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Moses Got High on Mt. Sinai, Study Says

Mind-altering drugs may have sparked religious visions

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 4, 2008 7:08 PM CST

(Newser) – Moses was high on mind-altering drugs when he heard God’s word on Mount Sinai, an Israeli researcher said this week. He contends that hallucinogenics were key to Jewish ceremonies and explain Moses' reception of the Ten Commandments and his vision of the burning bush. Benny Shanon, who teaches at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, admits he's dabbled in such drugs himself.

"As far Moses on Mount Sinai is concerned, it was either a supernatural cosmic event, which I don't believe, or a legend, which I don't believe either, or finally, and this is very probable, an event that joined Moses and the people of Israel under the effect of narcotics," Shannon said. He notes that Israelites got high by brewing the bark of the acacia tree, frequently mentioned in the Bible, AFP reports.

Picture taken in February 1999 of a healer (L) starting an Ayahuasca ceremony by offering -what they call- the medicinal plant to a person taking part of the ritual in Tarapoto, northeastern jungle of Peru. Benny Shannon thinks that Moses and the Israelites used a brew similar to ayahuasca in...
Picture taken in February 1999 of a healer (L) starting an Ayahuasca ceremony by offering -what they call- the medicinal plant to a person taking part of the ritual in Tarapoto, northeastern jungle of...   (Getty Images)
The Torah is seen in this undated file photo. Are many of its revelations drug-induced visions?
The Torah is seen in this undated file photo. Are many of its revelations drug-induced visions?   (Shutterstock)
A stained-glass image of Moses is seen in this undated file photo.
A stained-glass image of Moses is seen in this undated file photo.   (Shutterstock)
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