While it is unsurprising that many people experience psychedelics in ways that are consistent with beliefs they already have, some describe experiences that changed their beliefs (Davis et al., 2020; Griffiths et al., 2019; Nayak & Griffiths, 2022; Nayak et al., 2023, 2024; Timmermann et al., 2021). After all, psychedelic experiences are often described as having religious, spiritual, or other significance (Cherniak et al., 2021, 2024; Dupuis, 2021; Griffiths et al., 2018). However, renewed interest in psychedelics is occurring in pluralistic societies where more people are becoming spiritual but not religious.
In two studies described in an article published in Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, my co-author Pehr Granqvist and I explored how psychedelic use relates to changes in religiosity and spirituality. First, we examined data for more than 22,000 people from the United Kingdom spanning multiple decades to see if those who used psychedelics were more likely to change their religious identity. We found that people who used psychedelics were less likely to have grown up in a religion or belong to a religion as an adult. Also, psychedelic users were more likely to leave the religion they grew up in than people who had not used. However, this trend was the same for using other illicit substances, too.
Second, we studied whether people felt more religious or spiritual over the two months after a psychedelic experience. Surprisingly, we found no changes in either.
Psychedelics and their effects are context-dependent. Notwithstanding the spiritual experiences they sometimes elicit, psychedelic use in Western contexts cannot be separated from broader secularization-related trends.
Why is this important?
- Secularization of modern society: As some societies continue to secularize, traditional religious affiliation is declining, particularly among younger generations. At the same time, interest in noninstitutional spirituality and meaning-making is growing. This article directly addresses how psychedelic use may intersect with these trends, providing insight into how individuals might form new spiritual identities outside of organized religion.
- Challenging assumptions about psychedelics as spiritual catalysts: A critical finding of the study is that psychedelic use does not consistently increase religiosity or spirituality. This result challenges romanticized views that psychedelics inevitably lead to mystical insight or religious awakening. It contributes nuance by showing that context, personality, and intention likely moderate outcomes.
- Relevance for clinical and theological discourses: For clinicians exploring psychedelic-assisted therapy and for religious communities concerned about the spiritual implications of psychedelics, this article offers data-driven clarity. It invites reflection on how psychedelics might facilitate spiritual exploration outside of traditional doctrines and whether they pose a threat or an opportunity for contemporary religious thought.
While mystical experiences related to the effects of psychedelics are widely reported, long-term shifts may be more subtle and shaped by existing beliefs and life context. Psychedelics might gently reorient the compass of meaning, but they do not build or destroy temples. Their impact on spirituality is personal, evolving, and never guaranteed.