Craziest Bible Book Ever: Psychedelic Manna

You know friends, I’ve been around the block a few times now, I’ve heard every kook and crank there is, I’ve been emailed stuff about Assyria and aliens, seen conspiracy videos about pyramids and hidden prophecy, even been told that Jesus and Yosef bar Kockha were the same person. But every now and then I still get bowled over by a whole lot of crazy that I could not have made up even if I tried.

Here’s the latest one: Dan Merku, The Mystery of Manna: The Psychedelic Sacrament of the Bible.

You gotta read the blurb:

In The Mystery of Manna, religious historian Dan Merkur provides compelling evidence that this was the Israelites' initiation into a psychedelic mystery cult that induced spiritual visions through bread containing ergot--a psychoactive fungus containing the same chemicals from which LSD is made.

Citing biblical material, as well as later Jewish and Christian writings, Merkur reveals the existence of an unbroken tradition of Western psychedelic sacraments, from Moses and manna to Jesus and the Eucharist. Most important, Merkur shows that this was not a heretical tradition, but instead part of a normal, Bible-based spirituality, a continuation of the ancient tradition of visionary mysticism.

Even when this practice became unacceptable to the religious orthodoxy, it was perpetuated in secret by gnostics, masons, and kabbalists, as well as through the legends of the Holy Grail. Merkur traces a long line of historical figures who knew of manna's secret but dared only make cryptic references to it for fear of persecution. The Mystery of Manna is the strongest contribution yet to our growing realization that, contrary to popular belief, psychedelics and religion have always gone hand in hand.

So now I’m wondering if the American Academic of Religion’s annual conference has a section on psychedelic sacraments. Oh wait, their next meeting is scheduled for Denver, Colorado, so of course they will, in fact, everyone will probably get a sample in the complimentary gift bag.