Freethought & Rationalism Archive

happyboy · 01-13-2003, 01:00 PM

that doesn't surprise me if it turns out to be true: narcotics and religion have a long, long history together.

happyboy

krazytamak · 01-13-2003, 08:01 PM

Fenton, you made an interesting point about pot not getting you that high. However, I wonder what the nature of a pot high is if you take it by skin-absorption (as in a holy oil). The way you take it probably affects the nature of the high since a high by ingestion is not the same effect as a high by inhalation. Furthermore, I have been with a friend who did hallucinate big time on very strong pot in amsterdam while he had the experience, so while it is not common with people, remember pot is technically a hallucinogen and it is capable of causing serious hallucinations like Revelations.

The reason I do not think that kaneh-bosm in the holy oil refers to shrooms is because there is so much evidence supporting kaneh-bosm referring to cannabis, and not just the etymological evidence, but medical evidence as well. I have done a serious paper on this subject, about 14 pages long-single spaced, that basically organizes and presents all the evidence I have found on this subject. I wanted to attach it to my post but it is word format with a .doc ending so I dont' know how. If someone knows how, let me know and I'll do it. Otherwise, if you're interested, email me at krazytamak@yahoo.com and I'll email you my thesis on this subject. This applies to anyone else who may just be browsing.

Toto · 01-17-2003, 12:15 AM

This is krazytamac's paper. (It is also an experiment in formatting.)

Historical Reevaluation of the Bible

Abstract:

Jesus anointed people with the therapeutic and entheogenic holy oil from the Old Testament. The holy oil was used during baptism, and it caused the recipient to hallucinate. The drug-induced visions and voices that were heard were then interpreted to be messages from God and glimpses into the Kingdom of Heaven. Furthermore, Jesus was seen as a moral savior when he healed people with the holy oil. This is because the assumption of the time period was that illness was caused by sin. So, when Jesus healed people with the holy oil, people believed that he had the ability and authority to forgive their sins. All of Jesus? medical miracles can be explained by the medical properties of the ingredients of the holy oil. Finally, by contrasting the Biblical interpretation of resurrection as physical with the Gnostic interpretation of resurrection as spiritual, the myth of a physical resurrection can be explained away as exaggeration caused by the decades long game of telephone that occurred before the oral scriptures were put to writing.

Setup of the Evidence:

There are twelve numbered points, all of which are supported by the lettered evidence directly below it. The lettered evidence is from the Bible, Gnostic texts, early Christian Church Orders, early Christian writings, and primary medical sources. If any of the numbered points is too self-evident for you, you can skip the evidence in that category and move on to the next point, but be aware that each point builds on the previous point. Note, all bold emphases are added to draw attention to important parts of the quotation and are not in the original.

1. New Testament oil cures epilepsy

?They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.?- Mark 6:13 [The link provides source that says epilepsy was believed to be cause by demons in ancient times. http://library.thinkquest.org/J001619/history.html . Thus, this shows that oil was used to cure epilepsy.]

2. The oil refers to the holy oil of the Old Testament, same oil the Jews had banned. Just because it was banned doesn?t mean that it stopped existing and was suddenly impossible to find. On the contrary, most things that are officially banned, are still available in a black market, for example, most drugs today. It is because Jesus was literally anointed with this oil that we call him the ?The Anointed? (Christ) and not because of some figurative anointing by God.

?For we stand in need of a woman, a deaconess, for many necessities; and first in the baptism of women, the deacon shall anoint only their forehead with the holy oil, and after him the deaconess shall anoint them: for there is no necessity that the women should be seen by the men; but only in the laying on of hands the bishop shall anoint her head, as the priests and kings were formerly anointed, not because those which are now baptized are ordained priests, but as being Christians, or anointed, from Christ the Anointed, "a royal priesthood, and an holy nation, the Church of God, the pillar and ground of the marriage-chamber," who formerly were not a people, but now are beloved and chosen, upon whom is called His new name." - Book 3 Section 2 of Apostolic Constitutions. The first six books are excerpts of the Didascalia Apostolorum, Church Order, written in Syria about AD 250. http://www.piney.com/DocAposConstitu.html [Shows that the holy oil was used in baptism, it was the same oil from the OT, and that it is because of the oil anointing and not a figurative anointing by God that they are called Christians. Also since it shows that it was with this oil that people were anointed, it confirms that the since the sick are anointed with oil, they are using this holy oil.]
? The Jews had before been directed to compose a sacred oil, with which those who were called to the priesthood or to the kingdom might be anointed. And as now the robe of purple is a sign of the assumption of royal dignity among the Romans, so with them the anointing with the holy oil conferred the title and power of king. But since the ancient Greeks used the word xri/esqai to express the art of anointing, which they now express by a0lei/fesqai, as the verse of Homer shows, "But the attendants washed, and anointed them with oil;" on this account we call Him Christ, that is, the Anointed, who in Hebrew is called the Messias.? ? Book 4 ?Of True Wisdom and Religion? Chapter 7 of The Divine Institutes by Lactantius. (?) http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-07/TOC.htm#TopOfPage (Bold emphasis added. Lactantius was a 4th century Christian apologist) [Shows that he was called the Christ because of the oil and not in a figurative sense. Implies that the oil is the same as OT oil. This further supports how integral it is to the faith.]

3. So the oil that cures epilepsy is also anointed on Jesus, thus giving him the name Christ=The Anointed. What is in this oil that is curing epilepsy? To Answer that, ask: What are the ingredients and their medical effects? The ingredients of the oil are myrrh, cinnamon, fragrant cane, cassia, and olive oil. None of these treat epileptic seizures. The 3rd ingredient is most commonly translated as fragrant cane, but it is vague. It has in some versions been translated as calamus. However, calamus also doesn?t help epilepsy. So, what is curing the epilepsy? 4 of the 5 ingredients have no effect on epilepsy for sure. That means further investigation needs to be done on ?fragrant cane.?

"Then the LORD said to Moses, Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels (about 12.5 pounds or 6kg) of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels (about 3kg) of fragrant cane, 500 shekels of cassia--all according to the sanctuary shekel--and a hin (about 4quarts or 4liters) of olive oil. Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil.?- Exodus 30: 22-25
Although myrrh, cinnamon, cassia, olive oil and calamus (if that?s what fragrant cane refers to) don?t treat epileptic seizures, they still have many therapeutic properties. Much more than most people might think. Some of the treatments are very interesting because they relate to some of the medical miracles that doctor Jesus has been credited for. These include: antiseptic to heal wounds (myrrh, cinnamon, cassia, olive); menstrual disturbances or uterine hemorrhage (myrrh, cinnamon, cassia); rheumatism (myrrh, olive oil); fevers (cinnamon, olive); pruritus (olive oil); dropsy/edema (olive oil). www.botanical.com for reference.

4. So what else might ?fragrant cane? be? The original Hebrew from which it is translated is ?kaneh-bosm.? This sounds a lot like cannabis, especially when one considers that a final pronounced ?m? in Hebrew is often used to make a noun plural. This by itself is certainly not proof, but since it is a realistic possibility that ?kaneh-bosm? means ?cannabis,? the medical effects of cannabis should be considered. Turns out, cannabis does in fact treat epileptic seizures. Medical evidence supports ?cannabis? as the correct translation of ?kaneh-bosm,? since the anti-epileptic properties of the holy oil can?t be explained by any of the other ingredients or any alternative translations of ?kaneh-bosm.? Etymological evidence will be next.

Feeney D. Marihuana use among epileptics. JAMA. 1976;235:1105. [Citation from American Journal of Public Health, 3/96, No. 3, p.441-2]
Karler R, Turkanis SA. The cannabinoids as potential antiepileptics. J Clin Pharmacol. 1981;21:437S-448S. [Citation from same as above]
J. P. Davis and H. H. Ramsey, ?Antiepileptic Action of Marijuana-active Substances,? Federation Proceedings 8 (1949): 284-5. (2 out of 5 severe generalized epilepsy patients responded very positively to marijuana, 3 out of 5 had little effect, positive or negative) [Citation from Grinspoon, Lester M.D., and Bakalar, James B., Marihuana the Forbidden Medicine, Yale University Press New Haven and London, 1997, p.66-80 and p. 5-6]
Three anecdotal case studies reveal that for some epilepsy patients, marijuana by itself is very effective in preventing seizures. [Citation from same as above]
J. R. Reynolds, ?Therapeutic Uses and Toxic Effects of Cannabis indica,? Lancet 1 (1890): 637. (Cannabis is found to be valuable in treating certain forms of epilepsy) [Citation from same as above]
US Dispensatory of 1854 recommends cannabis as a treatment for ?convulsions? among other medical conditions. [Citation from http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/...rst12000/9.htm ]

5. Okay, so medical evidence supports the cannabis translation. But, what are the etymological arguments? Many ancient languages had ?kan? as a root word that had a double meaning: hemp or reed. In Hebrew, it is ?kaneh.? References to ?kaneh shirt? in Hebrew texts supports the hemp translation since shirts used to be made from hemp (cannabis). While the basic etymological argument (minus my medical argument) was made decades ago by etymologist Sula Benet, hardly anyone has attempted to counter it. I was able to find only one counterargument and that was from Ernest Abel, author of ?Marijuana- The First Twelve Thousand Years.? His two objections rest on the assumptions that marijuana would not be called a ?spice? as required by Exodus 30:23 and that marijuana would not be described as ?sweet-tasting? as potentially (depends on which translation is correct) required by Isaiah 43:24. Both these assumptions are incorrect since depending on the type of marijuana, it can be spicy and sweet.

?It [Cannabis] is 'cana' in Sanskrit, 'qunnabu' in Assyrian, 'kenab' in
Persian, 'kannab' in Arabic and 'kanbun' un /chaldean?. In many ancient languages, including Hebrew, the root 'kan' has a double meaning --- both hemp and reed. In many translations of the Bible's original Hebrew, we find 'kaneh bosm' variously and erroneously translated as "calamus" and "aromatic reed," a vague term. Calamus, (Calamus aromaticus) is a fragrant marsh plant. The error occurred in the oldest Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, Septuagint, in the third century B.C., where the terms 'kaneh, kaneh bosm' were incorrectly translated as "calamus." And in the many translations that followed, including Martin Luther's, the same error was repeated.? (etymologist says it?s cannabis and explains when it was mistranslated the way it was) [Citation from http://home.gci.net/~sncwarmgun/sm410.html contains EARLY DIFFUSION AND FOLK USES OF HEMP from Author: Benet (last name), Sula (first name), "Cannabis and Culture," Rubin, Vera & Comitas, Lambros, (eds.) 1975 39-49.]
?In the course of time, the two words 'kaneh' and 'bosm' were fused
into one, 'kanabos' or 'kannabus,'known to us from Mishna, the body of
traditional Hebrew law.? (Evolution of the word cannabis) [Citation from same as above]
?A piece of evidence regarding the use of the word 'kaneh' in
the sense of hemp rather than reed among the Hebrews is the religious
requirement that the dead be buried in 'kaneh' shirts. Centuries later,
linen was substituted for hemp? [Quotation is from same source as above, but she gets her source regarding ?kaneh shirt? from: (Klein 1908) KLEIN, SIEGFRIED 1908 Tod und Begrabnis in Palistina. Berlin: H. Itzkowski.] (If I knew German and could figure out from which Hebrew text was ??kaneh? shirt? found, that would be strong primary evidence. As it stands, it?s secondary evidence)
?Greek historian Herodotus, in the fifth century B.C., observed that the Scythians used the plant to purge themselves after funerals by throwing hemp seeds on heated stones to create a thick vapor, inhaling the smoke and becoming intoxicated. ?The Scythians howl with joy for the vapour bath?? [Citation from same source as above (Sula Bent) who is getting source from : Herodotus, IV: 142).] This evidence shows that hemp was burned and inhaled by contemporaries of the Hebrews for inhaling smoke in ritual fashion. Similar to how the Hebrews burned the holy oil as incense. Notice how hemp was used after a funeral as part of the mourning process. There is an interesting connection to Christianity that is pointed out in point#12B.
Objection By Ernest Abel: ?However the word ?kaneh? is a very vague term [62] that has disconcerted more than a few biblical scholars. A reference to kaneh in Isaiah 43:24 refers not to a "sweet-smelling" but a "sweet-tasting" plant. Few people would ever say that marijuana leaves taste sweet. Because of this reference to a sweet-tasting plant, some biblical scholars and botanists believe that kaneh is probably sugarcane... The reference to kaneh as a spice in Exodus 30:23 also suggests sugar rather than cannabis.[63]? ? [Citation is from Abel, Ernest L, Marijuana- The First Twelve Thousand Years, 1980. http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/...rst12000/1.htm ]
CounterArgument To The Objection: First of all, sugarcane does not cure epilepsy, but cannabis does. But to address the issue of cannabis being sweet tasting and/or spicy, it can be. Depending on the variety of cannabis, it can be sweet tasting and/or spicy tasting and/or sweet smelling and/or spicy smelling. See http://www.easyseeds.com/banks/flying_dutchman.htm and http://www.emeryseeds.com/special-quick.html . Also supporting this is, ?Hashish Tips? in http://www.420tours.com/art_judge.html , which is adapted from Hashish by Robert Connell Clarke (Red Eye Press, 1996).
?When pure cannabis resin burns it produces a pungent, spicy aroma, like fine-quality incense.? See ?Hashish Tips? in http://www.420tours.com/art_judge.html , which is adapted from Hashish by Robert Connell Clarke (Red Eye Press, 1996). (Since pure cannabis burning smells like fine-quality incense, there is further support for kaneh-bosm as being cannabis since later in the Exodus 30 passage, it is described how the holy anointing oil is burned for incense.)

6. The medical evidence and the etymological evidence support the cannabis translation. It would not be abnormal for cannabis to have played a significant role in Christianity if we keep in mind the role it has played in many other religions.

Marijuana had a positive religious function as a means for communicating with the divine in early Hinduism, Buddhism, Tantrism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism. [Evidence from Abel, Ernest L, Marijuana- The First Twelve Thousand Years, 1980. http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/...rst12000/1.htm ]

7. So the oil had cannabis in it. That means it also had a hallucinogenic effect. When and how did they use this oil? They used it in baptism and general medicine. First look at the baptismal use and its significance in Point#7 and 8. Then look at the medical use in Point#9. In Point#7, prove that originally, baptism was not just water baptism as it is today, but in fact, baptism by the holy oil was a crucial component of baptism. While the holy oil was restricted to ordained priests in the Old Testament, early Christians violated the Jewish ban and poured holy oil on top of each other as part of baptism.

?CONCERNING THE SACRED INITIATION OF HOLY BAPTISM XVI. Thou therefore, O bishop, according to that type, shalt anoint the head of those that are to be baptized, whether they be men or women, with the holy oil, for a type of the spiritual baptism. After that, either thou, O bishop, or a presbyter that is under thee, shall in the solemn form name over them the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit, and shall dip them in the water; and let a deacon receive the man, and a deaconess the woman, that so the conferring of this inviolable seal may take place with a becoming decency. And after that, let the bishop anoint those that are baptized with ointment? ? Book 3:16 of Apostolic Constitutions The first six books are from the Didascalia Apostolorum, Church Order, written in Syria about AD 250. http://www.piney.com/DocAposConstitu.html [Shows that the holy oil is used in baptism, as is water and an ointment.]
?Through the Holy Spirit we are indeed begotten again, but we are begotten through Christ in the two. We are anointed through the Spirit. When we were begotten, we were united. None can see himself either in water or in a mirror without light. Nor again can you see in light without mirror or water. For this reason, it is fitting to baptize in the two, in the light and the water. Now the light is the chrism.?- Gospel of Philip http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gop.html [Shows that baptism required holy oil (chrism) and water according to Gnostic scriptures.]
In North Africa in 200AD, during baptism, the person is dipped in water and after coming up is anointed with oil, according to Tertullian. In Rome, the anointing was also given after water. In Syria, the church order Didascalia Apostolorum, Church Order states that anointing comes before being dipped in water. Hippolytus says that the anointing happens three times. There were lots of variation regarding the order, but holy oil was an integral part of baptism in a number of churches in the 3rd Century. ? This is paraphrased from p. 260 of The Early Church, by Henry Chadwick (author is a Regius Professor at Oxford and Cambridge, Head of Christ Church, Oxford, knighted by British Government.)

