From the Bodies of the Gods: Psychoactive Plants and the Cults of the Dead
by Earl Lee 
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The origins of modern religion in human sacrifice, ritual cannibalism, visionary intoxication, and the Cult of the Dead * Explores ancient practices of producing sacred hallucinogenic foods and oils from the bodies of the dead for ritual consumption and religious anointing * Explains how these practices are deeply embedded in the symbolism, theology, and sacraments of modern religion, specifically Christianity and the Eucharist * Documents the rites of Cults of the Dead from the prehistoric show more Minoans on Crete to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Hebrews to early and medieval Christian sects such as the Cathars Long before the beginnings of civilization, humans have been sacrificed and their flesh used to produce sacred foods and oils for use in religious rites. Originating with the sacred harvest of hallucinogenic mushrooms from the corpses of shamans and other holy men, these acts of ritual cannibalism and visionary intoxication are part of the history of all cultures, including Judeo-Christian ones, and provided a way to commune with the dead. These practices continued openly into the Dark Ages, when they were suppressed and adapted into the worship of saintly bones--or continued in secret by a few "heretical" sects, such as the Cathars and the Knights Templar. While little known today, these rites remain deeply embedded in the symbolism, theology, and sacraments of modern religion and bring a much more literal meaning to the church's "Holy Communion" or symbolic consumption of the body and blood of Christ. Documenting the sacrificial, cannibalistic, and psychoactive sacramental practices associated with the Cult of the Dead from the prehistoric Minoans on Crete to the ancient Egyptians and Hebrews and onward to early and medieval Christian sects, Earl Lee shows how these religious rites influenced the development of Western religion. In particular, he reveals how Christianity originated with Jesus's effort to restore the sacred rites of Moses, including the Marzeah, or Feast for the Dead. Examining the connections between these rites and the mysterious funeral of Father Sauniere in Rennes-le-Château, the author explains why the prehistoric Cult of the Dead has held such power over Western civilization, so much so that its echoes are still heard today in our literature, film, and arts. show lessTags
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Very intriguing and strange. Safe to say that the writer is a weird dude. This is one STRANGE BOOK. But overall I do believe that it is very entertaining. I get it. I grew up Catholic while living next door to a Pentecostal church, was married to a Mormon and have been exposed to everything from snake cults to Tibetan Sky Funerals during my military travels. Nothing surpises me. Mr. Lee makes some very punctual and interesting points in his book.
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8+ Works 60 Members
Earl Lee is a professor at Pittsburg State University and the author of several books, including Raptured, Drakulya, and Libraries in the Age of Mediocrity. He lives in Pittsburg, Kansas.
Earl Lee is a LibraryThing Author, an author who lists their personal library on LibraryThing.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Anthropology, Religion & Spirituality, History, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 203 — Religion The Bible & Christianity Public worship and other practices
- LCC
- GN409 .L43 — Geography, Anthropology and Recreation Anthropology Anthropology Ethnology. Social and cultural anthropology Cultural traits, customs, and institutions Technology. Material culture
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 23
- Popularity
- 1,143,668
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.25)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 2
- ASINs
- 1
