Altered States of Consciousness

1. Altered States of Consciousness

2. Religion is a system of beliefs and behaviors that deals with the relationship between humans and the sacred supernatural. The way in which humans interact with the sacred supernatural is largely through the performance of rituals. Some rituals are fairly simple and can be performed by most adult members of the community. Other rituals are quite complex and require specialized training to perform. Still, others require more special abilities such as communicating with the supernatural.

3. A religious experience is a subjective one that manifests itself on an emotional and psychological level. These emotions range from fear and anxiety to a generalized feeling of well-being to a profound experience in which a person feels an association with the supernatural. These experiences and emotions make up an important element of religious practice� altered states of consciousness (ASC)

4. So, What is it? In its simplest sense and ASC is any mental state that differs from a normal state. EX: daydreaming or the feeling that comes from the alcoholic �buzz�. These mental states can be subjectively identified by the individual, and/or seen by observes, as being different from the individual's normal, mental state. Although everyone experiences ASC to some degree, in both religious and nonreligious contexts, in many cultures these states are encored and are interpreted by the culture as important religious events.

5. Entering an Altered State of Consciousness ASC can be brought about by a number of physiological, psychological, and pharmaceutical factors. The experiences encountered in an altered state will vary according to the factor that is responsible for the state as well as the physical condition and the expectation of the individual. See the table below.

6. Perhaps the most familiar are states of meditation and trance. A person can enter these states by ceasing all activity and reducing stimuli. For example, in passive meditation one seeks a quiet place without any distracting noise or activity and sits quietly. Many people experience a state of total relaxation in many non�religious situations, such as lying on a beach or floating in a pool. ASC can also be achieved through more severe enforced isolation, such as that which occurs in solitary confinement or self-imposed isolation.

7. People who seek enlightenment or contact with a god or spirit might deliberately isolate themselves in a cave or in the middle of a desert or plain. Another way of entering an altered state is to concentrate on an object or sound, as in active meditation. The sound might be a chant or repeated sequence of words, the monotonous beat of a drum, or the sounds of nature such as the crashing of waves on a beach or the sound of a waterfall.

8. In marked contrast to situations of quite concentrations or elimination of stimuli are ASC that are produced by sensory overload and strenuous motor activity. EX: Mevlevi Order, or "whirling dervishes," in Near Eastern cultures achieve an altered state though continuous and monotonous movement that often leads to a state of exhaustion. Many religious rituals are accompanied by loud music, singing, and energetic dancing.