8. So baptism involved hallucinogenic cannabis being poured upon your head. This implies that the divine visions of Jesus after his baptism are drug-induced hallucinations. Is it possible then that Jesus and the early Christians really saw visions and heard voices, but these visions and voices came not from God but from the hallucinogenic effects of a drug? Absolutely, if you?ve agreed with the arguments so far. If that is the case, then there should be examples of hallucinations. There Are. There should be examples of a belief in the divinity and purity of the oil. There Are. Maybe the early Christians should even have named themselves after this oil that they worshipped. They Did. ?Christians? means ?The Anointed Ones,? and while the popular myth suggests that this refers to a figurative anointing by God, the evidence shows clearly that the early Christians were talking about a literal anointing by oil.

?Glory be to thee, hidden one, that art communicated in baptism. Glory to thee the unseen power that is in baptism. Glory to thee, renewal, whereby are renewed they that are baptized and with affection take hold upon thee. And having thus said, he poured oil over their heads and said: Glory be to thee the love of compassion (bowels). Glory to thee name of Christ. Glory to thee, power established in Christ. And he commanded a vessel to be brought, and baptized them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.?- Acts of Thomas: 132 http://wesley.nnu.edu/noncanon/acts/actthom.htm (Shows that oil is used in baptism and an unseen power is identified in baptism. Since we know the oil had hallucinogenic properties, the unseen power is probably referring to the hallucinogenic effect.)
?Thou holy oil given unto us for sanctification, secret mystery whereby the cross was shown unto us, thou art the straightener of the crooked limbs, thou art the humbler (softener) of hard things (works), thou art it that showeth the hidden treasures, thou art the sprout of goodness; let thy power come, let it be established upon thy servant Mygdonia, and heal thou her by this freedom.? -Acts of Thomas:121 http://wesley.nnu.edu/noncanon/acts/actthom.htm [Shows that the oil is medicine that heals crippled joints (more on this in Point#9), and that oil shows hidden treasures and it is the hallucinogenic oil that has shown the cross, probably in a vision.]
?At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased. At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.?- Mark 1: 9-13. (Right after having hallucinogenic oil poured on him he sees visions of Satan, animals, and angels and the voice of God. He seems to even be suffering from time distortion (common effect of marijuana) as forty days suddenly go by.)
?And he commanded them to bring oil, that they might receive the seal by the oil. They brought the oil therefore, and lighted many lamps; for it was night (Syr. whom I preach: and the king gave orders that the bath should be closed for seven days, and that no man should bathe in it: and when the seven days were done, on the eighth day they three entered into the bath by night that Judas might baptize them. And many lamps were lighted in the bath). And the apostle arose and sealed them. And the Lord was revealed unto them by a voice, saying: Peace be unto you brethren. And they heard his voice only, but his likeness they saw not, for they had not yet received the added sealing of the seal (Syr. had not been baptized). And the apostle took the oil and poured it upon their heads and anointed and chrismed them, and began to say (Syr. And Judas went up and stood upon the edge of the cistern and poured oil upon their heads and said): Come, thou holy name of the Christ that is above every name. Come, thou power of the Most High, and the compassion that is perfect. Come, gift (chrism) of the Most High. Come, compassionate mother. Come, communion of the male. Come, she that revealeth the hidden mysteries. Come, mother of the seven houses, that thy rest may be in the eighth house. Come, elder of the five members, mind, thought, reflection, consideration, reason; communicate with these young men. Come, holy spirit, and cleanse their reins and their heart, and give them the added seal, in the name of the Father and Son and Holy Ghost. And when they were sealed, there appeared unto them a youth holding a lighted torch, so that their lamps became dim at the approach of the light thereof. And he went forth and was no more seen of them. ? Acts of Thomas: 27 http://wesley.nnu.edu/noncanon/acts/actthom.htm (Shows that baptism happened with oil and it was to show them the hidden mysteries, the divine truths. Since the oil was hallucinogenic, these hidden mysteries were seemingly revealed as a result of the ?high? or the ?trip? which is why they were hidden from the non-baptized.)
?The chrism is superior to baptism, for it is from the word "Chrism" that we have been called "Christians," certainly not because of the word "baptism". And it is because of the chrism that "the Christ" has his name. For the Father anointed the Son, and the Son anointed the apostles, and the apostles anointed us. He who has been anointed possesses everything. He possesses the resurrection, the light, the cross, the Holy Spirit. The Father gave him this in the bridal chamber; he merely accepted (the gift). The Father was in the Son and the Son in the Father. This is the Kingdom of Heaven.?- Gospel of Philip http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gop.html (Shows that it is because of the oil that they are called Christians, and that ?Christ? has his name because of the holy oil (chrism). Jesus was not the figurative anointed one of God, but rather literally anointed. As a result, this passage shows the belief in the divinity of the holy oil. Shows that the oil was the Kingdom of Heaven)
?Seeing that our souls are at leisure and eager toward God, give thou us the seal; for we have heard thee say that the God whom thou preachest knoweth his own sheep by his seal. And the apostle said unto them: I also rejoice and entreat you to receive this seal, and to partake with me in this eucharist and blessing of the Lord, and to be made perfect therein. For this is the Lord and God of all, even Jesus Christ whom I preach, and he is the father of truth, in whom I have taught you to believe. And he commanded them to bring oil, that they might receive the seal by the oil.? ? Acts of Thomas: 26 http://wesley.nnu.edu/noncanon/acts/actthom.htm (This shows that the seal is the defining mark of the Christians and that the seal is received by the oil, and so the oil is the defining mark of the Christians. This shows the importance of the oil.)

9. Okay, so the divine visions were hallucinations. What about all those medical miracles in the New Testament? Well, the oil was used as a general medicine as well.

?Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well;?- James 5:14-5 [Shows that oil was used to heal sick people.]
?Spiritual love is wine and fragrance. All those who anoint themselves with it take pleasure in it. While those who are anointed are present, those nearby also profit (from the fragrance). If those anointed with ointment withdraw from them and leave, then those not anointed, who merely stand nearby, still remain in their bad odor. The Samaritan gave nothing but wine and oil to the wounded man. It is nothing other than the ointment. It healed the wounds, for "love covers a multitude of sins"?- Gospel of Philip http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gop.html [This one has a lot in it. First, fragrance refers to the oil. You know this from reading Exodus 30 passage where they describe how the holy oil is used as a fragrance. More direct evidence comes from this passage itself. For example, line 4 says that without the oil you will have a bad odor, implying the oil is the fragrance. Now to prove the relevant points, the last line is the most interesting: ?It (the ointment/oil-see preceding sentence) healed the wounds (proves central point #9), for love (same as wine and fragrance (oil)- see first sentence) covered a multitude of sins (now you?re thinking: ?wait, I thought we were talking about covering wounds, not covering sins.? But, for the people of this time, it was one in the same.) Notice, this line actually reveals an important assumption of the time, namely that medical sickness was a result of immorality. Thus, healing a person (like Dr. Jesus? healings) was equivalent to covering up their sins (more evidence on this equivalence between sin and illness in point#11).? The second sentence also shows that using oil is pleasurable, which is in accordance with the pleasurable euphoric effects of cannabis (see point#12 for further elaboration on the non-medical similarities between the oil and cannabis).] The main point to get for now since we are on point#9 is that the oil heals.
See Evidence #8B.

10. A lot of Jesus? miracles were medical in nature. Keeping in mind that all the written scriptures were first passed down orally for a few decades, one would expect that by the time the stories were written down, the story would have diverged to some degree from the original event. For example, except for Mark 6:13 and some Gnostic scriptures and some Biblical passages, most of the primary Biblical documents show Jesus healing people without making any reference to the holy oil, thus making it seem all the more magical. However, given the evidence in Point #9, where there was healing, there was probably oil. And, as the story of this event was passed down, the importance of the oil in the healing miracles was diminished and eventually forgotten. What seems like a divine miracle is really based off a true scientifically explainable event. As a result, what follows is a list (I think it?s complete) of all the miracles in the New Testament and the corresponding non-miraculous explanations. 10 of the miracles are explainable and 3 remain unexplained for now.

Demon Possessed. Citation- Mark 6:13. Diagnosis: Epilepsy. See point#4. Explanation: Cannabis in the holy oil heals the epileptic seizures that are seen as demonic. Evidence: See point#4
Deaf and Speech Impediment. Cited from Mark 7:31-37. Diagnosis: Acute Otitis Media (severe ear infection). The effects of (AOM) are temporary hearing loss and if untreated, permanent hearing impairment. Children who have early hearing impairment from frequent ear infections are likely to have speech and language disabilities. This is because persistent fluid in the middle ear and chronic otitis media can reduce a child's hearing at a time that is critical for speech and language development. Although today otitis media is primarily a disease of infants and young children, it can also affect adults. http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/pubs_hb/otitism.htm Explanation: Cannabis in the holy oil heals acute otitis media. Evidence: 1. HEMP -- ITS HISTORY -- TRADITIONAL AND POPULAR APPLICATION, KONOPI JAKO LEK (Hemp) [in Czech {Slovak} except for summaries] Acta Universitatis Palackianaw Olomucensis--Tom. VI 1955 Prof. Dr. Jan Kabelik EFFECTIVENESS OF CANNABIS INDICA ON CHRONIC OTITIS MEDIA [Summary (p. 89) ?Local application of cannabis indica was experienced in 18 patients suffering from chronic otitis media, and in 4 patients after mastoidectomy. A significant improvement was noticed in 13 cases of chronic otitis?] citation from http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/...cal/konopi.htm 2. ?According to Dioscorides (100 A.D.), the resin of fresh hemp is an excellent treatment for earaches.? -from EARLY DIFFUSION AND FOLK USES OF HEMP from Benet, Sula, "Cannabis and Culture," Rubin, Vera & Comitas, Lambros, (eds.) 1975 39-49 http://home.gci.net/~sncwarmgun/sm410.html
Virulent Skin Disease: Cited from Matt 8:1-4. Diagnosis: Pruritus. This has sometimes been mistranslated as modern day leprosy, but most Bibles have corrected the mistake. Just a side note, even if it were leprosy, there would be an explanation for it since myrrh, which is in the holy oil, treats leprosy see www.botanical.com. But, I won?t go into that because the condition is pruritus, not leprosy, but this aside does go to show just how therapeutically loaded the holy oil mixture was. Explanation: Olive oil and Cannabis in the holy oil healed the pruritus. Evidence: 1. Regarding olive oil see http://www.botanical.com/botanical/m...ve-06.html#med 2. Regarding cannabis there is anecdotal evidence of a man with pruritus who gained relief from cannabis. See Grinspoon, Lester M.D., and Bakalar, James B., Marihuana the Forbidden Medicine, Yale University Press New Haven and London, 1997, p. 131-5; 3. Also for cannabis and pruritus see, C. E. Turner and M. A. L. Elsohly, ?Biological Activity of Cannabichromene, Its Homologs and Isomers,? Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 21 (8-0 Suppl.) (August-September 1981): 283S-291S. [A nonpsychoactive cannabinoid, cannabichromene, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties in animal experiments. This is important because pruritus is an inflammatory skin disorder. This is suggestive evidence for pruritus, but it gains more relevance in combination with the anecdotal evidence]
Paralytic or Crippled. Cited from Matt 9:1-8. Diagnosis: It could be severe rheumatism or sciatic neuralgia. Rheumatism causes severe joint pains and in extreme cases it can lead to inability to walk if the joints are that swollen. Sciatic neuralgia affects the sciatic nerve which runs down the leg and it causes sharp pains to the point where walking is no longer possible. Explanation: If the condition is rheumatism, then myrrh, olive oil, and cannabis in the holy oil are all effective. If the condition is sciatic neuralgia, then cannabis in the holy oil is an effective treatment. Evidence: 1. Regarding effect on rheumatism. For olive oil see http://www.botanical.com/botanical/m...ve-06.html#med , for myrrh see http://www.nonymous.freeserve.co.uk/.../frankin1.html and for cannabis see first http://www.aids.org/immunet/atn.nsf/page/a-287-01 , and then Grinspoon, Lester M.D., and Bakalar, James B., Marihuana the Forbidden Medicine, Yale University Press New Haven and London, 1997, p. 126-131, and finally http://home.gci.net/~sncwarmgun/sm410.html . 2. Regarding cannabis? effect on neuralgia see Grinspoon, Lester M.D., and Bakalar, James B., Marihuana the Forbidden Medicine, Yale University Press New Haven and London, 1997, p. 5-6. 3. Also for cannabis? and neuralgia see the 1854 US Dispensatory recommendation of cannabis for neuralgia which can be found in http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/...rst12000/9.htm
Fever. Cited from Matt 8:14-15. Diagnosis: Fever. Explanation: Olive oil in the holy oil relieved the fevers. Evidence: See http://www.botanical.com/botanical/m...ve-06.html#med .
Hemorrhage. Cited from Matt 9:18-26. Diagnosis: Uterine hemorrhage is a likely possibility since it happens to a woman. Explanation: Cinnamon, cassia, and cannabis in the holy oil all are effective on uterine hemorrhage. Evidence: 1. For the cinnamon, see http://www.botanical.com/botanical/m...nam69.html#med ; for the cassia see http://www.botanical.com/botanical/m...sia31.html#med . 2. For cannabis, see http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabi...al_info3.shtml and the US Dispensatory of 1854 at http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/...rst12000/9.htm
Blind. Cited from Matt 9:27-31. Diagnosis: Glaucoma. Explanation: I am not aware of any illnesses that cause reversible blindness. It is much more likely that the blind man was not completely blind, but was going blind and he could see that he was going blind as his peripheral vision narrowed and lights turned to halos and the world in general was dimmer. These are of course the symptoms of advanced glaucoma (early stages of glaucoma have no noticeable symptoms). Cannabis in the holy oil treats glaucoma. As a result of the treatment, the man would have seen the halos disappear, and the world would not seem as dim. Furthermore, if the cannabis in the holy oil is applied regularly, it can prevent the glaucoma from progressing and will save the person?s vision from an impending blindness. While this is not the exact story the Bible tells, it is close and could have been the original event. Decades of passing the story down orally would have naturally changed to be even more dramatic than they were in reality. Evidence: 1. American Journal of Public Health, 3/96, No. 3, p. 441-2. 2. Grinspoon, Lester M.D., and Bakalar, James B., Marihuana the Forbidden Medicine, Yale University Press New Haven and London, 1997, p.45-66
Dropsy/Edema. Luke 14:1-6. Diagnosis: Dropsy/edema. Explanation: Olive oil in the holy oil treated the dropsy/edema. Evidence: See http://www.botanical.com/botanical/m...ve-06.html#med.
Withered hand. Matt 12:9-14. Diagnosis: Not sure. Explanation: Dry withered hands. I haven?t a clue what the diagnosis should be but based on the symptoms, a skin lubricant like olive oil in the holy oil sounds like it could be effective for a person suffering from excessively dry hands. Evidence: http://www.botanical.com/botanical/m...ve-06.html#med .
Resurrection. Matt 27, 28. Explanation: Gnostic texts talk about resurrection as being something you do before you die, thus implying a figurative meaning to what has traditionally been seen as a literal full body resurrection. Since the Bible and Gnostic texts contradict each other, one must be wrong. It is feasible that the Gnostics were right and the Bible exaggerated it, since the Bible is more extreme on this. But if the Bible was right, then how did the Gnostics write what they did? They would have had to downplay a miracle, which seems much less likely. The way the game of telephone usually works is that as the story is passed orally, it becomes more and more miraculous and exaggerated, not the other way around. Evidence for the Gnostic description of a non-physical resurrection follows. Evidence: ?Those who say they will die first and then rise are in error. If they do not first receive the resurrection while they live, when they die they will receive nothing.? Gospel of Philip http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gop.html
Calming of the Storm. Matt 8:23-27. Unexplained for now.
Miracle of Loaves. Matt 14:13-21. Unexplained for now.
Walks on Water. Matt 14: 22-33. Unexplained for now. Hallucination? If so, it would have to be a collective hallucination which is not easy to accept, but may be possible.

