Spirituality

United Methodist resolution regarding the war on drugs

To that end, we offer the following resolution as an appeal to end the so-called “War on Drugs.” Whereas: The public policy of prohibition of certain narcotics and psychoactive substances, sometimes called the “War on Drugs,” has failed to achieve the goal of eliminating, or even reducing, substance abuse and… Whereas: There have been a…

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Spirituality

Profits have become hospital focus

“Shouldn’t a community hospital’s $171 million profit be used to help the people of Lane County?” So not-for-profit Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend is the ninth-most profitable hospital in the United States (“Sacred Heart at RiverBend is No. 9 on profitability list,” May 3). Isn’t that an oxymoron? I’m a retired oral and maxillofacial…

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Spirituality

Why do we need a harm reduction Decade?

Right now, ahead of the 2016 UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on drugs, governments and international organizations are discussing the future direction of drug policy which will determine policies of countries for the next ten years. ​We are asking you to stand in solidarity with people who use drugs, their families and communities by…

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Spirituality

The Religion That Has No Name: The Persecution of Psychedelic Spirituality

“One of the implications of the continued growth of psychedelic festival culture is that the community of psychedelic users is becoming, with the help of the internet, more organised and more cohesive”. Furthermore, now this ‘spiritual movement’ has community meeting spaces, with their own rituals, traditions, codes and conventions. At these gatherings there is a…

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Spirituality

Tripping with Buddha

The main issue here is: Does psychedelic use lead to harming others?  Does it lead to carelessness and heedlessness? Do we start disrespecting others through having altered our mind in this way? So if we do use psychedelics, this would be the bottom line: Is it harmful to others or harmful to ourselves? From the…

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