After twenty years of careful public messaging by their advocates, psychedelic drugs are suddenly flooding into the mainstream, accompanied by grand promises and near-miraculous claims. Reasonable questions about these chemicals remain unanswered, however, and voices expressing caution are consistently marginalized in the rush toward a psychedelic utopia.
Join educator Steve Kramp in thinking through the claims and challenges of psychedelics, and in using the tools of our Catholic faith to gain a balanced perspective in the face of spiritual confusion, public relations salvos, and a growing enthusiasm that could ultimately cohere into a new American religion.
Archdiocese of San Francisco Link
Psychedelic Renaissance
After being outlawed in 1970, psychedelics have reemerged in Western society through what is often referred to as the psychedelic renaissance. This resurgence has sparked widespread interest in their use for recreation, the treatment of mental illness and addiction, and even for the so-called “enhancement” of individuals and society. Over the past two decades, research and popular literature alike have increasingly highlighted the potential benefits of psychedelic compounds in these areas. A common assertion is that these benefits stem from what is termed the psychedelic mystical experience (PME). This paper examines both the use of psychedelics and the PME through the lens of Catholic theology, offers guidance for the Catholic faithful regarding their use, and invites continued dialogue on this complex and significant topic.
Course Schedule
All sessions take place on Tuesdays, 7:00–8:30 p.m. (PST)
October 28, 2025 (7 pm – 8:30 pm PST)
The Present (Altered) State of Affairs
A brief overview of psychedelics in the modern era culminating in the current so-called “Psychedelic Renaissance”
November 04, 2025 (7 pm – 8:30 pm PST)
Turning the Tables
An initial accounting of the serious challenges posed by psychedelics to Western culture and worldview
November 11, 2025 (7 pm – 8:30 pm PST)
The Shamanic World
An exploration of several indigenous cultural models that employ psychedelics for spiritual purposes
November 18, 2025 (7 pm – 8:30 pm PST)
Catholic Common Sense
A Catholic response to the grand spiritual claims made by psychedelic scientists and adventurers
November 25, 2025 (7 pm – 8:30 pm PST)
The Psychedelic Bible
Refuting the common interpretation of Scripture’s (apparent) silence as a tacit sanction to use psychedelics
December 02, 2025 (7 pm – 8:30 pm PST)
Return to Marsh Chapel (A Modest Proposal)
A closing reflection on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics and the risks of scientific spirituality
About the Professor:
Steve Kramp
As an educator, Steve Kramp has taught at UC Merced, the Franciscan University of Steubenville, and most recently at John Paul the Great Catholic University, where he served for seven years as Humanities Chair.
His parallel work as a writer and performing artist has led to several volumes of poetry and nonfiction, and also tinnitus from playing in a number of high-decibel bands.
For several years he served as a youth minister at a Seattle-area parish. He currently lives with his family in the mountains outside San Diego.