11. So the medical miracles were really just medical healing by the holy oil. But, why are they described like miracles. The answer becomes clear only once we recognize the divergences between our assumptions about illness and theirs. We see illness as coming from biological, chemical causes. The early Christians did not have advanced science and so they understood illnesses in a different way. Since the cause of the illnesses was not easy to pinpoint at the time, the natural assumption was that the illness must be caused by the Gods or by some Demons. The illness must be afflicting you because of your sins. So, it was believed that if you cured an illness you had battled a demon and covered up the person?s sins. This is why in so many ancient cultures the medicine man takes on a religious role. There is evidence that Christians were no different than other ancient peoples in their belief in the equivalence of sin and sickness. Given this context, it seems likely that the concept of Jesus as a Savior probably originated from the fact that he distributed the therapeutic holy oil and covered everyone?s sins/wounds.

See evidence #9B
?Jesus said to the paralytic, ?Take comfort, my child, your sins are forgiven.?? But to prove to you that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins- then he said to the paralytic- get up, pick up your bed and go off home. And the man got up and went home.? - Matt 9:1-8. (Healing a paralyzed man is used as proof to show that Jesus can forgive sins. This reveals the belief in the equivalence of sin and sickness)
?When Jesus was at dinner in his house, a number of tax collectors and sinner were also sitting at table with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many of them among his followers. When the scribes of the Pharisee party saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, ?Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?? When Jesus heard this he said to them, ? It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. I came to call not the upright, but the sinners.?- from Mark 2:15-17. (People want to assume that the line about the sick needing the doctor is merely figurative speech and not literally referring to the situation at hand. However, given the other evidence that has been presented thus far, the literal interpretation is more likely. Jesus is calling himself the doctor who heals the sinners/sick- same thing to them at the time.)
?As a skilful and compassionate physician, heal all such as have wandered in the ways of sin; for "they that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick.? ? Book 2:20 of Apostolic Constitution. The first six books are from the Didascalia Apostolorum, Church Order, written in Syria about AD 250. (This reveals the belief that illness was caused by sin) http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-07/TOC.htm#TopOfPage or http://www.piney.com/DocAposConstitu.html
?Do thou therefore, as a compassionate physician, heal all that have sinned, making use of saving methods of cure; not only cutting and searing, or using corrosives, but binding up, and putting in tents, and using gentle healing medicines, and sprinkling comfortable words.? ? Book 2:41 of Apostolic Constitution The first six books are excerpts of the Didascalia Apostolorum, Church Order, written in Syria about AD 250. http://www.piney.com/DocAposConstitu.html [Evidence that illness/medicine was believed to be connected to morality]

12. So now what else is there to prove? Nothing. The hardest part to swallow for most people will be the idea that there was cannabis in the holy oil. So what follows is a short list of additional circumstantial evidence. I have provided all the direct evidence I found already, but the following evidence is still interesting because it shows parallels between the properties of the oil and non-medical properties of cannabis. See, if the oil contains a drug that causes euphoria, unexplainable laughter, and physical dependence with heavy use, there should be some evidence of that in the scriptures. There is.

See evidence #9B
?To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.? ? Isaiah 61:3 (Shows that the oil is a [/b]euphoriant[/b] like cannabis. Also, it is called the oil of joy for mourning. This is interesting because it parallels the Scythian use of hemp after funerals, see point#5D. Also, if you?ve gotten this far in the reading, then you probably accept the thesis. Let?s look at the above quotation from Isaiah 61:3 under this new lens. The garment could be literally hemp clothing, instead of some figurative meaning. Trees of righteousness, is probably a literal reference to cannabis plants, and the planting of the Lord is probably the literal planting of cannabis plants, from which the hidden mysteries have been revealed, and so are thus equivalent or representative of God.)
?And David says: ?My knees are weak through fasting, and my flesh faileth for want of oil.?? ? Book 5:20 of Apostolic Constitutions The first six books are from the Didascalia Apostolorum, Church Order, written in Syria about AD 250. (Flesh faileth could mean losing weight or it could mean other physical problems, but what is not ambiguous is that it results from abstinence from oil. This clearly shows that the oil creates dependence and abstaining from it after regular use can cause a withdrawal. Cannabis is the only substance in the oil that can create a withdrawal effect and that withdrawal effect only occurs if you?ve been using it a lot for an extended period of time. Such heavy chronic use of the oil would actually be expected of the religious Christians who?ve named themselves after the oil since the oil was seen as a good thing, a divine thing. Because of our historical context, that may seem strange, but it is not. For a comparison, one can look at the alcoholic binge in America in the 1830s and see what people will do with a drug when they think it is all-good and the only bad thing you can do with the drug is to not use it. Remember that whiskey originally means ?the water of life? and it took on a spiritual significance for some, especially the Scottish)
?My knees are weak with fasting; and my flesh is changed on account of the (lack of) oil.? - Pistis Sophia: 56:24 http://www.piney.com/GnosPisSoph.html (for comments see above)
?The Lord said it well: "Some have entered the Kingdom of Heaven laughing, and they have come out [...] because [...] a Christian, [...].? ?Gospel of Philip http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gop.html (Shows that the oil (entering the Kingdom of Heaven is equivalent to pouring oil on yourself, see evidence #8E for proof) makes one laugh. One of the unique properties of cannabis is that it is the only substance (as far as I know) that regularly makes people [b]laugh for no reason[b], to the point where users don?t even know why they?re laughing.)

Peter Kirby · 01-17-2003, 07:22 AM

Dear krazytamak,

You must know that the subject matter discourages many people from taking it seriously. However, I think that it is interesting, and I can add some references that might be relevant. My interest is academic; I draw no political, ethical, or religious ramifications.

Albert Schweitzer wrote one hundred years ago (The Quest of the Historical Jesus, p. 52): "With the miracles of healing, however, the case is very simple. Sometimes Jesus worked through His spiritual power upon the nervous system of the sufferer; sometimes He used medicines known to Him alone. The latter applies, for instance, to the cures of the blind. The disciples, too, as appears from Mark vi. 7 and 13, were not sent out without medicaments, for the oil with which they were to anoint the sick was, of course, of a medicinal character; and the casting out of evil spirits was effected partly by means of sedatives."

1 John 2:27. "As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, so that you do not need anyone to teach you. But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; just as it taught you, remain in him." I have never seen a modern Christian wax so poetic about an anointing. The reference suggests that teaching/learning of some kind happens with the anointing, which would cohere with the idea of a hallucinogen.

Flusser and van de Sandt write: "The Coptic Fragment [of the Didache], which probably dates from the fifth century, offers many textual variants as compared to H [Hierosolymitanus of 1056] . . . The Coptic text offers an 'ointment' or MURON blessing in 10:8, which is not paralleled in H. This prayer, occurring in the Apostolic Constitutions VII, 27, 1-2 as well, is often considered to be an authentic text of the Didache. There are, however, good reasons to question its genuineness." (The Didache: Its Jewish Sources and its Place in Early Judaism and Christianity, p. 25) Chief among them has been explaining its omission from H, but this might be explained on the basis that the medeival church moved away from the practice of anointing with the holy chrism. In any case, even if not a part of the original Didache, it probably goes back to the second or third century.

Here is the text found in the Coptic at Didache 10:7 - "We thank you, Father, for the oil of anointing that you have made known through Jesus your Son. Thine is the glory forever. Amen." The following commentary is made by Kurt Niederwimmer (The Didache, pp. 165-167):

Quote:

It is immediately apparent that the Apostolic Constitutions on the whole, although not necessarily in every detail, contains the later form of the myron prayer. The church order of Hippolytus also has, immediately after the eucharistic prayers, a prayer of blessing for the presentation of the oil (Hippolytus Trad. Apost. 5 [SC 11.54]; cf. also the Oratio pro oleis et aquis oblatis after Communion in the Euchologion of Serapion 17 (Funk, Didascalia, 2.179-80).

It is not clear whether the myron prayer in Did. 10.7 (Coptic) is a prayer of blessing over the oil of the sick (for the oil of the sick, cf. Mark 6:13; Jas 5:14-15), or whether it is a blessing of the oil used at baptism. For example, Bihlmeyer, thought primarily of the oil used for anointing the sick, while Peterson referred it to the "oil for the postbaptismal anointing." . . .

However, now we must consider whether anointing was a regular occurence along with the eucharist, as the place of this fragment in the eucharistic prayers of the Didache may suggest.

Here is a reference from the Acts of John, Chapter 15.

Quote:

We possess in common the riches of the heaven, the brightness of the sun is equal for the rich and the poor, and likewise the light of the moon and the stars, the softness of the air and the drops of rain, and the gate of the church and the fount of sanctification and the forgiveness of sins, and the sharing in the altar, and the eating of the body and drinking of the blood of Christ, and the anointing of the chrism, and the grace of the giver, and the visitation of the Lord, and the pardon of sin: in all these the dispensing of the Creator is equal, without respect of persons. Neither doth the rich man use these gifts after one manner and the poor after another.

This and other references suggest that anointing with oil, at least in some regions, was not just at baptism but was frequent.

Here is a reference from Cyprian, Epistle LXIX.

Quote:

2. But, moreover, the very interrogation which is put in baptism is a witness of the truth. For when we say, "Dost thou believe in eternal life and remission of sins through the holy Church? "we mean that remission of sins is not granted except in the Church, and that among heretics, where there is no Church, sins cannot be put away. Therefore they who assert that heretics can baptize, must either change the interrogation or maintain the truth; unless indeed they attribute a church also to those who, they contend, have baptism. It is also necessary that he should be anointed who is baptized; so that, having received the chrism,11 that is, the anointing, he may be anointed of God, and have in him the grace of Christ. Further, it is the Eucharist whence the baptized are anointed with the oil sanctified on the altar.12 But he cannot sanctify the creature of oil,13 who has neither an altar nor a church; whence also there can be no spiritual anointing among heretics, since it is manifest that the oil cannot be sanctified nor the Eucharist celebrated at all among them. But we ought to know and remember that it is written, "Let not the oil of a sinner anoint my head,"14 which the Holy Spirit before forewarned in the Psalms, lest any one going out of the way and wandering from the path of truth should be anointed by heretics and adversaries of Christ. Besides, what prayer can a priest who is impious and a sinner offer for a baptized person? since it is written, "God heareth not a sinner; but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, him He heareth."15 Who, moreover, can give what he himself has not? or how can he discharge spiritual functions who himself has lost the Holy Spirit? And therefore he must be baptized and renewed who comes untrained to the Church, that he may be sanctified within by those who are holy, since it is written, "Be ye holy, for I am holy, saith the Lord."16 So that he who has been seduced into error, and baptized17 outside of the Church, should lay aside even this very thing in the true and ecclesiastical baptism, viz., that he a man coming to God, while he seeks for a priest, fell by the deceit of error upon a profane one.

Here is a reference from Tertullian, On Baptism.

Quote:

CHAP. VII.--OF THE UNCTION. After this, when we have issued from the font, we are thoroughly anointed with a blessed unction,-- (a practice derived) from the old discipline, wherein on entering the priesthood, then were wont to be anointed with oil from a horn, ever since Aaron was anointed by Moses. Whence Aaron is called "Christ," from the "chrism," which is "the unction;" which, when made spiritual, furnished an appropriate name to the Lord, because He was "anointed" with the Spirit by God the Father; as written in the Acts: "For truly they were gathered together in this city against Thy Holy Son whom Thou hast anointed." Thus, too, in our case, the unction runs cornally, (i.e. on the body,) but profits spiritually; in the same way as the act of baptism itself too is carnal, in that we are plunged in water, but the effect spiritual, in that we are freed from sins.

Here is a reference from Hippolytus of Rome, Refutation of All Heresies, Book V.

Quote:

But if any one, he says, is blind from birth, and has never beheld the true light, "which lighteneth every man that cometh into the world," by us let him recover his sight, and behold, as it were, through some paradise planted with every description of tree, and supplied with abundance of fruits, water coursing its way through all the trees and fruits; and he will see that from one and the same water the olive chooses for itself and draws the oil, and the vine the wine; and (so is it with) the rest of plants, according to each genus. That Man, however, he says, is of no reputation in the world, but of illustrious fame in heaven, being betrayed by those who are ignorant (of his perfections) to those who know him not, being accounted as a drop from a cask. We, however, he says, are spiritual, who, from the life-giving water of Eu phrates, which flows through the midst of Babylon, choose our own peculiar quality as we pass through the true gate, which is the blessed Jesus. And of all men, we Christians alone are those who in the third gate celebrate the mystery, and are anointed there with the unspeakable chrism from a horn, as David (was anointed), not from an earthen vessel, he says, as (was) Saul, who held converse with the evil demon of carnal concupiscence.

Here is a very revealing passage from Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor, Book 2. Read it all, as it seems rather important.

Quote:

CHAP. VIII.--ON THE USE OF OINTMENTS AND CROWNS.

The use of crowns and ointments is not necessary for us; for it impels to pleasures and indulgences, especially on the approach of night. I know that the woman brought to the sacred supper "an alabaster box of ointment," and anointed the feet of the Lord, and refreshed Him; and I know that the ancient kings of the Hebrews were crowned with gold and precious stones. But the woman not having yet received the Word (for she was still a sinner), honoured the Lord with what she thought the most precious thing in her possession--the ointment; and with the ornament of her person, with her hair, she wiped off the superfluous ointment, while she expended on the Lord tears of repentance: "wherefore her sins are forgiven."

This may be a symbol of the Lord's teaching, and of His suffering. For the feet anointed with fragrant ointment mean divine instruction travelling with renown to the ends of the earth. "For their sound hath gone forth to the ends of the earth." And if I seem not to insist too much, the feet of the Lord which were anointed are the apostles, having, according to prophecy, received the fragrant unction of the Holy Ghost. Those, therefore, who travelled over the world and preached the Gospel, are figuratively called the feet of the Lord, of whom also the Holy Spirit foretells in the psalm, "Let us adore at the place where His feet stood," that is, where the apostles, His feet, arrived; since, preached by them, He came to the ends of the earth. And tears are repentance; and the loosened hair proclaimed deliverance from the love of finery, and the affliction in patience which, on account of the Lord, attends preaching, the old vainglory being done away with by reason of the new faith.

