Mushrooms, Myth and Mithras: The Drug Cult that Civilized Europe [Paperback]

Carl Ruck (Author), Mark Alwin Hoffman (Contributor), Jose Alfredo Gonzalez Celdran (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 26, 2011

This illustrated book traces the history of an unlikely force in the shaping of Western civilization: the use of psychedelic mushrooms, namely by a secret society called the cult of Mithras. Nero was the first emperor to be initiated by the group’s “magical dinners,” and most of his successors embraced the ritual as a source of spiritual transcendence. The cult was officially banned after the Conversion, but aspects of their rituals were assimilated or co-opted by Christianity, and the brotherhoods persist today as secret societies such as the Freemasons. This is a fascinating exploration of a powerful force kept behind the scenes for thousands of years.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Persephone's Quest: Entheogens and the Origins of Religion by Carl Ruck et al "[This book] is the pious meditation of an inspired devotee, a religious book in the deepest sense, the credo of a passionate initiate. A delightful book to read." -- Wendy Doniger, Times Literary Supplement

"Mushrooms, Myth & Mithras is an extremely well-constructed academic argument proving that it is impossible to deny the connection between the use of entheogenic substances and religious practice for generations across countries and cultures. The evidence is extremely well documented in art, literature (myths and oral storytelling), and architecture. Over time, all these forms of evidence become blended into cross-cultural metaphors and ideas that show the same information coming from multiple cultures."" -- Ian Jones, Verbicide

"This book is all about the evolution of European culture, from ancient times right up through the advent and dominance of Christianity––and how it all started with and depended on shrooms. . . . I feel like I took a class on the subject." -- Rio Connelly, Slug Magazine

About the Author

Carl Ruck is best known for his work in mythology and religion on the sacred role of entheogens as used in religious or shamanistic rituals. His focus has been on the use of entheogens in classical western culture, as well as their historical influence on modern western religions. He currently teaches at Boston University. Mark Alwin Hoffman, with degrees in Religious Studies and Philosophy from San Diego State University and based in Taos, New Mexico, is editor of Entheos: The Journal of Psychedelic Spirituality. He has written on shamanism, ancient religions, early Christianity, and the role of visionary sacraments in western mystery tradition. Jose Alfredo González Celdrán is a professor of ancient Greek based in Murcia, Spain, and is the author of Las Puertas de Moeris, an historical novel, and Homres, Dioses, y Hongos (Men, Gods, and Mushrooms) on the role of psychoactive mushrooms in myth and religion, as well as essays in collaboration with an archaeologist on entheogens.

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: City Lights Publishers (July 26, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872864707
• ISBN-13: 978-0872864702
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #528,328 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but needs more photos, August 9, 2011

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This review is from: Mushrooms, Myth and Mithras: The Drug Cult that Civilized Europe (Paperback)

This isn't the easiest book to read in that the author spends an incredible amount of time describing various Mithra artifacts, paintings, reliefs, carvings, coin motifs and other surviving artifacts. The descriptions tend to be so plentiful and varried that at times it is hard to picture them seperate especially when 2 or 3 are talked about per page at times. There are photos and drawings for some of these to give the reader the idea as well as the cover has an excellent example. My problem was that I kept getting somewhat lost trying to picture what the author is describing in rapid fire succession. Granted the author does provide references to the artifacts he talks about but there are so many that keeping them straight as a reader is fairly difficult. The symbology of the artifacts is what this book is mainly about. The fact that there survives as many artifacts as there does is amazing given that the early Christians destroyed all they could get their filthy hands on. Seems they were pissed off that Mithra had the managed to steal the tennents, rites, sacrement and legends as Christianity claimed only thing is Mithra was way way before Christ. The more than coincidence similarities between Mithra and Christ not something the early Christian church liked very much, thats why they destroyed everything they could and stole the rest. Look you want to know GOD? Eat a mushroom. You want the answers to the Mysteries? Eat a mushroom. You want to be one with GOD? Eat a mushroom. You want a spiritual experience that transcends this infernal realm? Eat a Mushroom, a Magic Mushroom. Why? Because that is what man has been doing for ever. Sorry but going to church on Sunday isn't a mystical spiritual experience. If you want a real deal mystical experience do what the Shamman, Holy Men, Witch Doctors, Pagans, Roman Soldiers and Emporers, Berserkers, Vedic Indians, Prophets of the Old and New Testement, and even the early Christians did. Eat a Mushroom.