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Altered States, Sacred Views:
Faith-Based Ethics in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Altered States, Sacred Views: Faith-Based Ethics in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Psychedelic-assisted therapy has reemerged at the forefront of psychiatric and spiritual healing research. Yet for adherents of orthodox religious traditions, its use presents profound ethical, legal, and theological dilemmas. This presentation explores how major world religions—including Orthodox Judaism, Roman Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism—conceptualize the permissibility and prohibition of mind-altering substances for therapeutic purposes.

Drawing from halachic responsa, Catholic canon law, Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), Hindu scriptures (the Vedas and Upanishads), and Buddhist ethical precepts, we will analyze under what circumstances psychedelic-assisted therapy might be prescribed for healing, and when it remains firmly proscribed due to concerns of intoxication, idolatry, or loss of moral agency.

Key sources include:

  • Orthodox Judaism: The prohibition of altering consciousness (Leviticus 19:26, Rambam Hilchot De'ot 4:15) balanced against the imperative to heal (pikuach nefesh, Yoma 85b).

  • Catholicism: Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2291) forbids recreational drug use but allows therapeutic use if properly supervised and ethically indicated.

  • Islam: Qur’anic prohibitions against intoxicants (e.g., Qur'an 5:90) are nuanced by Islamic medical ethics, which allow prohibited substances if necessary for healing (darura - necessity principle).

  • Hinduism: While traditional texts (e.g., Manusmriti 11:55) warn against intoxicants, Ayurvedic medicine permits certain plant medicines when used intentionally for healing and self-purification.

  • Buddhism: The Fifth Precept warns against clouding the mind with intoxicants; however, Mahayana interpretations allow for compassionate exceptions when aiding suffering beings.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how each tradition frames the risks, promises, and parameters of using psychedelics as medicine. The session will include case examples, scholarly references, and theological arguments currently shaping religious engagement with psychedelic science. Through this comparative lens, we will explore how faith and reason can intersect responsibly in the evolving landscape of psychedelic therapy.

 https://frumtherapist.com/workshops/AlteredStates/view

Altered States, Sacred Views:
Faith-Based Ethics in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Previously Recorded

Presenter: Darcy Wallen, LCSW, CIMHP

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Course Length: 1 Hour & 30 Minutes

Learning Objectives:

  1. Participants will define and distinguish between religiously prescribed and proscribed uses of psychedelic-assisted therapies within at least three major faith traditions.
  2. Participants will Identify and cite at least two scriptural, doctrinal, or legal sources from each of five major religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism) that inform their views on psychedelic and MDMA-assisted therapy.
  3. Participants will Describe how clinical trial settings and medical necessity influence religious rulings on the permissibility of psychedelic-assisted therapies.

This workshop Offers 1.5 Continuing Education Credits
This webinar is recorded and will not grant live credits.

Times New Roman

Altered States, Sacred Views: Faith-Based Ethics in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Psychedelic-assisted therapy has reemerged at the forefront of psychiatric and spiritual healing research. Yet for adherents of orthodox religious traditions, its use presents profound ethical, legal, and theological dilemmas. This presentation explores how major world religions—including Orthodox Judaism, Roman Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism—conceptualize the permissibility and prohibition of mind-altering substances for therapeutic purposes.

Drawing from halachic responsa, Catholic canon law, Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), Hindu scriptures (the Vedas and Upanishads), and Buddhist ethical precepts, we will analyze under what circumstances psychedelic-assisted therapy might be prescribed for healing, and when it remains firmly proscribed due to concerns of intoxication, idolatry, or loss of moral agency.

Key sources include:

  • Orthodox Judaism: The prohibition of altering consciousness (Leviticus 19:26, Rambam Hilchot De'ot 4:15) balanced against the imperative to heal (pikuach nefesh, Yoma 85b).

  • Catholicism: Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2291) forbids recreational drug use but allows therapeutic use if properly supervised and ethically indicated.

  • Islam: Qur’anic prohibitions against intoxicants (e.g., Qur'an 5:90) are nuanced by Islamic medical ethics, which allow prohibited substances if necessary for healing (darura - necessity principle).

  • Hinduism: While traditional texts (e.g., Manusmriti 11:55) warn against intoxicants, Ayurvedic medicine permits certain plant medicines when used intentionally for healing and self-purification.

  • Buddhism: The Fifth Precept warns against clouding the mind with intoxicants; however, Mahayana interpretations allow for compassionate exceptions when aiding suffering beings.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how each tradition frames the risks, promises, and parameters of using psychedelics as medicine. The session will include case examples, scholarly references, and theological arguments currently shaping religious engagement with psychedelic science. Through this comparative lens, we will explore how faith and reason can intersect responsibly in the evolving landscape of psychedelic therapy.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Participants will define and distinguish between religiously prescribed and proscribed uses of psychedelic-assisted therapies within at least three major faith traditions.
  2. Participants will Identify and cite at least two scriptural, doctrinal, or legal sources from each of five major religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism) that inform their views on psychedelic and MDMA-assisted therapy.
  3. Participants will Describe how clinical trial settings and medical necessity influence religious rulings on the permissibility of psychedelic-assisted therapies.

Agenda:

Overview and Current Relevance - 30 minutes

  • Overview of the psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) resurgence
  • Why religious voices are essential in this conversation
  • What are some of the moral and ethical issues
  • Core distinctions: proscribed vs. prescribed use
  • Compassion as a theme in all these major religions

Five Religions' Basic Principles Regarding PAT - 30 minutes

Judaism

  • Pikuach Nefesh and halachic frameworks
  • Modern rabbinic responsa
  • Chassidic and mystical nuance: altered states vs. divine awareness

Christianity (Catholic & Protestant lenses)

  • Catechism 2291 and moral theology
  • Pastoral care, suffering, and therapeutic exception
  • Papal and theological reflections on medicine and ethics

Islam

  • Qur’an 5:90 and the principle of Darura
  • Shariah-compliant bioethics
  • Emerging fatwas and ethical discourse on PAT

Hinduism

  • Vedic roots of ritual plant medicine (Soma)
  • Ayurvedic justification of healing-based ingestion
  • Philosophical boundaries on recreational use

Buddhism

  • Fifth Precept and mindfulness
  • Mahayana Upaya (skillful means)
  • Vajrayana nuance and tightly controlled ritual contexts

Cross-Religious Insights - 15 minutes

  • Shared themes: preservation of agency, ethics, healing intent
  • Common boundaries: prohibition of careless or indulgent use
  • Role of clinical trial settings in shifting ethical acceptability

Closing, Reflection and Q&A - 15 minutes

This presentation is open to:
  • Social Workers
  • Professional Counselors
  • Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
  • Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
  • Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
Course Level: intermediate
Level of Clinician: intermediate
  • New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
  • Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
  • Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
  • Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by the NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0122.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0275.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0774.
  • CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
    CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.
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