Hallucinogens such as magic mushrooms and DMT may have been responsible for the wondrous cave art of the Upper Paleolithic, and even ultimately the rise of modern human behaviour. That's the opinion of Graham Hancock, the best-selling author of 'Fingerprints of the Gods', who is famed for his alternative ideas about ancient history. In his new book 'Supernatural', Hancock explores the 'neuropsychological model' of cave art, proposed by South African scholar David Lewis-Williams. In this theory, which is now gaining wide acceptance, geometric symbols and drawings of therianthropic beings are equated to the visions seen by shamans while in altered states of consciousness.As part of the research for his book, Hancock ingested both psilocybin mushrooms and ayahuasca - the shamanic brew of the Amazonian jungle. His experiences led to him to question the current paradigm's conception of what 'reality' is composed of, and how we as humans have discovered new ideas and evolved our thinking. He points at the strange fact that Frances Crick - the discoverer of the double-helix structure of DNA - made his breakthrough in a sudden instant of realisation while under the influence of LSD.

In a wide-ranging interview in 'Sub Rosa' magazine (http://subrosa.dailygrail.com), a free PDF magazine designed to professional standards, Hancock decried the current laws regarding psychedelic drugs. "It's absurd and crazy", he said, "in countries which call themselves advanced and democratic, that there should exist medieval laws that will send people to prison for years, simply for exploring their own consciousness."Other parts of the book explore the alien abduction phenomenon in the spirit of Jacques Vallee's pioneering investigation in 'Passport to Magonia', as well as the idea that our DNA may carry a message designed by our creator - whoever that is.

View: Full Article | Source: Subrosa

I've heard this theory before and believe it holds much truth. Terrance McKenna also wrote some magnificent works on psychedelic drugs and the human mind. Psychedelics undoubtably open the mind and explore things in ways the unaltered mind cannot.

"We're not just high, we're evolving"

"woah dude, that was deep"

then they wrote an article about it.

HAHA

From one of my Favorite books ( Strange in a Strange Land ) it was said that only of few cultures have not used alcohol or drugs in thier society over the centuries. And they contributed NOTHING to the advancement or knowlege of mankind! I am not sure who the Author was referring to but I have observed in life that this is so . The moderate social drinkers and drug users are our musicians , poets , and painters of our world.

Thous who dont indulge think " inside the box " and are inflexible , intolerant , and just not that much fun. Sounds like Some teachers I used to have in school.

^ haha

i have this statitistics lecturer who has taken part in studies about professionals and substance abuse/use and one thing he found was that there were higher levels of use with educated persons.
This is quantitative data so im not going to make any conclusions becuase the data can be interpreted in a lot of ways.
so i will leave you to your own devices

But i agree what roger has said though.
that people who have never experimented
are kinda dull

for me the use of substances is'nt just recreational
its sort of spiritual and i feel that i have had an insight about what surrounds me
seeing things differently from my everyday eyes is interesting.
sometime you realize things that were right infront of you and probably never would have.