This week on the Altered States podcast we have a two-parter from Utah.
Up first: Psychedelic Church vs. State of Utah
In November 2024, police raided Singularism, an establishment that claims to be a new religion founded by a former Mormon man. But before the state could press charges, Singularism went on the offensive, saying the seized psilocybin was a religious sacrament. Singularism sued the state of Utah, claiming religious freedom. So far, a federal judge has been adamant: psychedelic religion is still religion.
And Part 2: Sex, Psychedelics and Consent
Allegations of sexual, financial, and psychological abuse sometimes arise in the growing psychedelic church movement in Utah and beyond. A leader or guide might use their authority to pressure people – usually women – into having sexual contact with them. How might mind-altering substances play into such abuses of power? How should practitioners navigate consent? And what can psychedelic churches do to keep people safe?
These are the last two episodes of this season! We hope you listened and will share it with your networks. And a quick favor: the reviews and comments on the podcast help boost it in the streaming platforms’ algorithms. Right now, a lot of our reviews are from last season. So if you liked the podcast, or found it thought provoking, please consider rating and reviewing it on whatever platform you use. It helps other people find Altered States. Thank you!