Besides, it shows the Lord's passion, if you understand it mystically thus: the oil (elaion) is the Lord Himself, from whom comes the mercy (eleos) which reaches us. But the ointment, which is adulterated oil, is the traitor Judas, by whom the Lord was anointed on the feet, being released from His sojourn in the world. For the dead are anointed. And the tears are we repentant sinners, who have believed in Him, and to whom He has forgiven our sins. And the dishevelled hair is mourning Jerusalem, the deserted, for whom the prophetic lamentations were uttered. The Lord Himself shall teach us that Judas the deceitful is meant: "He that dippeth with Me in the dish, the same shall betray Me." You see the treacherous guest, and this same Judas betrayed the Master with a kiss. For he was a hypocrite, giving a treacherous kiss, in imitation of another hypocrite of old. And He reproves that people respecting whom it was said, "This people honour Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me." It is not improbable, therefore, that by the oil He means that disciple to whom was shown mercy, and by the tainted and poisoned oil the traitor.

This was, then, what the anointed feet prophesied--the treason of Judas, when the Lord went to His passion. And the Saviour Himself washing the feet of the disciples, and despatching them to do good deeds, pointed out their pilgrimage for the benefit of the nations, making them beforehand fair and pure by His power. Then the ointment breathed on them its fragrance, and the work of sweet savour reaching to all was proclaimed; for the passion of the Lord has filled us with sweet fragrance, and the Hebrews with guilt. This the apostle most clearly showed, when he said, "thanks be to God, who always makes us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place. For we are to God a sweet savour of the Lord, in them that are saved, and them that are lost; to one a savour of death unto death, to the other a savour of life unto life." And the kings of the Jews using gold and precious stones and a variegated crown, the anointed ones wearing Christ symbolically on the head, were unconsciously adorned with the head of the Lord. The precious stone, or pearl, or emerald, points out the Word Himself. The gold, again, is the incorruptible Word, who admits not the poison of corruption. The Magi, accordingly, brought to Him on His birth, gold, the symbol of royalty. And this crown, after the image of the Lord, fades not as a flower.

I know, too, the words of Aristippus the Cyrenian. Aristippus was a luxurious man. He asked an answer to a sophistical proposition in the following terms: "A horse anointed with ointment is not injured in his excellence as a horse, nor is a dog which has been anointed, in his excellence as a dog; no more is a man," he added, and so finished. But the dog and horse take no account of the ointment, whilst in the case of those whose perceptions are more rational, applying girlish scents to their persons, its use is more censurable. Of these ointments there are endless varieties, such as the Brenthian, the Metallian, and the royal; the Plangonian and the Psagdian of Egypt. Simonides is not ashamed in Iambic lines to say,- "I was anointed with ointments and perfumes, And with nard."

For a merchant was present. They use, too, the unguent made from lilies, and that from the cypress. Nard is in high estimation with them, and the ointment prepared from roses and the others which women use besides, both moist and dry, scents for rubbing and for fumigating; for day by day their thoughts are directed to the gratification of insatiable desire, to the exhaustless variety of fragrance. Wherefore also they are redolent of an excessive luxuriousness. And they fumigate and sprinkle their clothes, their bed-clothes, and their houses. Luxury all but compels vessels for the meanest uses to smell of perfume.

There are some who, annoyed at the attention bestowed on this, appear to me to be rightly so averse to perfumes on account of their rendering manhood effeminate, as to banish their compounders and vendors from well-regulated states, and banish, too, the dyers of flower-coloured wools. For it is not right that ensnaring garments and unguents should be admitted into the city of truth; but it is highly requisite for the men who belong to us to give forth the odour not of ointments, but of nobleness and goodness. And let woman breathe the odour of the true royal ointment, that of Christ, not of unguents and scented powders; and let her always be anointed with the ambrosial chrism of modesty, and find delight in the holy unguent, the Spirit. This ointment of pleasant fragrance Christ prepares for His disciples, compounding the ointment of celestial aromatic ingredients.

Wherefore also the Lord Himself is anointed with an ointment, as is mentioned by David: "Wherefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows; myrrh, and stacte, and cassia from thy garments." But let us not unconsciously abominate unguents, like vultures or like beetles (for these, they say, when smeared with ointment, die); and let a few unguents be selected by women, such as will not be overpowering to a husband. For excessive anointings with unguents savour of a funeral and not of connubial life. Yet oil itself is inimical to bees and insects; and some men it benefits, and some it summons to the fight; and those who were formerly friends, when anointed with it, it turns out to deadly combat.

Ointment being smooth oil, do you not think that it is calculated to render noble manners effeminate? Certainly. And as we have abandoned luxury in taste, so certainly do we renounce voluptuousness in sights and odours; lest through the senses, as through unwatched doors, we unconsciously give access into the soul to that excess which we have driven away. If, then, we say that the Lord the great High Priest offers to God the incense of sweet fragrance, let us not imagine that this is a sacrifice and sweet fragrance of incense; but let us understand it to mean, that the Lord lays the acceptable offering of love, the spiritual fragrance, on the altar.

To resume: oil itself suffices to lubricate the skin, and relax the nerves, and remove any heavy smell from the body, if we require oil for this purpose. But attention to sweet scents is a bait which draws us in to sensual lust. For the licentious man is led on every hand, both by his food, his bed, his conversation, by his eyes, his ears, his jaws, and by his nostrils too. As oxen are pulled by rings and ropes, so is the voluptuary by fumigations and unguents, and the sweet scents of crowns. But since we assign no place to pleasure which is linked to no use serviceable to life, come let us also distinguish here too, selecting what is useful. For there are sweet scents which neither make the head heavy nor provoke love, and are not redolent of embraces and licentious companionship, but, along with moderation, are salutary, nourishing the brain when labouring under indisposition, and strengthening the stomach. One must not therefore refrigerate himself with flowers when he wishes to supple his nerves. For their use is not wholly to be laid aside, but ointment is to be employed as a medicine and help in order to bring up the strength when enfeebled, and against catarrhs, and colds, and ennui, as the comic poet says:- "The nostrils are anointed; it being A most essential thing for health to fill the brain with good odours."

The rubbing of the feet also with the fatness of warming or cooling unguents is practised on account of its beneficial effects; so consequently, in the case of those who are thus saturated, an attraction and flow take place from the head to the inferior members. But pleasure to which no utility attaches, induces the suspicion of meretricious habits, and is a drug provocative of the passions. Rubbing one's self with ointment is entirely different from anointing one's self with ointment. The former is effeminate, while anointing with ointment is in some cases beneficial. Aristippus the philosopher, accordingly, when anointed with ointment, said "that the wretched Cinoedi deserved to perish miserably for bringing the utility of ointment into bad repute." "Honour the physician for his usefulness," says the Scripture, "for the Most High made him; and the art of healing is of the Lord." Then he adds, "And the compounder of unguents will make the mixture," since unguents have been given manifestly for use, not for voluptuousness. For we are by no means to care for the exciting properties of unguents, but to choose what is useful in them, since God hath permitted the production of oil for the mitigation of men's pains.

And silly women, who dye their grey hair and anoint their locks, grow speedily greyer by the perfumes they use, which are of a drying nature. Wherefore also those that anoint themselves become drier, and the dryness makes them greyer. For if greyness is an exsiccation of the hair, or defect of heat, the dryness drinking up the moisture which is the natural nutriment of the hair, and making it grey, how can we any longer retain a liking for unguents, through which ladies, in trying to escape grey hair, become grey? And as dogs with fine sense of smell track the wild beasts by the scent, so also the temperate scent the licentious by the superfluous perfume of unguents.

Such a use of crowns, also, has degenerated to scenes of revelry and intoxication. Do not encircle my head with a crown, for in the springtime it is delightful to while away the time on the dewy meads, while soft and many-coloured flowers are in bloom, and, like the bees, enjoy a natural and pure fragrance. But to adorn one's self with "a crown woven from the fresh mead," and wear it at home, were unfit for a man of temperance. For it is not suitable to fill the wanton hair with rose-leaves, or violets, or lilies, or other such flowers, stripping the sward of its flowers. For a crown encircling the head cools the hair, both on account of its moisture and its coolness. Accordingly, physicians, determining by physiology that the brain is cold, approve of anointing the breast and the points of the nostrils, so that the warm exhalation passing gently through, may salutarily warm the chill. A man ought not therefore to cool himself with flowers. Besides, those who crown themselves destroy the pleasure there is in flowers: for they enjoy neither the sight of them, since they wear the crown above their eyes; nor their fragrance, since they put the flowers away above the organs of respiration. For the fragrance ascending and exhaling naturally, the organ of respiration is left destitute of enjoyment, the fragrance being carried away. As beauty, so also the flower delights when looked at; and it is meet to glorify the Creator by the enjoyment of the sight of beautiful objects. The use of them is injurious, and passes swiftly away, avenged by remorse. Very soon their evanescence is proved; for both fade, both the flower and beauty. Further, whoever touches them is cooled by the former, inflamed by the latter. In one word, the enjoyment of them except by sight is a crime, and not luxury. It becomes us who truly follow the Scripture to enjoy ourselves temperately, as in Paradise. We must regard the woman's crown to be her husband, and the husband's crown to be marriage; and the flowers of marriage the children of both, which the divine husbandman plucks from meadows of flesh. "Children's children are the crown of old men." And the glory of children is their fathers, it is said; and our glory is the Father of all; and the crown of the whole church is Christ. As roots and plants, so also have flowers their individual properties, some beneficial, some injurious, some also dangerous. The ivy is cooling; nux emits a stupefying effluvium, as the etymology shows. The narcissus is a flower with a heavy odour; the name evinces this, and it induces a torpor (narkhn) in the nerves. And the effluvia of roses and violets being mildly cool, relieve and prevent headaches. But we who are not only not permitted to drink with others to intoxication, but not even to indulge in much wine? do not need the crocus or the flower of the cypress to lead us to an easy sleep. Many of them also, by their odours, warm the brain, which is naturally cold, volatilizing the effusions of the head. The rose is hence said to have received its name (rodon) because it emits a copious stream (reuma) of odour (odwdh). Wherefore also it quickly fades.

But the use of crowns did not exist at all among the ancient Greeks; for neither the suitors nor the luxurious Phaeacians used them. But at the games there was at first the gift to the athletes; second, the rising up to applaud; third, the strewing with leaves; lastly, the crown, Greece after the Median war having given herself up to luxury.

Those, then, who are trained by the Word are restrained from the use of crowns; and do not think that this Word, which has its seat in the brain, ought to be bound about, not because the crown is the symbol of the recklessness of revelry, but because it has been dedicated to idols. Sophocles accordingly called the narcissus "the ancient coronet of the great gods," speaking of the earth-born divinities; and Sappho crowns the Muses with the rose:- "For thou dost not share in roses from Pieria."

They say, too, that Here delights in the lily, and Artemis in the myrtle. For if the flowers were made especially for man, and senseless people have taken them not for their own proper and grateful use, but have abused them to the thankless service of demons, we must keep from them for conscience sake. The crown is the symbol of untroubled tranquillity. For this reason they crown the dead, and idols, too, on the same account, by this fact giving testimony to their being dead. For revellers do not without crowns celebrate their ; and when once they are encircled with flowers, at last they are inflamed excessively. We must have no communion with demons. Nor must we crown the living image of God after the manner of dead idols. For the fair crown of amaranth is laid up for those who have lived well. This flower the earth is not able to bear; heaven alone is competent to produce it. Further, it were irrational in us, who have heard that the Lord was crowned with thorns, to crown ourselves with flowers, insulting thus the sacred passion of the Lord.

For the Lord's crown prophetically pointed to us, who once were barren, but are placed around Him through the Church of which He is the Head. But it is also a type of faith, of life in respect of the substance of the wood, of joy in respect of the appellation of crown, of danger in respect of the thorn, for there is no approaching to the Word without blood. But this platted crown fades, and the plait of perversity is untied, and the flower withers. For the glory of those who have not believed on the Lord fades. And they crowned Jesus raised aloft, testifying to their own ignorance. For being hard of heart, they understood not that this very thing, which they called the disgrace of the Lord, was a prophecy wisely uttered: "The Lord was not known by the people " which erred, which was not circumcised in understanding, whose darkness was not enlightened, which knew not God, denied the Lord, forfeited the place of the true Israel, persecuted God, hoped to reduce the Word to disgrace; and Him whom they crucified as a malefactor they crowned as a king. Wherefore the Man on whom they believed not, they shall know to be the loving God the Lord, the Just. Whom they provoked to show Himself to be the Lord, to Him when lifted up they bore witness, by encircling Him, who is exalted above every name, with the diadem of righteousness by the ever-blooming thorn. This diadem, being hostile to those who plot against Him, coerces them; and friendly to those who form the Church, defends them. This crown is the flower of those who have believed on the glorified One but covers with blood and chastises those who have not believed. It is a symbol, too, of the Lord's successful work, He having borne on His head, the princely part of His body, all our iniquities by which we were pierced. For He by His. own passion rescued us from offences, and sins, and such like thorns; and having destroyed the devil, deservedly said in triumph, "O Death, where is thy sting?" And we eat grapes from thorns, and figs from thistles; while those to whom He stretched forth His hands--the disobedient and unfruitful people--He lacerates into wounds. I can also show you another mystic meaning in it. For when the Almighty Lord of the universe began to legislate by the Word, and wished His power to be manifested to Moses, a godlike vision of light that had assumed a shape was shown him in the burning bush (the bush is a thorny plant); but when the Word ended the giving of the law and His stay with men, the Lord was again mystically crowned with thorn. On His departure from this world to the place whence He came, He repeated the beginning of His old descent, in order that the Word beheld at first in the bush, and afterwards taken up crowned by the thorn, might show the whole to be the work of one power, He Himself being one, the Son of the Father, who is truly one, the beginning and the end of time.

But I have made a digression from the paedagogic style of speech, and introduced the didactic. I return accordingly to my subject.

To resume, then: we have showed that in the department of medicine, for healing, and sometimes also for moderate recreation, the delight derived from flowers, and the benefit derived from unguents and perfumes, are not to be overlooked. And if some say, What pleasure, then, is there in flowers to those that do not use them? let them know, then, that unguents are prepared from them, and are most useful. The Susinian ointment is made from various kinds of lilies; and it is warming, aperient, drawing, moistening, abstergent, subtle, antibilious, emollient. The Narcissinian is made from the narcissus, and is equally beneficial with the Susinian. The Myrsinian, made of myrtle and myrtle berries, is a styptic, stopping effusions from the body; and that from roses is refrigerating. For, in a word, these also were created for our use. "Hear me," it is said, "and grow as a rose planted by the streams of waters, and give forth a sweet fragrance like frankincense, and bless the Lord for His works." We should have much to say respecting them, were we to speak of flowers and odours as made for necessary purposes, and not for the excesses of luxury. And if a concession must be made, it is enough for people to enjoy the fragrance of flowers; but let them not crown themselves with them. For the Father takes great care of man, and gives to him alone His own art. The Scripture therefore says, "Water, and fire, and iron, and milk, and fine flour of wheat, and honey, the blood of the grape, and oil, and clothing,--all these things are for the good of the godly."

