Source: San Jose Mercury New (CA)
Contact:   http://www.sjmercury.com
Pubdate: Sun, 15 Feb 1998

DRUGS AND RELIGION STORY DRAWS HIGH PRAISE, CONDEMNATION

When my mother accused me of not being religious because I don't attend
Mass, my response was, ``Why do you think I go to all those Grateful Dead
concerts?'' Therefore, I read with great interest your article ``Seeking
higher ground: Drugs can bring enlightenment, but at what cost?'' (Silicon
Valley Life, Jan. 31).

I strongly believe that the absence of sacramental use of psychedelics in
modern religious settings has led to the downfall of religious belief.
Furthermore, I propose that the lack of psychedelics in adolescent
initiation rites is a major contributor to adolescent problems today,
including drug abuse.

Instead of continuing the disastrous ``war'' on certain drugs, our society
needs to come to grips with our vast history of drug use for beneficial
purposes, spiritual uses being paramount among them.

Thank you for taking a serious look at this important issue. I hope there
will be more to come.

Ellen Komp
Grover Beach

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As Christians in this valley, we take offense at your article ``Seeking
higher ground.''  The article glorifies the use of drugs, namely LSD. The
article came across as saying that it's OK to take drugs if it's in a
religious setting. This is hogwash! Using LSD or any other drug to get
closer to God is ridiculous. This is not religion!

The use of drugs in this country is appalling. You shouldn't be running
articles in the newspaper saying it's OK. How are we ever going to get this
country off of drugs when you guys run articles that glorify the use of
drugs? Doesn't the Mercury News use discretion in selecting news articles
for its newspaper? This article was not newsworthy or right.

I believe people who have only tried some ``recreational'' drugs who are
searching for a way to a higher spiritual experience would look at this
article and say, yes, maybe I'll try this way to God. This is the wrong way
to God.

We as a country are trying to move away from drugs, not to them. I have
seen what drugs can do to someone's life. Their life goes down the toilet.

Fred and Karen Courter
Cupertino

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I expected to read examples of the costs of psychedelic drug use in your
article ``Drugs can bring enlightenment, but at what cost?,'' but was
delighted to see Julie Leiblich dig up little more than a Baptist reverend
saying drugs are the ``enemy of the soul.''

All that remained were critics accusing people of covering the
``meaningless fun'' of drug use with ``mystical talk.'' Although it is
unfortunate for those whom drugs have landed in prison, it's a good thing
that all ``meaningless fun'' has not yet become illegal.

And, perhaps enlightenment is possible through psychedelics. Although it
would be nice, we can never know for sure. But God forbid if we should set
out to find enlightenment and end up having nothing more than ``meaningless
fun.''

Joel W. Johnson
San Jose