John A. Rush – författare

Entheogens and the Development of Culture makes the radical proposition that mind-altering substances have played a major part not only in cultural development but also in human brain development. Researchers suggest that we have purposely enhanced receptor sites in the brain, especially those for dopamine and serotonin, through the use of plants and fungi over a long period of time. The trade-off for lowered functioning and potential drug abuse has been more creative thinking--or a leap in consciousness. Experiments in entheogen use led to the development of primitive medicine, in which certain mind-altering plants and fungi were imbibed to still fatigue, pain, or depression, while others were taken to promote hunger and libido. Our ancestors selected for our neural hardware, and our propensity for seeking altered forms of consciousness as a survival strategy may be intimately bound to our decision-making processes going back to the dawn of time.Fourteen essays by a wide range of contributors—including founding president of the American Anthropological Association’s Anthropology of Religion section Michael Winkelman, PhD; Carl A. P. Ruck, PhD, Boston University professor of classics and an authority on the ecstatic rituals of the god Dionysus; and world-renowned botanist Dr. Gaston Guzma, member of the Colombian National Academy of Sciences and expert on hallucinogenic mushrooms—demonstrate that altering consciousness continues to be an important part of human experience today. Anthropologists, cultural historians, and anyone interested in the effects of mind-altering substances on the human mind and soul will find this book deeply informative and inspiring.From the Trade Paperback edition.

On a 2001 trip to the cathedrals of Europe, anthropologist John Rush and his wife entered St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice and encountered a mosaic depicting Jesus surrounded by mushrooms with an Amanita muscaria cap in his hand. Examining the space with new eyes, they discovered images of mushrooms and mind-altering plants all over the Basilica. Intrigued, Dr. Rush spent seven years researching and reflecting on the profound effects hallucinogens had on the founding of all three major Western religions. He concluded that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are political constructions evolving out of the use of not only Amanita muscaria, but a plethora of mind-altering substances.Failed God: Fractured Myth in a Fragile World re-examines the scriptural stories of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as told in the Bible and Qur’an and reveals them as “concocted mythical charters stemming from drug-induced romps with the super-natural.” Rush shows how mind-altering substances played an instrumental role in the birth and development of Western religions and explains how they contributed to reports of “prophetic” experiences, including angry and disturbing messages from the divine. With chapters on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Rush fully addresses the effects of mind-altering substances on each tradition, convincingly discrediting the idea that they stem from actual human interaction with the divine. He also shows how an intoxicated and over-zealous Apostle Paul corrupted Jesus’s simple message of human decency, forming an oppressive religious system based on fear. In a thought-provoking conclusion, Rush asks how we can continue to attribute authority to traditions that were so clearly irrationally founded and incompatible with today’s world.

In The Twelve Gates, clinical anthropologist John Rush embarks on a spellbinding journey through death rituals in various cultures, centering on the ancient Egyptian philosophy of death and resurrection. The first part of the book provides an overview of different rituals, encouraging readers to confront their feelings about death and to reevaluate their lives. The author details his own experiences preparing for death, including a painful tattooing process inspired by the ancient Egyptian Books of the Netherworld. He then guides readers through the Twelve Gates of the Underworld, symbolic ritual stages during which they can figuratively experience death and rebirth. A set of full-color tarot cards, designed by the author, is included as an aid in passing through each of the Gates. These ancient rituals, performed by pharaohs and priests for thousands of years, help ease the way toward a peaceful, conscious death.

Explores our intertwined spiritual history with cats.We have been connected to cats for more than 30 million years. To our prehistoric ancestors cats were deadly predators of the night, and because of this ancient memory etched onto our DNA, cats epitomise our fear of the dark. Yet in addition to their connection to the dark and the shadows, their intelligence, sophisticated physical abilities, and finely tuned senses also led many cultures to view cats as connected to the spirit world.Exploring the spiritual nature of cats, John A. Rush looks at humanity’s fascination and fear of cats through the ages. He examines spiritual and occult beliefs connected to cats from Mayan, Aztec, and Native American mythology as well as from ancient India, Samaria, Babylon, Japan, and Egypt, including how ancient Egyptians used cats to send messages to the gods. He reveals why the Catholic Church demonised cats and how cats are symbols of both Good and Evil. Examining cat evolution, the author looks at spiritual behaviours attributed to cats as well as modern biological research into cat behaviour and their highly sophisticated sensory systems, which, unlike most other animals, have changed very little over millions of years. He explores their “psychic” ability to sense what humans cannot and the origins of their glowing eyes, which has connected cats, through myth, to both the Underworld and the World of Light. He also explores similarities between cat and human emotions, cat communications with us, and the deep connection between cats and meditation.Revealing the spiritual journey of the cat from fearsome predator to occult symbol to household companion, the author shows how, in many ways, cats are mirrors of us, reflecting our conflicting dual nature that is at once loving yet distant, magical yet vengeful, and above all, deeply connected to the spirit world.

