Altered States and a Sacred Reality

Here I revisit evidence from my fieldwork which shows sacred altered states of consciousness (ASCs) in secular settings, and also experienced by those with no religion. I also call for recognition of the sacred as part of everyday life, and the need for more study and acceptance of it. I note the negative impact of materialist science in this regard. I explore definitions of the sacred and spiritual. I examine fieldwork examples of metaphysical experience for those with no religion, particularly collective ASCs and Edith Turner’s concept of ‘communitas’. Debates around fantasy and reality in relation to religion are continued from the previous chapter. I draw on ethnographies of non-Western societies examined in previous chapters and call for more exploration of consciousness and ASC experience in these societies, particularly their sacred worlds. The idea of a sacred reality and our ability to make contact with the Divine are explored and some of William James’s ideas are further examined here. I also note the relevance of non-local consciousness linking not just individuals but all living things.