America is a deeply spiritual nation. Over 70% of us say that we feel spiritual in some way. But – at the same time – we're getting less religious. So for people who are spiritual-but-not-religious – what's replacing organized religion? What do they believe – and where does that show up in their day-to-day lives? In our new series called Losing My Religion, It's Been a Minute is going to find out. This week, we're getting into psychedelics. That's an umbrella that includes the drugs LSD, magic mushrooms, peyote, and often ketamine and MDMA too, among others. And some of these drugs have a history of spiritual practice spanning millennia. But there's a new group that's really taking on the psychedelic mantle: tech bros and CEOS. Brittany is joined by Maxim Tvorun-Dunn, PhD candidate at the University of Tokyo, and Emma Goldberg, business reporter at the New York Times, to discuss what it means that these drugs are getting championed – and sometimes financially backed – by the tech elite, and how might that affect our culture's relationship to psychedelics as spiritual tools.Support public media and receive ad-free listening & bonus content. Join NPR+ today.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
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A warning, this segment contains mentions of drug use. Hello, hello. I'm Brittany Luce, and you're listening to It's Been a Minute from NPR, a show about what's going on in culture and why it doesn't happen by accident. America is a deeply spiritual nation. Over 70% of us say that we feel spiritual in some way. But at the same time, we're also getting less religious.
When asked to check a box next to their religious affiliation, 28% of Americans check the box labeled none. The nuns, as they're sometimes called, are now the biggest religious group in the United States. And 22% identify as spiritual but not religious, otherwise known as SBNRs. But for SBNRs, what's replacing organized religion? What do they believe?
And where does that belief show up in all our lives? Well, on our new series called Losing My Religion, we're going to find out. Today, we're getting into psychedelics. That's an umbrella term that includes LSD, magic mushrooms, peyote, and often ketamine and MDMA too, among others. And more people are taking psychedelics now than ever before. Ever heard the phrase spirit journey?
The trips people have on these substances are often described in spiritual terms. And some of these psychedelics have a history of spiritual practice spanning millennia. But there's a new group that's really taking on the psychedelic mantle. Tech bros and CEOs. OpenAI's Sam Altman.
Psychedelic therapy was definitely one of the most important things in my life. Elon Musk. There are times when I have a negative chemical state in my brain. Ketamine is helpful for getting one out of a negative frame of mind.
And Google co-founder Sergey Brin, to name a few. These substances have different shades of legality throughout the U.S., but some of these tech bros are trying to change that by funding startups that might bring psychedelic therapies to the public. So what does it mean that psychedelics are getting championed and sometimes financially backed by the tech elite?
And how might that affect our culture's relationship to psychedelics as spiritual tools? I'm joined by Maxime Tvarun Dunn, PhD candidate at the University of Tokyo. Happy to be here. And Emma Goldberg, business reporter at The New York Times.
Thanks for having us on.
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