Christianity and Mushrooms

"The large window of the Legend of St. Eustace in Chartres cathedral shows many ‘mushroom trees’ and unambiguous depictions of mushrooms throughout its panels. Hundreds of depictions of mushrooms appear in Christian art." source: The Entheogen Theory of Religion... by Michael Hoffman

• Literary Review: ‘The Mushroom in Christian Art’ by John A. Rush

"Originally published in 2011 ‘The Mushroom in Christian Art – The Identity of Jesus in the Development of Christianity’ by John A. Rush is a well needed addition to a burgeoning research area in psychedelic studies; namely the possible role hallucinogenic mushrooms took in the Christian religion. Rush has previously published works like ‘Spiritual Tattoo’ and ‘Failed God’ and although some of his other works have brushed against the mushroom-Christianity question, this is his first concentrated effort in the area."

• The Mushroom in Christian Art The Identity of Jesus in the Development of Christianity by John A. Rush

"Mushrooms occur in every piece of Christian art. They are found in the mosaics and wall paintings of the earliest Christian images, and later in manuscripts, stained glass, tapestries, and sculpture. They are obvious; I have verification from priests and icon artists. What they mean, however, is still guarded. In my opinion the mushroom is generic for numerous plants, fungi, and potions used by the various cults to commune with the Teacher of Righteousness at the time of our mythic hero Jesus."

• Wasson and Allegro on the Tree of Knowledge as Amanita by Michael Hoffman

"This article summarizes the theory that visionary plants play an instrumental role within Christian origins and the Bible, and helps straighten out the citations, issues, and relationships among John Ramsbottom, Erwin Panofsky, R. Gordon Wasson, and John Allegro, to clear up many of the inaccurate assessments and characterizations regarding their views on these hypotheses. More precision has been needed about exactly which arguments or issues were mentioned by whom, and what the reasoning and argumentation was, specifically. The treatment of the views of Wasson and Allegro has been too undifferentiated and careless."

• The Holy Mushroom Evidence of Mushrooms in Judeo-Christianity by J.R. Irvin

"A critical re-evaluation of the schism between John M. Allegro and R. Gordon Wasson over the theory on the entheogenic origins of Christianity presented in The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross"

• Summary of...Jesus the Healer: Possession, Trance, and the Origins of Christianity...by Stevan Davies

  "The Jesus figure is portrayed in the New Testament as a spirit-possessed altered-state shamanistic healer"...The Entheogen Theory of Religion and Ego Death...by Michael Hoffman

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