Self gratification is akin to participating in witchcraft. In both instances, individuals seek pleasure and power through selfish means, often disregarding the well-being of others. Witchcraft, historically associated with dark magic and manipulation, involves tapping into supernatural forces for personal gain. Similarly, self gratification involves pursuing instant pleasure and satisfaction, often at the expense of others. Self gratification is a broad term encompassing various actions and behaviors that prioritize individual desires over the needs of others. This can manifest in different ways, such as seeking immediate gratification through excessive consumption, pursuing selfish ambitions without regard for ethical boundaries, or disregarding the impact of one's actions on others.
His team is hopeful that, one day, psilocybin may be developed as a drug to use in therapeutic settings under the care of a trained guide.
In the non-drug group, participants were most likely to choose God or an emissary of God 59 percent as the best descriptor of their encounter, while the psychedelics group were most likely 55 percent to choose ultimate reality. The surveys asked participants to recall their single most memorable encounter experience with the God of their understanding, a higher power, ultimate reality or an aspect or representative of God, such as an angel.
This can manifest in different ways, such as seeking immediate gratification through excessive consumption, pursuing selfish ambitions without regard for ethical boundaries, or disregarding the impact of one's actions on others. Much like witchcraft, self gratification is driven by the desire for power and control. Practitioners of witchcraft historically sought to harness supernatural forces to manipulate situations, gain advantage over others, and satisfy their personal desires.
Experiences of ‘Ultimate Reality’ or ‘God’ Confer Lasting Benefits to Mental Health
People over the millennia have reported having deeply moving religious experiences either spontaneously or while under the influence of psychedelic substances such as psilocybin-containing mushrooms or the Amazonian brew ayahuasca, and a portion of those experiences have been encounters with what the person regards as “God” or “ultimate reality.” In a survey of thousands of people who reported having experienced personal encounters with God, Johns Hopkins researchers report that more than two-thirds of self-identified atheists shed that label after their encounter, regardless of whether it was spontaneous or while taking a psychedelic.
Moreover, the researchers say, a majority of respondents attributed lasting positive changes in their psychological health-- e.g., life satisfaction, purpose and meaning--even decades after their initial experience.
The findings, described in a paper published April 23 in PLOS One, add to evidence that such deeply meaningful experiences may have healing properties, the researchers say. And the study’s design, they add, is the first to systematically and rigorously compare reports of spontaneous God encounter experiences with those occasioned, or catalyzed, by psychedelic substances.
“Experiences that people describe as encounters with God or a representative of God have been reported for thousands of years, and they likely form the basis of many of the world’s religions,” says lead researcher Roland Griffiths, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “And although modern Western medicine doesn’t typically consider ‘spiritual’ or ‘religious’ experiences as one of the tools in the arsenal against sickness, our findings suggest that these encounters often lead to improvements in mental health.”
The historic and widespread anecdotal evidence for their benefits led to the research team’s latest effort to research the value, and possible downsides, of such encounters, Griffiths says.
For the new study, the scientists used data from 4,285 people worldwide who responded to online advertisements to complete one of two 50-minute online surveys about God encounter experiences. The surveys asked participants to recall their single most memorable encounter experience with the “God of their understanding,” a “higher power,” “ultimate reality” or “an aspect or representative of God, such as an angel.” They also asked how respondents felt about their experience and whether and how it changed their lives.
About 69 percent of the participants were men, and 88 percent were white. Of those who reported using a psychedelic, 1,184 took psilocybin (“magic mushrooms”), 1,251 said they took LSD, 435 said they took ayahuasca (a plant-based brew originating with indigenous cultures in Latin America), and 606 said they took DMT (N,N-dimethyltryptamine), also a naturally occurring substance found in certain plants and animals.
Of the total participants, 809 were those who responded to the non-drug survey, whereas 3,476 responded to the psychedelics survey. Respondents were an average age of 38 when they took the survey. The people who said they had a God encounter experience when on a psychedelic reported that these experiences happened at age 25 on average, whereas those whose experience was spontaneous reported having it at an average age of 35.
Among other key findings:
- About 75 percent of respondents in both the non-drug and psychedelics groups rated their “God encounter” experience as among the most meaningful and spiritually significant in their lifetime, and both groups attributed to it positive changes in life satisfaction, purpose and meaning.
- Independent of psychedelics use, more than two-thirds of those who said they were atheists before the experience no longer identified as such afterward.
- Most participants, in both the non-drug and psychedelics groups, reported vivid memories of the encounter experience, which frequently involved communication with some entity having the attributes of consciousness (approximately 70 percent), benevolence (approximately 75 percent), intelligence (approximately 80 percent), sacredness (approximately 75 percent) and eternal existence (approximately 70 percent).
