[We are intrigued by the idea that religion owes its origin to highly-convincing drugs like those found in Acacia. It’s hard not to make the connection once you read that the burning bush was supposed to be an Acacia, well known for containing DMT. Peganum harmala is Syrian rue. Syrian rue is a plant which grows in the Middle East and has long been used (thousands of years) for multiple purposes, including as a food, a red dye and as an incense.]
‘Benny Shanon, professor of cognitive psychology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem wrote a paper, “Biblical Entheogens: a Speculative Hypothesis”, in the philosophy journal Time and Mind, which suggests Moses may have been under the influence of a hallucinogenic substance when he witnessed the burning bush. In the abstract, Shanon states that entheogens found in arid regions of the Sinai peninsula and in the south of Israel (i.e. Negev) were commonly used for religious purposes by the Israelites though he says “I have no direct proof of this interpretation,” and such proof cannot be expected.” The plants he suggests may have caused the vision are Peganum harmala, used by the Bedouin people in present times but not identified with any plant mentioned in the Bible, and acacia, mentioned frequently in the Bible, and also used in traditional Bedouin and Arab medicine. The effects of certain species of acacia are comparable to the effects of ayahuasca, which can cause users to “see music”.’
Pasted from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_Bush>