Explores our intertwined spiritual history with cats• Examines spiritual and occult beliefs connected to cats from Mayan, Aztec, and Native American mythology as well as from ancient India, Samaria, Babylon, Japan, and Egypt• Looks at spiritual behaviors attributed to cats as well as modern biological research into cat behavior and their highly sophisticated sensory systems• Reveals the similarities between cat and human emotions and the deep connection between cats and meditationWe have been connected to cats for more than 30 million years. To our prehistoricancestors cats were deadly predators of the night, and because of this ancient memory etched onto our DNA, cats epitomize our fear of the dark. Yet in addition to their connection to the dark and the shadows, their intelligence, sophisticated physical abilities, and finely tuned senses also led many cultures to view cats as connected to the spirit world. Exploring the spiritual nature of cats, John A. Rush looks at humanity’s fascination and fear of cats through the ages. He examines spiritual and occult beliefs connected to cats from Mayan, Aztec, and Native American mythology as well as from ancient India, Samaria, Babylon, Japan, and Egypt, including how ancient Egyptians used cats to send messages to the gods. He reveals why the Catholic Church demonized cats and how cats are symbols of both Good and Evil. Examining cat evolution, the author looks at spiritual behaviors attributed to cats as well as modern biological research into cat behavior and their highly sophisticated sensory systems, which, unlike most other animals, have changed very little over millions of years. He explores their “psychic” ability to sense what humans cannot and the origins of their glowing eyes, which has connected cats, through myth, to both the Underworld and the World of Light. He also explores similarities between cat and human emotions, cat communications with us, and the deep connection between cats and meditation. Revealing the spiritual journey of the cat from fearsome predator to occult symbol to household companion, the author shows how, in many ways, cats are mirrors of us, reflecting our conflicting dual nature that is at once loving yet distant, magical yet vengeful, and, above all, deeply connected to the spirit world.

Conoce cómo se entrelaza la historia espiritual de la humanidad con los gatos• Examina las creencias espirituales y ocultas relacionadas con los gatos, desde la mitología maya, azteca y nativa americana, hasta las creencias de la antigua India, Samaria, Babilonia, Japón y Egipto• Analiza los comportamientos espirituales atribuidos a estos felinos, así como la investigación biológica moderna acerca de su comportamiento y sus altamente sofisticados sistemas sensoriales• Revela las similitudes entre las emociones de los gatos y los humanos, además de la profunda conexión entre los felinos y la meditaciónHemos estado conectados a los gatos durante más de 30 millones de años. Para nuestros antepasados prehistóricos, ellos eran depredadores mortales de la noche. Debido a este antiguo recuerdo, grabado en nuestro ADN, los gatos personifican nuestro miedo a la oscuridad. Sin embargo, además de su conexión con la oscuridad y las sombras, su inteligencia, sus sofisticadas habilidades físicas y sus sentidos poderosamente afinados, han llevado a que muchas culturas los consideren como seres conectados con el mundo de los espíritus.Al explorar la naturaleza espiritual de los gatos, John A. Rush analiza la fascinación y el miedo de la humanidad hacia estos felinos a lo largo de los siglos. Asimismo, examina las creencias espirituales y ocultas relacionadas con ellos según las mitologías maya, azteca y de los nativos americanos, así como de la antigua India, Samaria, Babilonia, Japón y Egipto, y explica como los antiguos egipcios se valían de estos felinos para enviar mensajes a los dioses. De igual forma, revela por qué la Iglesia católica demonizó a los gatos y cómo ellos son símbolo tanto del bien como del mal. Al examinar su evolución, el autor analiza las habilidades espirituales que les han sido atribuidas, así como la investigación biológica moderna de su comportamiento y sus sofisticados sistemas sensoriales, que a diferencia de muchos otros animales, han cambiado muy poco durante millones de años. Rush explora su capacidad “psíquica” para sentir lo que los humanos no pueden sentir y descubre los orígenes de sus ojos brillantes, que han conectado a los gatos, a través de los mitos, tanto con el inframundo como con el mundo de la luz. También explora similitudes entre las emociones de estos felinos y los humanos, su forma de comunicarse con la humanidad y la profunda conexión entre ellos y la meditación.Al revelar este viaje espiritual del gato, desde el temible depredador hasta el símbolo oculto y compañero del hogar, el autor muestra cómo, en muchos sentidos, ellos son espejo de nosotros mismos, pues reflejan nuestra naturaleza dual conflictiva, amorosa y a la vez distante, mágica pero vengativa, y sobre todo, profundamente conectada con el mundo espiritual.