Marsh Chapel Experiment
Encyclopedia
The Marsh Chapel Experiment (a.k.a. "the Good Friday Experiment") was run by Walter N. Pahnke, a graduate student in theology at Harvard Divinity School
, under the supervision of Timothy Leary
and the Harvard Psilocybin Project
. The goal was to see if in religiously predisposed subjects, psilocybin
(the active principle in psilocybin mushrooms) would act as reliable entheogen
. The experiment was conducted on Good Friday
, 1962 at Boston University
's Marsh Chapel. Prior to the Good Friday service, graduate degree divinity student volunteers from the Boston
area were randomly divided into two groups. In a double-blind
experiment, half of the students received psilocybin
, while a control group received a large dose of niacin
. Niacin produces clear physiological changes and thus was used as a psychoactive placebo
. In at least some cases, those who received the niacin initially believed they had received the psychoactive drug.
However, the feeling of face flushing (turning red, feeling hot and tingly) produced by niacin
subsided over the first hour or so. Meanwhile, the effects of the psilocybin intensified over the first few hours. Almost all of the members of the experimental group reported experiencing profound religious experiences, providing empirical support for the notion that psychedelic
drugs can facilitate religious experiences.
In 2006, a more rigorously controlled version of this experiment was conducted at Johns Hopkins University
by Roland R. Griffiths, Ph.D., yielding very similar results.
Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School is one of the constituent schools of Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States. The School's mission is to train and educate its students either in the academic study of religion, or for the practice of a religious ministry or other public...
, under the supervision of Timothy Leary
Timothy Leary
Timothy Francis Leary was an American psychologist and writer, known for his advocacy of psychedelic drugs. During a time when drugs like LSD and psilocybin were legal, Leary conducted experiments at Harvard University under the Harvard Psilocybin Project, resulting in the Concord Prison...
and the Harvard Psilocybin Project
Harvard Psilocybin Project
The Harvard Psilocybin Project was a series of experiments in psychology conducted by Dr. Timothy Leary and Dr. Richard Alpert. The founding board of the project consisted of Leary, Aldous Huxley, John Spiegel , Leary's superior at Harvard University David McClelland, Frank Barron, Ralph Metzner,...
. The goal was to see if in religiously predisposed subjects, psilocybin
Psilocybin
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic prodrug, with mind-altering effects similar to those of LSD and mescaline, after it is converted to psilocin. The effects can include altered thinking processes, perceptual distortions, an altered sense of time, and spiritual experiences, as well as...
(the active principle in psilocybin mushrooms) would act as reliable entheogen
Entheogen
An entheogen , in the strict sense, is a psychoactive substance used in a religious, shamanic, or spiritual context. Historically, entheogens were mostly derived from plant sources and have been used in a variety of traditional religious contexts...
. The experiment was conducted on Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
, 1962 at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
's Marsh Chapel. Prior to the Good Friday service, graduate degree divinity student volunteers from the Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
area were randomly divided into two groups. In a double-blind
Double-blind
A blind or blinded experiment is a scientific experiment where some of the people involved are prevented from knowing certain information that might lead to conscious or subconscious bias on their part, invalidating the results....
experiment, half of the students received psilocybin
Psilocybin
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic prodrug, with mind-altering effects similar to those of LSD and mescaline, after it is converted to psilocin. The effects can include altered thinking processes, perceptual distortions, an altered sense of time, and spiritual experiences, as well as...
, while a control group received a large dose of niacin
Niacin
"Niacin" redirects here. For the neo-fusion band, see Niacin .Niacin is an organic compound with the formula and, depending on the definition used, one of the forty to eighty essential human nutrients.Niacin is one of five vitamins associated with a pandemic deficiency disease: niacin deficiency...
. Niacin produces clear physiological changes and thus was used as a psychoactive placebo
Placebo
A placebo is a simulated or otherwise medically ineffectual treatment for a disease or other medical condition intended to deceive the recipient...
. In at least some cases, those who received the niacin initially believed they had received the psychoactive drug.
However, the feeling of face flushing (turning red, feeling hot and tingly) produced by niacin
Niacin
"Niacin" redirects here. For the neo-fusion band, see Niacin .Niacin is an organic compound with the formula and, depending on the definition used, one of the forty to eighty essential human nutrients.Niacin is one of five vitamins associated with a pandemic deficiency disease: niacin deficiency...
subsided over the first hour or so. Meanwhile, the effects of the psilocybin intensified over the first few hours. Almost all of the members of the experimental group reported experiencing profound religious experiences, providing empirical support for the notion that psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
drugs can facilitate religious experiences.
In 2006, a more rigorously controlled version of this experiment was conducted at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
by Roland R. Griffiths, Ph.D., yielding very similar results.
External links
- Erowid's Pahnke Vault Contains copious information and documentation, including Pahnke's doctoral dissertation "Drugs and Mysticism"
- A brief video describing the immediate and long term effects of the Marsh Chapel Experiment on Reverend Randall Laakko
- Media reports of 2006 Johns Hopkins Research including ABC NewsABC NewsABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
video, The Wall Street JournalThe Wall Street JournalThe Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
, The Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, and The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization... - A newspaper article describing the experiment in more detail, with a focus on the experiment's immediate and long term effects on Reverend Mike Young
- http://www.flurl.com/item/Marsh_Chapel_Experiment_u_163626
- "Entheogens—Sacramentals or Sacrilege?" syllabus for a university course
- Johns Hopkins Medicine press release (2006)