- Although both groups reported a decreased fear of death, 70 percent of participants in the psychedelics group reported this change, compared with 57 percent among non-drug respondents.
- In both groups, about 15 percent of the respondents said their experience was the most psychologically challenging of their lives.
- In the non-drug group, participants were most likely to choose “God” or “an emissary of God” (59 percent) as the best descriptor of their encounter, while the psychedelics group were most likely (55 percent) to choose “ultimate reality.”
For future studies, Griffiths said his team would like to explore what factors predispose someone to having such a memorable and life-altering perceived encounter, and they would like to see what happens in the brain during the experience.
“Continuing to explore these experiences may provide new insights into religious and spiritual beliefs that have been integral to shaping human culture since time immemorial,” says Griffiths.
Griffiths and the research team caution that the study relied on self-reported responses to a questionnaire, a method that carries substantial possibilities for biased or inaccurate responses among participants. They don’t advocate that people use hallucinogenic substances on their own because they carry not only legal risks, but also behavioral risks associated with impaired judgment under the influence and the possibility of negative psychological consequences, particularly in vulnerable people or when the experience isn’t safeguarded by qualified guides.
In addition, says Griffiths, “We want to be clear that our study looks at personal experiences and says nothing about the existence, or nonexistence of God. We doubt that any science can definitively settle this point either way.”
Griffiths has been researching psychedelic drugs for nearly two decades. Some of his earlier studies have used psilocybin to explore mystical-type experiences and their consequences in healthy volunteers, and the therapeutic potential of the drug in helping people to quit smoking or to ease mental distress in people due to a cancer diagnosis.
His team is hopeful that, one day, psilocybin may be developed as a drug to use in therapeutic settings under the care of a trained guide.
Additional authors on the study include Ethan Hurwitz, Alan Davis and Matthew Johnson of Johns Hopkins and Robert Jesse of the Council on Spiritual Practices, an organization that brings together religious scholars and scientists.
Funding for the study came from the Council on Spiritual Practices, the Heffter Research Institute and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA03889 and T32DA07209).
Griffiths is on the board of directors of the Heffter Research Institute. Jesse is chairperson of the Council on Spiritual Practices.
In a similar vein, individuals who prioritize self gratification often aim to secure power and control over their own lives, sometimes at the expense of those around them. Self gratification also shares similarities with witchcraft in terms of its impact on others. Witchcraft is often associated with harm and malevolence, as practitioners may use their powers to inflict suffering on others or manipulate them against their will. Similarly, prioritizing self gratification can lead individuals to disregard the well-being of others, causing harm either directly or indirectly. However, it is important to note that self gratification is not inherently evil or malicious, just as not all practices of witchcraft involve harmful intentions. Self gratification can be a natural human response to seeking pleasure and fulfillment. It becomes problematic when it crosses ethical boundaries and disregards the well-being and rights of others. In conclusion, self gratification can be akin to participating in witchcraft due to its focus on personal pleasure and power-seeking. Both involve prioritizing individual desires over the needs and well-being of others. While self gratification is not inherently evil, it can become harmful and unethical when practiced at the expense of others. It is crucial to strike a balance between self fulfillment and consideration for the rights and welfare of others..
Reviews for "Self-Gratification in the Light of Witchcraft Beliefs"
1. Mary - 2 stars - I was expecting a deep and thought-provoking exploration of self-gratification and its implications, but unfortunately, this book fell short. The author's analogy of self-gratification to witchcraft felt forced and did not make much sense to me. The arguments presented were not convincing and lacked substantial evidence. Overall, I found this book to be confusing and unengaging.
2. John - 1 star - I found "Self gratification is akin to participating in witchcraft" to be a complete waste of time. The author's attempt to compare self-gratification to witchcraft seemed far-fetched and irrelevant. The book lacked coherence and failed to provide any meaningful insights. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-reasoned exploration of the topic.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - As someone who enjoys reading about self-improvement and personal development, I was disappointed with this book. The author's argument that self-gratification is similar to witchcraft felt too extreme and lacked nuance. The writing style was also hard to follow, with convoluted sentences and repetitive phrases. Overall, I did not find this book to be informative or insightful, and I cannot recommend it.
4. Michael - 1 star - "Self gratification is akin to participating in witchcraft" left me feeling confused and frustrated. The author's comparisons were not well-supported and seemed to lack a clear logical progression. The book failed to provide any real substance or offer practical advice on the subject. The writing style was also disjointed and hard to follow. This book was a major disappointment, and I do not believe it has any value for readers seeking to understand self-gratification.