New Book Connects Religionto Psychoactive Drugs and Astronomy

Portola Valley, Calif.

What is the role of psychoactive drugs like LSD and opium in shaping history? What is the connection between such drugs and the development of religion? What about astronomy? How do stars fit in with the histories of both religion and drugs? In her latest book, "Plants, Stars, and the Origins of Religion", Mary Kilbourne Matossian hypothesizes that plants-the source of psychoactive drugs-and stars-the source of feelings of awe-combined to shape the development of religion in Europe and the Middle East.

"Plants, Stars, and the Origins of Religion" interprets the New Testament through the trifocal lens of astronomy, mycology and botany, tracing the history of four key psychoactive drugs alongside the history of astronomical beliefs. Based on compelling evidence, "Plants, Stars, and the Origins of Religion" proposes that the Phaistos Disk, an enigmatic artifact from the Greek island of Crete, is the connection between ancient astronomy, the cultivation of psychoactive plants and the development of religion.

"Plants, Stars, and the Origins of Religion" is an informative work that proposes a new answer to the age-old question, "What are the origins of religion?" A lucid, highly readable chronicle of the histories of astronomy, psychoactive drugs and religion, "Plants, Stars, and the Origins of Religion" is for anyone who has wondered about the origins of religion from a scientific point of view.

"Plants, Stars, and the Origins of Religion" is available through Amazon and from the author at http://www.Plants-Stars-Religion.com.

About the Author

Mary Kilbourne Matossian, Ph.D., received degrees from Stanford University and the American University of Beirut (Lebanon). She is a retired history professor who taught courses in the history of religion, world history, biology, psychology, philosophy, history of ideas and cultural anthropology at the University of Maryland for over 30 years. "Plants, Stars, and the Origins of Religion" is her fifth book.

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