Psychedelic Churches and the Tyranny of "Religion"

Religious freedom laws are intended to support religious practitioners but often reinforce Christian-influenced models of religiosity. This particularly affects practitioners in the psychedelic renaissance, who seek legal protection but who also must conform to court-defined models of religiosity. Attorneys guide practitioners in replicating these frameworks, pressuring them to adapt Indigenous practices. This paper examines the arbitrary nature of these laws and their impact on practitioners. It compares U.S. religious freedom laws with South American regulations that protect psychoactive substance use outside religious paradigms. Ethnographic research contrasts Indigenous ayahuasca use in Peru with U.S. church-based models, revealing how American laws shape religious expression. Ultimately, these laws compel practitioners to adjust to Christian-centric frameworks, perpetuating neocolonial influences under the guise of religious freedom.