Colloquium Meetings 2026-2027
Ron Cole-Turner
30 October 2026
Psychedelics, Spiritual Experiences, and Spiritual Lives
Abstract: This talk explores the role of psychedelics as catalysts for highly “meaningful” spiritual or “mystical-like” experiences, starting with an overview of recent research and its impact on institutional religion, Christianity in particular. Next, the core section of the talk looks at some of the key problems and issues raised by psychedelics researchers, considering them mainly in terms of their significance for theological scholars and asking what theology might contribute to research. These issues include definitions of mystical experience, the meaning of ego dissolution, changes in beliefs (religious and/or metaphysical), changes in life choices, the meaning of “meaningfulness,” and whether a spiritually meaningful “trip” is necessary or instrumental for mental health benefits. The talk concludes with an admittedly optimistic view of what institutional Christianity (in concert with other traditions) might offer those who seek its help in interpreting and integrating their psychedelic experiences. By providing an alternative cultural context, a history of shared beliefs and practices, rituals performed in community, and social connections mediated in part in prayer, churches are positioned to help individuals navigate complex pathways from spiritual experiences to spiritual lives.
Bio: Ron Cole-Turner, M.Div, Ph.D, is professor of theology and ethics emeritus at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (Pennsylvania, US). He is the author Psychedelics and Christian Faith: Exploring an Unexpected Pathway to Healing and Spirituality (2025) and the editor of Christian Perspectives on Psychedelics and Spirituality (November 2026). He is an active member of Ligare: A Christian Psychedelic Society, a US-based network with a growing presence in the UK. Over the decades, his research addressed the theological significance of biotechnology and human enhancement technologies before turning to questions raised by psychedelics research. He is a founding member of the International Society for Science and Religion and an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.