Apparently anointing each other with oil was a social affair: "...attending to one's own wants is an exercise free of pride,--as, for example, putting on one's own shoes, washing one's own feet, and also rubbing one's self when anointed with oil. To render one who has rubbed you the same service in return, is an exercise of reciprocal justice..." (Instructor, Book III, Chapter 10)

Clement of Alexandria also makes a reference to oil in "Who is the Rich Man that shall be saved?": "He it is that poured wine on our wounded souls (the blood of David's vine), that brought the oil which flows from the compassions of the Father and bestowed it copiously."

Jackson, The Post-Nicene Greek Fathers p. 67, gives a reference to Cyril of Jerusalem that suggests there may have sometimes been two separate anointments, one before water baptism and one after:

Quote:

Subsequent to the baptism of the candidates to whom the above lectures were given, Cyril delivered to them five lectures "On the Mysteries," in which he explains the rites by which they have been admitted to fellowship in the church. He dwells particularly upon the rites of the renunciation of Satan and his works, of anointing with oil, of baptism, of anointing with the holy chrism, and of partaking of the body and blood of Christ. Of the communion service he traces the several steps: the symbolical washing of hands; the kiss of peace; the several summonses of the priest and responses of the people; the prayers, among them the prayers for the dead, and the Lord's Prayer, upon the several petitions of which he comments; the chant, "O taste and see that the Lord is good"; the partaking of the bread and of the wine; and the final prayer and thanksgiving.

Here is a quote from the Gospel of Nicodemus, Part II, Chapter 3.

Quote:

While John, therefore, was thus teaching those in Hades, the first created and forefather Adam heard, and said to his son Seth: My son, I wish thee to tell the forefathers of the race of men and the prophets where I sent thee, when it fell to my lot to die. And Seth said: Prophets and patriarchs, hear. When my father Adam, the first created, was about to fall once upon a time into death, he sent me to make entreaty to God very close by the gate of paradise, that He would guide me by an angel to the tree of compassion and that I might take oil and anoint my father, and that he might rise up from his sickness: which thing, therefore, I also did. And after the prayer an angel of the Lord came, and said to me: What, Seth, dost thou ask? Dost thou ask oil which raiseth up the sick, or the tree from which this oil flows, on account of the sickness of thy father? This is not to be found now. Go, therefore, and tell thy father, that after the accomplishing of five thousand five hundred years10 from the creation of the world, thou shall come into the earth the only begotten Son of God, being made man; and He shall anoint him with this oil, and shall raise him up; and shall wash clean, with water and with the Holy Spirit, both him and those out of him, and then shall he be healed of every disease; but now this is impossible.

Irenaeus of Lyons writes (Adversus Haereses 3.18.3):

Quote:

For in the name of Christ is implied, He that anoints, He that is anointed, and the unction itself with which He is anointed. And it is the Father who anoints, but the Son who is anointed by the Spirit, who is the unction, as the Word declares by Isaiah, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me,"339 -pointing out both the anointing Father, the anointed Son, and the unction, which is the Spirit.

Here is a quote from Theophilus to Autolycus, Chapter 12.

Quote:

And about your laughing at me and calling me "Christian," you know not what you are saying. First, because that which is anointed17 is sweet and serviceable, and far from contemptible. For what ship can be serviceable and seaworthy, unless it be first caulked [anointed]? Or what castle or house is beautiful and serviceable when it has not been anointed? And what man, when he enters into this life or into the gymnasium, is not anointed with oil? And what work has either ornament or beauty unless it be anointed and burnished? Then the air and all that is under heaven is in a certain sort anointed by light and spirit; and are you unwilling to be anointed with the oil of God? Wherefore we are called Christians on this account, because we are anointed with the oil of God.

Hegesippus says of James the Just that "he did not anoint himself with oil" (in Eusebius, Hist. Eccl., ii. 23) while Hippolytus says likewise that the Essenes did not use oil, "regarding it as a defilement to be anointed" (The Refutation of All Heresies, Book IX, Chapter 14), which is found earlier in Josephus (Wars 2).

Hebrews 1:9 says, "Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee, With the oil of gladness above thy fellows." The name "oil of gladness" (KJV/ASV/WEB) is interesting. This is a quote of Psalm 45:7.

Origen writes on this passage (De Principiis 2.6.6):

Quote:

Lastly, the expression, "God, thy God, anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows," shows that that soul is anointed m one way with the oil of gladness, i.e., with the word of God and wisdom; and his fellows, i.e., the holy prophets and apostles, in another. For they are said to have "run in the odour of his ointments;" and that soul was the vessel which contained that very ointment of whose fragrance all the worthy prophets and apostles were made partakers. As, then, the substance of an ointment is one thing and its odour another, so also Christ is one thing and His fellows another. And as the vessel itself, which contains the substance of the ointment, can by no means admit any foul smell; whereas it is possible that those who enjoy its odour may, if they remove a little way from its fragrance, receive any foul odour which comes upon them: so, in the same way, was it impossible that Christ, being as it were the vessel itself, in which was the substance of the ointment, should receive an odour of an opposite kind, while they who are His "fellows" will be partakers and receivers of His odour, in proportion to their nearness to the vessel.

Here is an obscure passage from Origen (Contra Celsum, Book VI, Chap. LXXIX):

Quote:

And therefore there was no need that there should everywhere exist many bodies, and many spirits like Jesus, in order that the whole world of men might be enlightened by the Word of God. For the one Word was enough, having arisen as the "Sun of righteousness," to send forth from Judea His coming rays into the soul of all who were willing to receive Him. But if any one desires to see many bodies filled with a divine Spirit, similar to the one Christ, ministering to the salvation of men everywhere, let him take note of those who teach the Gospel of Jesus in all lands in soundness of doctrine and uprightness of life, and who are themselves termed "christs" by the holy Scriptures, in the passage, "Touch not Mine anointed, and do not My prophets any harm." For as we have heard that Antichrist cometh, and yet have learned that there are many antichrists in the world, in the same way, knowing that Christ has come, we see that, owing to Him, there are many christs in the world, who, like Him, d righteousness and hated iniquity, and therefore God, the God of Christ, anointed them also with the "oil of gladness." But inasmuch as He loved righteousness and hated iniquity above those who were His partners, He also obtained the first-fruits of His anointing, and, if we must so term it, the entire unction of the oil of gladness; while they who were His partners shared also in His unction, in proportion to their individual capacity. Therefore, since Christ is the Head of the Church, so that Christ and the Church form one body, the ointment descended from the head to the beard of Aaron,--the symbols of the perfect man,--and this ointment in its descent reached to the very skirt of his garment.

Hippolytus of Rome writes:

Quote:

http://www.earlychristianwritings.co...xegetical.html

For all the kings and priests were styled Christs, because they were anointed with the holy oil, which Moses of old prepared. These, then, bore the name of the Lord in their own persons, showing aforetime the type, and presenting the image until the perfect King and Priest appeared from heaven, who alone did the will of the Father; as also it is written in Kings: "And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do all things according to my heart."

. . .

18. "And she said to her maids, Bring me oil." For faith and love prepare oil and unguents to those who are washed. But what were these unguents, but the commandments of the holy Word? And what was the oil, but the power of the Holy Spirit, with which believers are anointed as with ointment after the layer of washing? All these things were figuratively represented in the blessed Susannah, for our sakes, that we who now believe on God might not regard the things that are done now in the Church as strange, but believe them all to have been set forth in figure by the patriarchs of old, as the apostle also says: "Now these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the world are come."

Philo of Alexandria writes ("That the Worse is Wont to Attack the Better," Chap. XXXI):

Quote:

Now these energies are especially the food of the soul, which is competent to give suck, as the lawgiver says, "Honey out of the rock, and oil out of the solid Rock,"{37}{deuteronomy 23:13.} meaning by the solid rock which cannot be cut through, the wisdom of God, which is the nurse and foster-mother and educator of those who desire incorruptible food; (116) for it, as the mother of those things which exist in the world, immediately supplies food to those beings which are brought forth by her; but they are not all thought worthy of divine food, but only such are honoured with that as do not show any degeneracy from their parent; for there are many which a scarcity of virtue, which is more terrible than a scarcity of meat and drink, has destroyed; (117) but the fountain of divine wisdom is borne along, at one time in a more gentle and moderate stream, and at another with greater rapidity and a more exceeding violence and impetuosity. When, therefore, it descends gently it sweetens after the manner of honey, but when it comes on swiftly the whole material enters like oil into the light of the soul.

I found this reference while looking for 'oil': "I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, 'A choenix of wheat for a denarius, and three choenix of barley for a denarius! Don't damage the oil and the wine!'" (Rev 6:6 WEB) The only reason I included it here is that it sounds like the author was having his vision interrupted by something in the real world.

You have already found many relevant references yourself, such as those in the Acts of Thomas and the Didascalia Apostolorum. The references that I have mentioned add to the antiquity and ubiquity of the traditions. There may also be some new information in the above.

Let me know what you think about these references.

best,
Peter Kirby

Toto · 01-17-2003, 12:01 PM

This all brings to mind the modern "New Age" practice of aromatherapy. I checked, and they do claim ancient roots, in not only the Bible, but also Egyptian practice.

History of Essential Oils

And I guess it also brings to mind John Ashcroft having himself anointed with Crisco vegetable oil. It sounds like he missed the point.

Peter Kirby · 01-17-2003, 12:19 PM

If you are just joining this thread, be sure to look on the previous page for the excellent essay of krazytamak, posted by Toto, and my own compilation of patristic references that flesh out the theory. It's interesting stuff.

From the references I have found in the Christian literature, the effect of the chrism is beyond that of sweet smell, but there is no direct evidence that cannabis was the active ingredient. There is the etymological argument, but I am not sure about that, and in any case the OT recipe might not be the one used in the second or third century church. Marijuana obviously comes to mind, because of the medicinal effects, but how much research has gone into the effects of other medicines that might have been mixed in oil in antiquity? And has anyone in modern times published the results of absorption of cannabis from rubbing it in the skin?

best,
Peter Kirby

krazytamak · 01-18-2003, 05:14 PM

Peter, you've referenced many different authors from early Christianity, and I have to say, that some of those references were difficult reading. But, what I got out of the majority of the references was that even though it may not be definitively clear what was in the different oils and ointments, what is extremely clear now is that there was something darn special about the oil in early Christianity. If we were to categorize your references by what they can prove, I think most of them would fall under Point#7 in my paper.

Also, there was one piece of information that you had that was new, and had not been covered in my paper, and I think it's pretty interesting, and that is Irenaeus' breakdown of the Christian tirnity. Irenaeus seems to understand the Holy Spirit in the Christian trinity as being the same as the holy oil. If that is the case, then the holy oil is not just darn special, but it is as essential as Jesus and God Himself. And since (i think) the Holy Spirit is supposed to be this part of God that permeates the world and a Christian can feel, it would support the theory that the holy oil is pyschoactive. The essential question in the research of early Christianity then should be what was in that oil.

Your references also make it clear that answering this question may not be the easiest thing because it seems (especially after reading Clement's quotation) that there were a variety of oils and ointments, some were just aromatic while others could have been intoxicating in a more psychoactive way. However, I think that most probably Jesus used the holy oil from OT because of the evidence from Point#2 in my post which connects Jesus' anointings with the anointings in OT. And another reason is because even though the terms "oils" and "ointments" may have been used loosely to refer to a variety of oils (as Clement's quotations suggests), the term "holy oil" does not seem to be used loosely and whenver "holy oil" is mentioned in early Christian writings it is in reference to baptism, and whenever "holy oil" is mention in OT text, it is in reference to the oil whose recipe is provided in Exodus.

On the effect of cannabis oil via skin-absorption, I don't think there is any study on its psychoactivity, although a couple early 20th century studies have shown that it is therapeutically effective via skin-absorption for certain conditions. For this, I think someone would need to recreate the holy oil and do an experiment.

What I really want to see is a serious criticism or commentary on this idea by a respected professor of Early Christianity. The one time I tried to show it to a professor was when I was still in college and the professor simply dismissed it without reading the evidence by saying that he doesn't have time for this.

Peter Kirby · 01-18-2003, 08:37 PM

krazytamak,

I would like to bring this theory before a scholarly audience in some way, perhaps by publishing an article in a journal. One thing that is necessary, though, is to replace references to web pages to books and articles whenever possible. Do you think you could help me with a bibliography of sources that I could use to substantiate the medical/scientific aspects? I would also welcome sources on the historical aspects, although I will have less trouble finding those.

You might want to e-mail me at kirby@earthlink.net with the books and articles of which you know, or post them here.

best,
Peter Kirby

Baidarka · 01-19-2003, 06:37 AM

I think that this excerpt from John Allegro is relevant to this discussion. I'm not too sure about the Mushroom connection but I do think that the hashish/assassins, the first century Zealots and the Jesus Cult could all have used similar drugs.

The Assassins
The final section of Chapter XVIII of John M. Allegro's
The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross

The demand made by Islam upon its adherents for "self-surrender" and submission to the will of Allah, was carried to its greatest extremes in the fanatical sect known as the Assassins. Theologically they were of the Shi'ite branch of Islam, but their external policies were marked, like the Jewish Zealots, by utter ruthlessness in removing from their path any person who disagreed with their ideas. This they achieved by raising within their group a band of young fanatics called the Fida'is, the "devoted ones". They were known more generally as "Assassins" because their complete subservience to the will of their religious masters, without regard for personal danger, was the result of their taking a drug known as khash�sh, our "Hashish".
The sect was formed as a secret society around 1090 when they won control, by stratagem, of the mountain fortress of Alamut in Persia. In the eleventh and twelfth centuries they and their successors spread terror throughout Persia and Syria, and were fInally only put down after some 12,000 of them had been massacred. For some time small bodies of Assassins lingered on in the mountains of Syria, and some think the cult is not entirely dead even now.

The herb which gave them their name, khash�sh, "Hashish", means in Arabic no more than "dried herbage". If used of a particular drug it properly requires some qualification, like "Red Hashish", meaning Belladonna, Deadly Nightshade. The word Hashish alone has become attached to one particular form, Cannabis sativa, or Hemp, and the enervating drug made from its resin. But it is difficult to believe that the "pot"-smokers of today, the weary dotards who wander listlessly round our cities and universities, are the spiritual successors of those drug-crazed enthusiasts who, regardless of their safety, stormed castles and stole as assassins into the strongholds of their enemies. If their "Hashish" correctly interprets Cannabis then the latter must represent some more potent drug.

The Greek word Kannabis may now be traced to the Sumerian element GAN, "mushroom top", followed by the word which we saw earlier was part of the name of the New Testament Barnabas, and meant "red, speckled with white", denoting, in other words, the colour of the Amanita muscaria. As well as the transfer of its name to the less powerful "Hashish", it underwent a jumbling of its form to produce the Greek Panakes, a mysterious plant also called Asclepion (elsewhere used of the mushroom), which required atonement to the earth of various cereals when pulled up. It seems, therefore probable that the original Cannabis was the sacred fungus, and that the drug which stimulated the medieval Assassins to self-immolation was the same that brought the Zealots to their awful end on Masada a millennium earlier. Indeed, we may now seriously consider the possibility that the Assassin movement was but a resurgence of a cultic practice that was part of Islam from the beginning, and had its real origin thousands of years before that. It seems to be a pattern of religious movements based on the sacred fungus that long periods of relative calm and stagnation are interspersed with flashes of violent extremism which die away again after persecution, only to re-emerge in much later generations. In this, history is reflecting the action of the drug itself on its partakers. After hectic bouts of uncontrolled activity, the fungus-eater will collapse in a stupor from which only a resurgence of the stimulatory poison in his brain will arouse him.

