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Psychedelic Experiences in Religion : Academic to Academic

(2026)
Abstract
Jeffrey Breau of Harvard University and Natalie Bloch, Research Fellow at Lund University, discuss how psychedelic experiences are interpreted within religious traditions, with particular attention to Judaism and the emergence of new psychedelic churches in the United States.

Their conversation explores how these experiences are shaped by cultural frameworks and by ongoing debates between perennialist and constructivist approaches to religious experience. Breau and Bloch also highlight the importance of interdisciplinary scholarship, bringing together religious studies, history, neuroscience, and anthropology to better understand the relationship between altered states of consciousness and religious life.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
contributor
LU orcid and Breau, Jeffrey
organization
publishing date
type
Non-textual form
publication status
published
subject
keywords
psychedelics, religion, spirituality
publisher
Axess Television
project
At the End of the World: A Transdisciplinary Approach to the Apocalyptic Imaginary in the Past and Present
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Video recorded converstation with Jeffrey Breau of Harvard University and Natalie Bloch, Lund university.
id
45f34fc2-de16-4368-ac43-d0de5d1c0a8f
alternative location
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjjMbZXIpEQ
date added to LUP
2026-04-15 13:02:57
date last changed
2026-05-14 03:33:42
@misc{45f34fc2-de16-4368-ac43-d0de5d1c0a8f,
  abstract     = {{Jeffrey Breau of Harvard University and Natalie Bloch, Research Fellow at Lund University, discuss how psychedelic experiences are interpreted within religious traditions, with particular attention to Judaism and the emergence of new psychedelic churches in the United States.<br/><br/>Their conversation explores how these experiences are shaped by cultural frameworks and by ongoing debates between perennialist and constructivist approaches to religious experience. Breau and Bloch also highlight the importance of interdisciplinary scholarship, bringing together religious studies, history, neuroscience, and anthropology to better understand the relationship between altered states of consciousness and religious life.}},
  keywords     = {{psychedelics; religion; spirituality}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  publisher    = {{Axess Television}},
  title        = {{Psychedelic Experiences in Religion : Academic to Academic}},
  url          = {{https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjjMbZXIpEQ}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}