attention it has
long deserved." Charles S. Grob, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry and
Pediatrics, UCLA School of Medicine
Review
"Sacred Knowledge is not only timely and relevant to a whole host
of current social/legal issues, but also addresses, with seemingly
effortless ease, many of the deeper/subtler metaphysical implications of
psychedelics — their therapeutic and spiritual potential. Richards' clear
prose makes articulating such difficult topics look easy." G. William
Barnard, Southern Methodist University
About the Author
William A. Richards is a clinical psychologist with formal training in
theology and comparative religion at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical
Center. Earlier in his career, he pursued psychedelic research at the
Spring Grove Hospital and Maryland Psychiatric Research Center in
Baltimore. His graduate education included studies at Yale University,
Brandeis University, Catholic University, the Andover-Newton Theological
School, and the University of Göttingen.
William A. Richards on PowellsBooks.Blog
Profoundly sacred experiences that religious scholars call "revelatory" have been reported by our fellow human beings throughout recorded history, sometimes with fear and trembling, always with awe, humility, and respect, and often with subsequent changes...
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