Every so often, some “researcher” thinks they have figured religion out. People don’t hear voices from God unless they are insane or they are on drugs. Since this kind of argument is used so many times, some who hear it believe it must be true. Epistemologically, it is invalid; researchers base their results on themselves and their own experiences. They are making a universal rule out of their own particular circumstance. It would be like saying blonds do not exist; those who seem to be blond use hair dye. My proof? I have brown hair and can make it blond through such dye.
And now, once again, we can hear another “drugs are at the basis of religion” story being proclaimed; this time it is coming from Professor Benny Shanon of Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is trying to suggest that the religious ceremonies the Israelites practiced included the use of psychotropic materials, and Moses was merely high on drugs when he talked to God. The proof: Benny uses hallucinogens which gives him “visions” with “spiritual-religio connotations.” Therefore, Moses did too.
All this proves is that Benny has done drugs way too often.
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