Israelitism was based upon the cult of the sacred fungus, as its tribal names and mythologies now show. The extremes of some of its adherents bred their own internal and external opposition, and after the disastrous rebellions against the Assyrians and Babylonians of the eighth and sixth centuries BC, a period of reaction set in, and the past was forcibly expunged from Judaism under the reform movements of the sixth-fifth centuries. The mushroom cult went underground to re-appear with even more disastrous results in the first and second centuries AD when the Zealots and their successors again challenged the might of Rome.

Christianity purged itself after the holocaust and drove its drug-takers into the desert as "heretics", and eventually so conformed to the will of the State that in the fourth century it became an integral part of the ruling establishment. By then its priests were raising wafers and sweet wine at the altar and trying to convince their followers that the host had miraculously become the flesh and juice of the god.

Yellum Notnef · 01-19-2003, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Toto
And I guess it also brings to mind John Ashcroft having himself anointed with Crisco vegetable oil. It sounds like he missed the point.

I think Ashcroft got it right with the vegetable oil.

01-17-2003, 12:15 AM	#23
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	This is krazytamac's paper. (It is also an experiment in formatting.) Historical Reevaluation of the Bible Abstract: Jesus anointed people with the therapeutic and entheogenic holy oil from the Old Testament. The holy oil was used during baptism, and it caused the recipient to hallucinate. The drug-induced visions and voices that were heard were then interpreted to be messages from God and glimpses into the Kingdom of Heaven. Furthermore, Jesus was seen as a moral savior when he healed people with the holy oil. This is because the assumption of the time period was that illness was caused by sin. So, when Jesus healed people with the holy oil, people believed that he had the ability and authority to forgive their sins. All of Jesus? medical miracles can be explained by the medical properties of the ingredients of the holy oil. Finally, by contrasting the Biblical interpretation of resurrection as physical with the Gnostic interpretation of resurrection as spiritual, the myth of a physical resurrection can be explained away as exaggeration caused by the decades long game of telephone that occurred before the oral scriptures were put to writing. Setup of the Evidence: There are twelve numbered points, all of which are supported by the lettered evidence directly below it. The lettered evidence is from the Bible, Gnostic texts, early Christian Church Orders, early Christian writings, and primary medical sources. If any of the numbered points is too self-evident for you, you can skip the evidence in that category and move on to the next point, but be aware that each point builds on the previous point. Note, all bold emphases are added to draw attention to important parts of the quotation and are not in the original. 1. New Testament oil cures epilepsy ?They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.?- Mark 6:13 [The link provides source that says epilepsy was believed to be cause by demons in ancient times. http://library.thinkquest.org/J001619/history.html . Thus, this shows that oil was used to cure epilepsy.] 2. The oil refers to the holy oil of the Old Testament, same oil the Jews had banned. Just because it was banned doesn?t mean that it stopped existing and was suddenly impossible to find. On the contrary, most things that are officially banned, are still available in a black market, for example, most drugs today. It is because Jesus was literally anointed with this oil that we call him the ?The Anointed? (Christ) and not because of some figurative anointing by God. ?For we stand in need of a woman, a deaconess, for many necessities; and first in the baptism of women, the deacon shall anoint only their forehead with the holy oil, and after him the deaconess shall anoint them: for there is no necessity that the women should be seen by the men; but only in the laying on of hands the bishop shall anoint her head, as the priests and kings were formerly anointed, not because those which are now baptized are ordained priests, but as being Christians, or anointed, from Christ the Anointed, "a royal priesthood, and an holy nation, the Church of God, the pillar and ground of the marriage-chamber," who formerly were not a people, but now are beloved and chosen, upon whom is called His new name." - Book 3 Section 2 of Apostolic Constitutions. The first six books are excerpts of the Didascalia Apostolorum, Church Order, written in Syria about AD 250. http://www.piney.com/DocAposConstitu.html [Shows that the holy oil was used in baptism, it was the same oil from the OT, and that it is because of the oil anointing and not a figurative anointing by God that they are called Christians. Also since it shows that it was with this oil that people were anointed, it confirms that the since the sick are anointed with oil, they are using this holy oil.] ? The Jews had before been directed to compose a sacred oil, with which those who were called to the priesthood or to the kingdom might be anointed. And as now the robe of purple is a sign of the assumption of royal dignity among the Romans, so with them the anointing with the holy oil conferred the title and power of king. But since the ancient Greeks used the word xri/esqai to express the art of anointing, which they now express by a0lei/fesqai, as the verse of Homer shows, "But the attendants washed, and anointed them with oil;" on this account we call Him Christ, that is, the Anointed, who in Hebrew is called the Messias.? ? Book 4 ?Of True Wisdom and Religion? Chapter 7 of The Divine Institutes by Lactantius. (?) http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-07/TOC.htm#TopOfPage (Bold emphasis added. Lactantius was a 4th century Christian apologist) [Shows that he was called the Christ because of the oil and not in a figurative sense. Implies that the oil is the same as OT oil. This further supports how integral it is to the faith.] 3. So the oil that cures epilepsy is also anointed on Jesus, thus giving him the name Christ=The Anointed. What is in this oil that is curing epilepsy? To Answer that, ask: What are the ingredients and their medical effects? The ingredients of the oil are myrrh, cinnamon, fragrant cane, cassia, and olive oil. None of these treat epileptic seizures. The 3rd ingredient is most commonly translated as fragrant cane, but it is vague. It has in some versions been translated as calamus. However, calamus also doesn?t help epilepsy. So, what is curing the epilepsy? 4 of the 5 ingredients have no effect on epilepsy for sure. That means further investigation needs to be done on ?fragrant cane.? "Then the LORD said to Moses, Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels (about 12.5 pounds or 6kg) of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels (about 3kg) of fragrant cane, 500 shekels of cassia--all according to the sanctuary shekel--and a hin (about 4quarts or 4liters) of olive oil. Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil.?- Exodus 30: 22-25 Although myrrh, cinnamon, cassia, olive oil and calamus (if that?s what fragrant cane refers to) don?t treat epileptic seizures, they still have many therapeutic properties. Much more than most people might think. Some of the treatments are very interesting because they relate to some of the medical miracles that doctor Jesus has been credited for. These include: antiseptic to heal wounds (myrrh, cinnamon, cassia, olive); menstrual disturbances or uterine hemorrhage (myrrh, cinnamon, cassia); rheumatism (myrrh, olive oil); fevers (cinnamon, olive); pruritus (olive oil); dropsy/edema (olive oil). www.botanical.com for reference. 4. So what else might ?fragrant cane? be? The original Hebrew from which it is translated is ?kaneh-bosm.? This sounds a lot like cannabis, especially when one considers that a final pronounced ?m? in Hebrew is often used to make a noun plural. This by itself is certainly not proof, but since it is a realistic possibility that ?kaneh-bosm? means ?cannabis,? the medical effects of cannabis should be considered. Turns out, cannabis does in fact treat epileptic seizures. Medical evidence supports ?cannabis? as the correct translation of ?kaneh-bosm,? since the anti-epileptic properties of the holy oil can?t be explained by any of the other ingredients or any alternative translations of ?kaneh-bosm.? Etymological evidence will be next. Feeney D. Marihuana use among epileptics. JAMA. 1976;235:1105. [Citation from American Journal of Public Health, 3/96, No. 3, p.441-2] Karler R, Turkanis SA. The cannabinoids as potential antiepileptics. J Clin Pharmacol. 1981;21:437S-448S. [Citation from same as above] J. P. Davis and H. H. Ramsey, ?Antiepileptic Action of Marijuana-active Substances,? Federation Proceedings 8 (1949): 284-5. (2 out of 5 severe generalized epilepsy patients responded very positively to marijuana, 3 out of 5 had little effect, positive or negative) [Citation from Grinspoon, Lester M.D., and Bakalar, James B., Marihuana the Forbidden Medicine, Yale University Press New Haven and London, 1997, p.66-80 and p. 5-6] Three anecdotal case studies reveal that for some epilepsy patients, marijuana by itself is very effective in preventing seizures. [Citation from same as above] J. R. Reynolds, ?Therapeutic Uses and Toxic Effects of Cannabis indica,? Lancet 1 (1890): 637. (Cannabis is found to be valuable in treating certain forms of epilepsy) [Citation from same as above] US Dispensatory of 1854 recommends cannabis as a treatment for ?convulsions? among other medical conditions. [Citation from http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/...rst12000/9.htm ] 5. Okay, so medical evidence supports the cannabis translation. But, what are the etymological arguments? Many ancient languages had ?kan? as a root word that had a double meaning: hemp or reed. In Hebrew, it is ?kaneh.? References to ?kaneh shirt? in Hebrew texts supports the hemp translation since shirts used to be made from hemp (cannabis). While the basic etymological argument (minus my medical argument) was made decades ago by etymologist Sula Benet, hardly anyone has attempted to counter it. I was able to find only one counterargument and that was from Ernest Abel, author of ?Marijuana- The First Twelve Thousand Years.? His two objections rest on the assumptions that marijuana would not be called a ?spice? as required by Exodus 30:23 and that marijuana would not be described as ?sweet-tasting? as potentially (depends on which translation is correct) required by Isaiah 43:24. Both these assumptions are incorrect since depending on the type of marijuana, it can be spicy and sweet. ?It [Cannabis] is 'cana' in Sanskrit, 'qunnabu' in Assyrian, 'kenab' in Persian, 'kannab' in Arabic and 'kanbun' un /chaldean?. In many ancient languages, including Hebrew, the root 'kan' has a double meaning --- both hemp and reed. In many translations of the Bible's original Hebrew, we find 'kaneh bosm' variously and erroneously translated as "calamus" and "aromatic reed," a vague term. Calamus, (Calamus aromaticus) is a fragrant marsh plant. The error occurred in the oldest Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, Septuagint, in the third century B.C., where the terms 'kaneh, kaneh bosm' were incorrectly translated as "calamus." And in the many translations that followed, including Martin Luther's, the same error was repeated.? (etymologist says it?s cannabis and explains when it was mistranslated the way it was) [Citation from http://home.gci.net/~sncwarmgun/sm410.html contains EARLY DIFFUSION AND FOLK USES OF HEMP from Author: Benet (last name), Sula (first name), "Cannabis and Culture," Rubin, Vera & Comitas, Lambros, (eds.) 1975 39-49.] ?In the course of time, the two words 'kaneh' and 'bosm' were fused into one, 'kanabos' or 'kannabus,'known to us from Mishna, the body of traditional Hebrew law.? (Evolution of the word cannabis) [Citation from same as above] ?A piece of evidence regarding the use of the word 'kaneh' in the sense of hemp rather than reed among the Hebrews is the religious requirement that the dead be buried in 'kaneh' shirts. Centuries later, linen was substituted for hemp? [Quotation is from same source as above, but she gets her source regarding ?kaneh shirt? from: (Klein 1908) KLEIN, SIEGFRIED 1908 Tod und Begrabnis in Palistina. Berlin: H. Itzkowski.] (If I knew German and could figure out from which Hebrew text was ??kaneh? shirt? found, that would be strong primary evidence. As it stands, it?s secondary evidence) ?Greek historian Herodotus, in the fifth century B.C., observed that the Scythians used the plant to purge themselves after funerals by throwing hemp seeds on heated stones to create a thick vapor, inhaling the smoke and becoming intoxicated. ?The Scythians howl with joy for the vapour bath?? [Citation from same source as above (Sula Bent) who is getting source from : Herodotus, IV: 142).] This evidence shows that hemp was burned and inhaled by contemporaries of the Hebrews for inhaling smoke in ritual fashion. Similar to how the Hebrews burned the holy oil as incense. Notice how hemp was used after a funeral as part of the mourning process. There is an interesting connection to Christianity that is pointed out in point#12B. Objection By Ernest Abel: ?However the word ?kaneh? is a very vague term [62] that has disconcerted more than a few biblical scholars. A reference to kaneh in Isaiah 43:24 refers not to a "sweet-smelling" but a "sweet-tasting" plant. Few people would ever say that marijuana leaves taste sweet. Because of this reference to a sweet-tasting plant, some biblical scholars and botanists believe that kaneh is probably sugarcane... The reference to kaneh as a spice in Exodus 30:23 also suggests sugar rather than cannabis.[63]? ? [Citation is from Abel, Ernest L, Marijuana- The First Twelve Thousand Years, 1980. http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/...rst12000/1.htm ] CounterArgument To The Objection: First of all, sugarcane does not cure epilepsy, but cannabis does. But to address the issue of cannabis being sweet tasting and/or spicy, it can be. Depending on the variety of cannabis, it can be sweet tasting and/or spicy tasting and/or sweet smelling and/or spicy smelling. See http://www.easyseeds.com/banks/flying_dutchman.htm and http://www.emeryseeds.com/special-quick.html . Also supporting this is, ?Hashish Tips? in http://www.420tours.com/art_judge.html , which is adapted from Hashish by Robert Connell Clarke (Red Eye Press, 1996). ?When pure cannabis resin burns it produces a pungent, spicy aroma, like fine-quality incense.? See ?Hashish Tips? in http://www.420tours.com/art_judge.html , which is adapted from Hashish by Robert Connell Clarke (Red Eye Press, 1996). (Since pure cannabis burning smells like fine-quality incense, there is further support for kaneh-bosm as being cannabis since later in the Exodus 30 passage, it is described how the holy anointing oil is burned for incense.) 6. The medical evidence and the etymological evidence support the cannabis translation. It would not be abnormal for cannabis to have played a significant role in Christianity if we keep in mind the role it has played in many other religions. Marijuana had a positive religious function as a means for communicating with the divine in early Hinduism, Buddhism, Tantrism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism. [Evidence from Abel, Ernest L, Marijuana- The First Twelve Thousand Years, 1980. http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/...rst12000/1.htm ] 7. So the oil had cannabis in it. That means it also had a hallucinogenic effect. When and how did they use this oil? They used it in baptism and general medicine. First look at the baptismal use and its significance in Point#7 and 8. Then look at the medical use in Point#9. In Point#7, prove that originally, baptism was not just water baptism as it is today, but in fact, baptism by the holy oil was a crucial component of baptism. While the holy oil was restricted to ordained priests in the Old Testament, early Christians violated the Jewish ban and poured holy oil on top of each other as part of baptism. ?CONCERNING THE SACRED INITIATION OF HOLY BAPTISM XVI. Thou therefore, O bishop, according to that type, shalt anoint the head of those that are to be baptized, whether they be men or women, with the holy oil, for a type of the spiritual baptism. After that, either thou, O bishop, or a presbyter that is under thee, shall in the solemn form name over them the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit, and shall dip them in the water; and let a deacon receive the man, and a deaconess the woman, that so the conferring of this inviolable seal may take place with a becoming decency. And after that, let the bishop anoint those that are baptized with ointment? ? Book 3:16 of Apostolic Constitutions The first six books are from the Didascalia Apostolorum, Church Order, written in Syria about AD 250. http://www.piney.com/DocAposConstitu.html [Shows that the holy oil is used in baptism, as is water and an ointment.] ?Through the Holy Spirit we are indeed begotten again, but we are begotten through Christ in the two. We are anointed through the Spirit. When we were begotten, we were united. None can see himself either in water or in a mirror without light. Nor again can you see in light without mirror or water. For this reason, it is fitting to baptize in the two, in the light and the water. Now the light is the chrism.?- Gospel of Philip http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gop.html [Shows that baptism required holy oil (chrism) and water according to Gnostic scriptures.] In North Africa in 200AD, during baptism, the person is dipped in water and after coming up is anointed with oil, according to Tertullian. In Rome, the anointing was also given after water. In Syria, the church order Didascalia Apostolorum, Church Order states that anointing comes before being dipped in water. Hippolytus says that the anointing happens three times. There were lots of variation regarding the order, but holy oil was an integral part of baptism in a number of churches in the 3rd Century. ? This is paraphrased from p. 260 of The Early Church, by Henry Chadwick (author is a Regius Professor at Oxford and Cambridge, Head of Christ Church, Oxford, knighted by British Government.) 8. So baptism involved hallucinogenic cannabis being poured upon your head. This implies that the divine visions of Jesus after his baptism are drug-induced hallucinations. Is it possible then that Jesus and the early Christians really saw visions and heard voices, but these visions and voices came not from God but from the hallucinogenic effects of a drug? Absolutely, if you?ve agreed with the arguments so far. If that is the case, then there should be examples of hallucinations. There Are. There should be examples of a belief in the divinity and purity of the oil. There Are. Maybe the early Christians should even have named themselves after this oil that they worshipped. They Did. ?Christians? means ?The Anointed Ones,? and while the popular myth suggests that this refers to a figurative anointing by God, the evidence shows clearly that the early Christians were talking about a literal anointing by oil. ?Glory be to thee, hidden one, that art communicated in baptism. Glory to thee the unseen power that is in baptism. Glory to thee, renewal, whereby are renewed they that are baptized and with affection take hold upon thee. And having thus said, he poured oil over their heads and said: Glory be to thee the love of compassion (bowels). Glory to thee name of Christ. Glory to thee, power established in Christ. And he commanded a vessel to be brought, and baptized them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.?- Acts of Thomas: 132 http://wesley.nnu.edu/noncanon/acts/actthom.htm (Shows that oil is used in baptism and an unseen power is identified in baptism. Since we know the oil had hallucinogenic properties, the unseen power is probably referring to the hallucinogenic effect.) ?Thou holy oil given unto us for sanctification, secret mystery whereby the cross was shown unto us, thou art the straightener of the crooked limbs, thou art the humbler (softener) of hard things (works), thou art it that showeth the hidden treasures, thou art the sprout of goodness; let thy power come, let it be established upon thy servant Mygdonia, and heal thou her by this freedom.? -Acts of Thomas:121 http://wesley.nnu.edu/noncanon/acts/actthom.htm [Shows that the oil is medicine that heals crippled joints (more on this in Point#9), and that oil shows hidden treasures and it is the hallucinogenic oil that has shown the cross, probably in a vision.] ?At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased. At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.?