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The Golden Rule is not specific to Christianity.

CONFUCIANISM:

“Surely it is the maxim of loving-kindness: Do not unto others that you would not have them do unto you.”

— Analects, XV, 23

JUDAISM:

“What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow men. That is the entire law, all the rest is commentary.”

–The Talmud, Shabbat31a

BUDDHISM:

“Hurt not others in ways that your yourself would find hurtful.”

–Undana-varqa: 518

CHRISTIANITY:

“As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.”

–Luke 6:31

BAHA’I:

“It is our wish and desire that every one of you may become a source of all goodness unto men, and an example of uprightness to mankind. Beware lest you prefer yourself above your neighbors .”

–Baha’u’llah, Gleanings, 315

ZOROASTRIANISM:

“That nature only is good when it shall not do unto another whatever is not good of its own self.”

–Dadistan-I-Dinik, 94:5

HINDUISM:

“This is the sum of all true righteousness: deal with others as thou wouldst thyself be dealt by. Do nothing to thy neighbor which thou wouldst not have him do to thee after.”

–The Mahabharata

ISLAM:

“No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires of himself.”

–Sunnah

TAOISM:

“The good man ought to pity the malignant tendencies of others; to rejoice over their excellence; to help them in their straits; to regard their gains as if they were his own, and their losses in the same way.”

–The Thai-shang. 3

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Professor's avatar

"we cannot fully celebrate anything that leaves a person alienated from their Creator"

This is stated as if it is a fact. There isn't any examples or reasons given to support the statement. In reality countless numbers of people have experienced the exact opposite.

And this: "But one cannot explore the world of psychedelics very long before the topic of entities comes up."

Again this is stated as fact. It isn't. I'm assuming that it is a reference to entities that some report during DMT experiences. Not all psychedelics are the same. DMT is a disociative psychedelic and is very different than psilocybin and other psychedelics. The statement quoted above would be similar to saying all colors are blue.

The story of Amanda also seems to paint all psychedelics as being the same or at least very similar ro DMT. They are not.

I very much agree with this: "There is simply no easy chemical cure for our problems." Psychedelics aren't a cure. Some can be tools but that requires preparation and should not be taken lightly. Many tools can be used in a positive or negative way. A hammer can help to build a house but it can also be used for vandalism.

As I read further I saw that you view the Bible as authoritative. I consider myself to be a Christian. I have studied most of the world's religions. The Bible was not handed to us by a hand coming out of the sky. It was written by inspired and some perhaps not so inspired people. What was accepted as being worthy of inclusion was decisions made by men. You may want to look into the gnostic gospels.

You lost me when comparing Christianity to other spirituality. A closer examination might actually enrich your understanding of Christianity. You say this: " these practices make no personal moral demands. There are no ten commandments, no golden rule, no ultimate moral Judge."

That is so off base. It is chauvinism. Remember "There are many mansions in my Father's house."

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