- Mark 1: 9-13. (Right after having hallucinogenic oil poured on him he sees visions of Satan, animals, and angels and the voice of God. He seems to even be suffering from time distortion (common effect of marijuana) as forty days suddenly go by.) ?And he commanded them to bring oil, that they might receive the seal by the oil. They brought the oil therefore, and lighted many lamps; for it was night (Syr. whom I preach: and the king gave orders that the bath should be closed for seven days, and that no man should bathe in it: and when the seven days were done, on the eighth day they three entered into the bath by night that Judas might baptize them. And many lamps were lighted in the bath). And the apostle arose and sealed them. And the Lord was revealed unto them by a voice, saying: Peace be unto you brethren. And they heard his voice only, but his likeness they saw not, for they had not yet received the added sealing of the seal (Syr. had not been baptized). And the apostle took the oil and poured it upon their heads and anointed and chrismed them, and began to say (Syr. And Judas went up and stood upon the edge of the cistern and poured oil upon their heads and said): Come, thou holy name of the Christ that is above every name. Come, thou power of the Most High, and the compassion that is perfect. Come, gift (chrism) of the Most High. Come, compassionate mother. Come, communion of the male. Come, she that revealeth the hidden mysteries. Come, mother of the seven houses, that thy rest may be in the eighth house. Come, elder of the five members, mind, thought, reflection, consideration, reason; communicate with these young men. Come, holy spirit, and cleanse their reins and their heart, and give them the added seal, in the name of the Father and Son and Holy Ghost. And when they were sealed, there appeared unto them a youth holding a lighted torch, so that their lamps became dim at the approach of the light thereof. And he went forth and was no more seen of them. ? Acts of Thomas: 27 http://wesley.nnu.edu/noncanon/acts/actthom.htm (Shows that baptism happened with oil and it was to show them the hidden mysteries, the divine truths. Since the oil was hallucinogenic, these hidden mysteries were seemingly revealed as a result of the ?high? or the ?trip? which is why they were hidden from the non-baptized.) ?The chrism is superior to baptism, for it is from the word "Chrism" that we have been called "Christians," certainly not because of the word "baptism". And it is because of the chrism that "the Christ" has his name. For the Father anointed the Son, and the Son anointed the apostles, and the apostles anointed us. He who has been anointed possesses everything. He possesses the resurrection, the light, the cross, the Holy Spirit. The Father gave him this in the bridal chamber; he merely accepted (the gift). The Father was in the Son and the Son in the Father. This is the Kingdom of Heaven.?- Gospel of Philip http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gop.html (Shows that it is because of the oil that they are called Christians, and that ?Christ? has his name because of the holy oil (chrism). Jesus was not the figurative anointed one of God, but rather literally anointed. As a result, this passage shows the belief in the divinity of the holy oil. Shows that the oil was the Kingdom of Heaven) ?Seeing that our souls are at leisure and eager toward God, give thou us the seal; for we have heard thee say that the God whom thou preachest knoweth his own sheep by his seal. And the apostle said unto them: I also rejoice and entreat you to receive this seal, and to partake with me in this eucharist and blessing of the Lord, and to be made perfect therein. For this is the Lord and God of all, even Jesus Christ whom I preach, and he is the father of truth, in whom I have taught you to believe. And he commanded them to bring oil, that they might receive the seal by the oil.? ? Acts of Thomas: 26 http://wesley.nnu.edu/noncanon/acts/actthom.htm (This shows that the seal is the defining mark of the Christians and that the seal is received by the oil, and so the oil is the defining mark of the Christians. This shows the importance of the oil.) 9. Okay, so the divine visions were hallucinations. What about all those medical miracles in the New Testament? Well, the oil was used as a general medicine as well. ?Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well;?- James 5:14-5 [Shows that oil was used to heal sick people.] ?Spiritual love is wine and fragrance. All those who anoint themselves with it take pleasure in it. While those who are anointed are present, those nearby also profit (from the fragrance). If those anointed with ointment withdraw from them and leave, then those not anointed, who merely stand nearby, still remain in their bad odor. The Samaritan gave nothing but wine and oil to the wounded man. It is nothing other than the ointment. It healed the wounds, for "love covers a multitude of sins"?- Gospel of Philip http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gop.html [This one has a lot in it. First, fragrance refers to the oil. You know this from reading Exodus 30 passage where they describe how the holy oil is used as a fragrance. More direct evidence comes from this passage itself. For example, line 4 says that without the oil you will have a bad odor, implying the oil is the fragrance. Now to prove the relevant points, the last line is the most interesting: ?It (the ointment/oil-see preceding sentence) healed the wounds (proves central point #9), for love (same as wine and fragrance (oil)- see first sentence) covered a multitude of sins (now you?re thinking: ?wait, I thought we were talking about covering wounds, not covering sins.? But, for the people of this time, it was one in the same.) Notice, this line actually reveals an important assumption of the time, namely that medical sickness was a result of immorality. Thus, healing a person (like Dr. Jesus? healings) was equivalent to covering up their sins (more evidence on this equivalence between sin and illness in point#11).? The second sentence also shows that using oil is pleasurable, which is in accordance with the pleasurable euphoric effects of cannabis (see point#12 for further elaboration on the non-medical similarities between the oil and cannabis).] The main point to get for now since we are on point#9 is that the oil heals. See Evidence #8B. 10. A lot of Jesus? miracles were medical in nature. Keeping in mind that all the written scriptures were first passed down orally for a few decades, one would expect that by the time the stories were written down, the story would have diverged to some degree from the original event. For example, except for Mark 6:13 and some Gnostic scriptures and some Biblical passages, most of the primary Biblical documents show Jesus healing people without making any reference to the holy oil, thus making it seem all the more magical. However, given the evidence in Point #9, where there was healing, there was probably oil. And, as the story of this event was passed down, the importance of the oil in the healing miracles was diminished and eventually forgotten. What seems like a divine miracle is really based off a true scientifically explainable event. As a result, what follows is a list (I think it?s complete) of all the miracles in the New Testament and the corresponding non-miraculous explanations. 10 of the miracles are explainable and 3 remain unexplained for now. Demon Possessed. Citation- Mark 6:13. Diagnosis: Epilepsy. See point#4. Explanation: Cannabis in the holy oil heals the epileptic seizures that are seen as demonic. Evidence: See point#4 Deaf and Speech Impediment. Cited from Mark 7:31-37. Diagnosis: Acute Otitis Media (severe ear infection). The effects of (AOM) are temporary hearing loss and if untreated, permanent hearing impairment. Children who have early hearing impairment from frequent ear infections are likely to have speech and language disabilities. This is because persistent fluid in the middle ear and chronic otitis media can reduce a child's hearing at a time that is critical for speech and language development. Although today otitis media is primarily a disease of infants and young children, it can also affect adults. http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/pubs_hb/otitism.htm Explanation: Cannabis in the holy oil heals acute otitis media. Evidence: 1. HEMP -- ITS HISTORY -- TRADITIONAL AND POPULAR APPLICATION, KONOPI JAKO LEK (Hemp) [in Czech {Slovak} except for summaries] Acta Universitatis Palackianaw Olomucensis--Tom. VI 1955 Prof. Dr. Jan Kabelik EFFECTIVENESS OF CANNABIS INDICA ON CHRONIC OTITIS MEDIA [Summary (p. 89) ?Local application of cannabis indica was experienced in 18 patients suffering from chronic otitis media, and in 4 patients after mastoidectomy. A significant improvement was noticed in 13 cases of chronic otitis?] citation from http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/...cal/konopi.htm 2. ?According to Dioscorides (100 A.D.), the resin of fresh hemp is an excellent treatment for earaches.? -from EARLY DIFFUSION AND FOLK USES OF HEMP from Benet, Sula, "Cannabis and Culture," Rubin, Vera & Comitas, Lambros, (eds.) 1975 39-49 http://home.gci.net/~sncwarmgun/sm410.html Virulent Skin Disease: Cited from Matt 8:1-4. Diagnosis: Pruritus. This has sometimes been mistranslated as modern day leprosy, but most Bibles have corrected the mistake. Just a side note, even if it were leprosy, there would be an explanation for it since myrrh, which is in the holy oil, treats leprosy see www.botanical.com. But, I won?t go into that because the condition is pruritus, not leprosy, but this aside does go to show just how therapeutically loaded the holy oil mixture was. Explanation: Olive oil and Cannabis in the holy oil healed the pruritus. Evidence: 1. Regarding olive oil see http://www.botanical.com/botanical/m...ve-06.html#med 2. Regarding cannabis there is anecdotal evidence of a man with pruritus who gained relief from cannabis. See Grinspoon, Lester M.D., and Bakalar, James B., Marihuana the Forbidden Medicine, Yale University Press New Haven and London, 1997, p. 131-5; 3. Also for cannabis and pruritus see, C. E. Turner and M. A. L. Elsohly, ?Biological Activity of Cannabichromene, Its Homologs and Isomers,? Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 21 (8-0 Suppl.) (August-September 1981): 283S-291S. [A nonpsychoactive cannabinoid, cannabichromene, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties in animal experiments. This is important because pruritus is an inflammatory skin disorder. This is suggestive evidence for pruritus, but it gains more relevance in combination with the anecdotal evidence] Paralytic or Crippled. Cited from Matt 9:1-8. Diagnosis: It could be severe rheumatism or sciatic neuralgia. Rheumatism causes severe joint pains and in extreme cases it can lead to inability to walk if the joints are that swollen. Sciatic neuralgia affects the sciatic nerve which runs down the leg and it causes sharp pains to the point where walking is no longer possible. Explanation: If the condition is rheumatism, then myrrh, olive oil, and cannabis in the holy oil are all effective. If the condition is sciatic neuralgia, then cannabis in the holy oil is an effective treatment. Evidence: 1. Regarding effect on rheumatism. For olive oil see http://www.botanical.com/botanical/m...ve-06.html#med , for myrrh see http://www.nonymous.freeserve.co.uk/.../frankin1.html and for cannabis see first http://www.aids.org/immunet/atn.nsf/page/a-287-01 , and then Grinspoon, Lester M.D., and Bakalar, James B., Marihuana the Forbidden Medicine, Yale University Press New Haven and London, 1997, p. 126-131, and finally http://home.gci.net/~sncwarmgun/sm410.html . 2. Regarding cannabis? effect on neuralgia see Grinspoon, Lester M.D., and Bakalar, James B., Marihuana the Forbidden Medicine, Yale University Press New Haven and London, 1997, p. 5-6. 3. Also for cannabis? and neuralgia see the 1854 US Dispensatory recommendation of cannabis for neuralgia which can be found in http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/...rst12000/9.htm Fever. Cited from Matt 8:14-15. Diagnosis: Fever. Explanation: Olive oil in the holy oil relieved the fevers. Evidence: See http://www.botanical.com/botanical/m...ve-06.html#med . Hemorrhage. Cited from Matt 9:18-26. Diagnosis: Uterine hemorrhage is a likely possibility since it happens to a woman. Explanation: Cinnamon, cassia, and cannabis in the holy oil all are effective on uterine hemorrhage. Evidence: 1. For the cinnamon, see http://www.botanical.com/botanical/m...nam69.html#med ; for the cassia see http://www.botanical.com/botanical/m...sia31.html#med . 2. For cannabis, see http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabi...al_info3.shtml and the US Dispensatory of 1854 at http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/...rst12000/9.htm Blind. Cited from Matt 9:27-31. Diagnosis: Glaucoma. Explanation: I am not aware of any illnesses that cause reversible blindness. It is much more likely that the blind man was not completely blind, but was going blind and he could see that he was going blind as his peripheral vision narrowed and lights turned to halos and the world in general was dimmer. These are of course the symptoms of advanced glaucoma (early stages of glaucoma have no noticeable symptoms). Cannabis in the holy oil treats glaucoma. As a result of the treatment, the man would have seen the halos disappear, and the world would not seem as dim. Furthermore, if the cannabis in the holy oil is applied regularly, it can prevent the glaucoma from progressing and will save the person?s vision from an impending blindness. While this is not the exact story the Bible tells, it is close and could have been the original event. Decades of passing the story down orally would have naturally changed to be even more dramatic than they were in reality. Evidence: 1. American Journal of Public Health, 3/96, No. 3, p. 441-2. 2. Grinspoon, Lester M.D., and Bakalar, James B., Marihuana the Forbidden Medicine, Yale University Press New Haven and London, 1997, p.45-66 Dropsy/Edema. Luke 14:1-6. Diagnosis: Dropsy/edema. Explanation: Olive oil in the holy oil treated the dropsy/edema. Evidence: See http://www.botanical.com/botanical/m...ve-06.html#med. Withered hand. Matt 12:9-14. Diagnosis: Not sure. Explanation: Dry withered hands. I haven?t a clue what the diagnosis should be but based on the symptoms, a skin lubricant like olive oil in the holy oil sounds like it could be effective for a person suffering from excessively dry hands. Evidence: http://www.botanical.com/botanical/m...ve-06.html#med . Resurrection. Matt 27, 28. Explanation: Gnostic texts talk about resurrection as being something you do before you die, thus implying a figurative meaning to what has traditionally been seen as a literal full body resurrection. Since the Bible and Gnostic texts contradict each other, one must be wrong. It is feasible that the Gnostics were right and the Bible exaggerated it, since the Bible is more extreme on this. But if the Bible was right, then how did the Gnostics write what they did? They would have had to downplay a miracle, which seems much less likely. The way the game of telephone usually works is that as the story is passed orally, it becomes more and more miraculous and exaggerated, not the other way around. Evidence for the Gnostic description of a non-physical resurrection follows. Evidence: ?Those who say they will die first and then rise are in error. If they do not first receive the resurrection while they live, when they die they will receive nothing.? Gospel of Philip http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gop.html Calming of the Storm. Matt 8:23-27. Unexplained for now. Miracle of Loaves. Matt 14:13-21. Unexplained for now. Walks on Water. Matt 14: 22-33. Unexplained for now. Hallucination? If so, it would have to be a collective hallucination which is not easy to accept, but may be possible. 11. So the medical miracles were really just medical healing by the holy oil. But, why are they described like miracles. The answer becomes clear only once we recognize the divergences between our assumptions about illness and theirs. We see illness as coming from biological, chemical causes. The early Christians did not have advanced science and so they understood illnesses in a different way. Since the cause of the illnesses was not easy to pinpoint at the time, the natural assumption was that the illness must be caused by the Gods or by some Demons. The illness must be afflicting you because of your sins. So, it was believed that if you cured an illness you had battled a demon and covered up the person?s sins. This is why in so many ancient cultures the medicine man takes on a religious role. There is evidence that Christians were no different than other ancient peoples in their belief in the equivalence of sin and sickness. Given this context, it seems likely that the concept of Jesus as a Savior probably originated from the fact that he distributed the therapeutic holy oil and covered everyone?s sins/wounds. See evidence #9B ?Jesus said to the paralytic, ?Take comfort, my child, your sins are forgiven.?? But to prove to you that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins- then he said to the paralytic- get up, pick up your bed and go off home. And the man got up and went home.? - Matt 9:1-8. (Healing a paralyzed man is used as proof to show that Jesus can forgive sins. This reveals the belief in the equivalence of sin and sickness) ?When Jesus was at dinner in his house, a number of tax collectors and sinner were also sitting at table with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many of them among his followers. When the scribes of the Pharisee party saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, ?Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?? When Jesus heard this he said to them, ? It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. I came to call not the upright, but the sinners.?- from Mark 2:15-17. (People want to assume that the line about the sick needing the doctor is merely figurative speech and not literally referring to the situation at hand. However, given the other evidence that has been presented thus far, the literal interpretation is more likely. Jesus is calling himself the doctor who heals the sinners/sick- same thing to them at the time.) ?As a skilful and compassionate physician, heal all such as have wandered in the ways of sin; for "they that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick.? ? Book 2:20 of Apostolic Constitution. The first six books are from the Didascalia Apostolorum, Church Order, written in Syria about AD 250. (This reveals the belief that illness was caused by sin) http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-07/TOC.htm#TopOfPage or http://www.piney.com/DocAposConstitu.html ?Do thou therefore, as a compassionate physician, heal all that have sinned, making use of saving methods of cure; not only cutting and searing, or using corrosives, but binding up, and putting in tents, and using gentle healing medicines, and sprinkling comfortable words.? ? Book 2:41 of Apostolic Constitution The first six books are excerpts of the Didascalia Apostolorum, Church Order, written in Syria about AD 250. http://www.piney.com/DocAposConstitu.html [Evidence that illness/medicine was believed to be connected to morality] 12. So now what else is there to prove? Nothing. The hardest part to swallow for most people will be the idea that there was cannabis in the holy oil. So what follows is a short list of additional circumstantial evidence. I have provided all the direct evidence I found already, but the following evidence is still interesting because it shows parallels between the properties of the oil and non-medical properties of cannabis. See, if the oil contains a drug that causes euphoria, unexplainable laughter, and physical dependence with heavy use, there should be some evidence of that in the scriptures. There is. See evidence #9B ?To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.? ? Isaiah 61:3 (Shows that the oil is a [/b]euphoriant[/b] like cannabis. Also, it is called the oil of joy for mourning. This is interesting because it parallels the Scythian use of hemp after funerals, see point#5D. Also, if you?ve gotten this far in the reading, then you probably accept the thesis. Let?s look at the above quotation from Isaiah 61:3 under this new lens. The garment could be literally hemp clothing, instead of some figurative meaning. Trees of righteousness, is probably a literal reference to cannabis plants, and the planting of the Lord is probably the literal planting of cannabis plants, from which the hidden mysteries have been revealed, and so are thus equivalent or representative of God.) ?And David says: ?My knees are weak through fasting, and my flesh faileth for want of oil.?? ? Book 5:20 of Apostolic Constitutions The first six books are from the Didascalia Apostolorum, Church Order, written in Syria about AD 250. (Flesh faileth could mean losing weight or it could mean other physical problems, but what is not ambiguous is that it results from abstinence from oil. This clearly shows that the oil creates dependence and abstaining from it after regular use can cause a withdrawal. Cannabis is the only substance in the oil that can create a withdrawal effect and that withdrawal effect only occurs if you?ve been using it a lot for an extended period of time. Such heavy chronic use of the oil would actually be expected of the religious Christians who?ve named themselves after the oil since the oil was seen as a good thing, a divine thing. Because of our historical context, that may seem strange, but it is not. For a comparison, one can look at the alcoholic binge in America in the 1830s and see what people will do with a drug when they think it is all-good and the only bad thing you can do with the drug is to not use it. Remember that whiskey originally means ?the water of life? and it took on a spiritual significance for some, especially the Scottish) ?My knees are weak with fasting; and my flesh is changed on account of the (lack of) oil.? - Pistis Sophia: 56:24 http://www.piney.com/GnosPisSoph.html (for comments see above) ?The Lord said it well: "Some have entered the Kingdom of Heaven laughing, and they have come out [...] because [...] a Christian, [...].? ?Gospel of Philip http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gop.html (Shows that the oil (entering the Kingdom of Heaven is equivalent to pouring oil on yourself, see evidence #8E for proof) makes one laugh. One of the unique properties of cannabis is that it is the only substance (as far as I know) that regularly makes people [b]laugh for no reason[b], to the point where users don?t even know why they?re laughing.)

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01-13-2003, 01:00 PM	#21
happyboy Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: on the border between here and there, WV Posts: 373	that doesn't surprise me if it turns out to be true: narcotics and religion have a long, long history together. happyboy

01-13-2003, 08:01 PM	#22
krazytamak Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: LA, CA Posts: 26	Fenton, you made an interesting point about pot not getting you that high. However, I wonder what the nature of a pot high is if you take it by skin-absorption (as in a holy oil). The way you take it probably affects the nature of the high since a high by ingestion is not the same effect as a high by inhalation. Furthermore, I have been with a friend who did hallucinate big time on very strong pot in amsterdam while he had the experience, so while it is not common with people, remember pot is technically a hallucinogen and it is capable of causing serious hallucinations like Revelations. The reason I do not think that kaneh-bosm in the holy oil refers to shrooms is because there is so much evidence supporting kaneh-bosm referring to cannabis, and not just the etymological evidence, but medical evidence as well. I have done a serious paper on this subject, about 14 pages long-single spaced, that basically organizes and presents all the evidence I have found on this subject. I wanted to attach it to my post but it is word format with a .doc ending so I dont' know how. If someone knows how, let me know and I'll do it. Otherwise, if you're interested, email me at krazytamak@yahoo.com and I'll email you my thesis on this subject. This applies to anyone else who may just be browsing.

01-17-2003, 12:01 PM	#25
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	This all brings to mind the modern "New Age" practice of aromatherapy. I checked, and they do claim ancient roots, in not only the Bible, but also Egyptian practice. History of Essential Oils And I guess it also brings to mind John Ashcroft having himself anointed with Crisco vegetable oil. It sounds like he missed the point.

01-17-2003, 12:19 PM	#26
Peter Kirby Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: the reliquary of Ockham's razor Posts: 4,035	If you are just joining this thread, be sure to look on the previous page for the excellent essay of krazytamak, posted by Toto, and my own compilation of patristic references that flesh out the theory. It's interesting stuff. From the references I have found in the Christian literature, the effect of the chrism is beyond that of sweet smell, but there is no direct evidence that cannabis was the active ingredient. There is the etymological argument, but I am not sure about that, and in any case the OT recipe might not be the one used in the second or third century church. Marijuana obviously comes to mind, because of the medicinal effects, but how much research has gone into the effects of other medicines that might have been mixed in oil in antiquity? And has anyone in modern times published the results of absorption of cannabis from rubbing it in the skin? best, Peter Kirby

01-18-2003, 05:14 PM	#27
krazytamak Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: LA, CA Posts: 26	Peter, you've referenced many different authors from early Christianity, and I have to say, that some of those references were difficult reading. But, what I got out of the majority of the references was that even though it may not be definitively clear what was in the different oils and ointments, what is extremely clear now is that there was something darn special about the oil in early Christianity. If we were to categorize your references by what they can prove, I think most of them would fall under Point#7 in my paper. Also, there was one piece of information that you had that was new, and had not been covered in my paper, and I think it's pretty interesting, and that is Irenaeus' breakdown of the Christian tirnity. Irenaeus seems to understand the Holy Spirit in the Christian trinity as being the same as the holy oil. If that is the case, then the holy oil is not just darn special, but it is as essential as Jesus and God Himself. And since (i think) the Holy Spirit is supposed to be this part of God that permeates the world and a Christian can feel, it would support the theory that the holy oil is pyschoactive. The essential question in the research of early Christianity then should be what was in that oil. Your references also make it clear that answering this question may not be the easiest thing because it seems (especially after reading Clement's quotation) that there were a variety of oils and ointments, some were just aromatic while others could have been intoxicating in a more psychoactive way. However, I think that most probably Jesus used the holy oil from OT because of the evidence from Point#2 in my post which connects Jesus' anointings with the anointings in OT. And another reason is because even though the terms "oils" and "ointments" may have been used loosely to refer to a variety of oils (as Clement's quotations suggests), the term "holy oil" does not seem to be used loosely and whenver "holy oil" is mentioned in early Christian writings it is in reference to baptism, and whenever "holy oil" is mention in OT text, it is in reference to the oil whose recipe is provided in Exodus. On the effect of cannabis oil via skin-absorption, I don't think there is any study on its psychoactivity, although a couple early 20th century studies have shown that it is therapeutically effective via skin-absorption for certain conditions. For this, I think someone would need to recreate the holy oil and do an experiment. What I really want to see is a serious criticism or commentary on this idea by a respected professor of Early Christianity. The one time I tried to show it to a professor was when I was still in college and the professor simply dismissed it without reading the evidence by saying that he doesn't have time for this.

01-18-2003, 08:37 PM	#28
Peter Kirby Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: the reliquary of Ockham's razor Posts: 4,035	krazytamak, I would like to bring this theory before a scholarly audience in some way, perhaps by publishing an article in a journal. One thing that is necessary, though, is to replace references to web pages to books and articles whenever possible. Do you think you could help me with a bibliography of sources that I could use to substantiate the medical/scientific aspects? I would also welcome sources on the historical aspects, although I will have less trouble finding those. You might want to e-mail me at kirby@earthlink.net with the books and articles of which you know, or post them here. best, Peter Kirby

01-19-2003, 06:37 AM	#29
Baidarka Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 590	I think that this excerpt from John Allegro is relevant to this discussion. I'm not too sure about the Mushroom connection but I do think that the hashish/assassins, the first century Zealots and the Jesus Cult could all have used similar drugs. The Assassins The final section of Chapter XVIII of John M. Allegro's The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross The demand made by Islam upon its adherents for "self-surrender" and submission to the will of Allah, was carried to its greatest extremes in the fanatical sect known as the Assassins. Theologically they were of the Shi'ite branch of Islam, but their external policies were marked, like the Jewish Zealots, by utter ruthlessness in removing from their path any person who disagreed with their ideas. This they achieved by raising within their group a band of young fanatics called the Fida'is, the "devoted ones". They were known more generally as "Assassins" because their complete subservience to the will of their religious masters, without regard for personal danger, was the result of their taking a drug known as khash�sh, our "Hashish". The sect was formed as a secret society around 1090 when they won control, by stratagem, of the mountain fortress of Alamut in Persia. In the eleventh and twelfth centuries they and their successors spread terror throughout Persia and Syria, and were fInally only put down after some 12,000 of them had been massacred. For some time small bodies of Assassins lingered on in the mountains of Syria, and some think the cult is not entirely dead even now. The herb which gave them their name, khash�sh, "Hashish", means in Arabic no more than "dried herbage". If used of a particular drug it properly requires some qualification, like "Red Hashish", meaning Belladonna, Deadly Nightshade. The word Hashish alone has become attached to one particular form, Cannabis sativa, or Hemp, and the enervating drug made from its resin. But it is difficult to believe that the "pot"-smokers of today, the weary dotards who wander listlessly round our cities and universities, are the spiritual successors of those drug-crazed enthusiasts who, regardless of their safety, stormed castles and stole as assassins into the strongholds of their enemies. If their "Hashish" correctly interprets Cannabis then the latter must represent some more potent drug. The Greek word Kannabis may now be traced to the Sumerian element GAN, "mushroom top", followed by the word which we saw earlier was part of the name of the New Testament Barnabas, and meant "red, speckled with white", denoting, in other words, the colour of the Amanita muscaria. As well as the transfer of its name to the less powerful "Hashish", it underwent a jumbling of its form to produce the Greek Panakes, a mysterious plant also called Asclepion (elsewhere used of the mushroom), which required atonement to the earth of various cereals when pulled up. It seems, therefore probable that the original Cannabis was the sacred fungus, and that the drug which stimulated the medieval Assassins to self-immolation was the same that brought the Zealots to their awful end on Masada a millennium earlier. Indeed, we may now seriously consider the possibility that the Assassin movement was but a resurgence of a cultic practice that was part of Islam from the beginning, and had its real origin thousands of years before that. It seems to be a pattern of religious movements based on the sacred fungus that long periods of relative calm and stagnation are interspersed with flashes of violent extremism which die away again after persecution, only to re-emerge in much later generations. In this, history is reflecting the action of the drug itself on its partakers. After hectic bouts of uncontrolled activity, the fungus-eater will collapse in a stupor from which only a resurgence of the stimulatory poison in his brain will arouse him. Israelitism was based upon the cult of the sacred fungus, as its tribal names and mythologies now show. The extremes of some of its adherents bred their own internal and external opposition, and after the disastrous rebellions against the Assyrians and Babylonians of the eighth and sixth centuries BC, a period of reaction set in, and the past was forcibly expunged from Judaism under the reform movements of the sixth-fifth centuries. The mushroom cult went underground to re-appear with even more disastrous results in the first and second centuries AD when the Zealots and their successors again challenged the might of Rome. Christianity purged itself after the holocaust and drove its drug-takers into the desert as "heretics", and eventually so conformed to the will of the State that in the fourth century it became an integral part of the ruling establishment. By then its priests were raising wafers and sweet wine at the altar and trying to convince their followers that the host had miraculously become the flesh and juice of the god.

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