Laura Smith
In 1970, John Marco Allegro, a British archaeologist and philologist, published a book titled The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross, in which he put forward the idea that Jesus Christ was not a man but a hallucinogenic mushroom. Allegro's thesis was that early Christianity was created by an ancient fertility cult that used psychoactive mushrooms in their practices and rituals. He argued that the New Testament was written by members of this cult as a code for their mystical beliefs and that Jesus was a metaphor for the mushroom and its influences. Allegro's ideas were widely ridiculed and criticised by religious scholars and theologians, and some even accused him of fabricating his thesis as a hoax or revenge against Christian critics. Despite the controversy, Allegro's work has gained renewed interest in recent years, with some scholars calling for a re-evaluation of his theories.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Publication | The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross |
| Author | John Marco Allegro |
| Year | 1970 |
| Allegro's claim | Jesus was a hallucinogenic mushroom, not a man |
| Type of mushroom | Amanita muscaria, also known as Fly agaric |
| Effects of the mushroom | Visual and auditory hallucinations, a feeling of certainty and clarity similar to a religious experience |
| Evidence | Etymology, interpretation of the Bible, Dead Sea Scrolls, fresco at Plaincourault Chapel in France |
| Criticism | Poor arguments, academically unsound, bizarre, an elaborate prank, hoax, psychedelic ravings of a hippie cultist |
| Support | Some scholars and authors called for the theories to be re-evaluated |
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What You'll Learn
- John M. Allegro's 1970 book, *The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross*
- Allegro's interpretation of Jesus as a fly agaric mushroom
- The book's reception and the criticism it received
- Allegro's academic background and his interest in hallucinogenic mushrooms
- The influence of early Christian movements and fertility cults on Allegro's thesis
John M. Allegro's 1970 book, *The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross*
Allegro's thesis was based on his interpretation of the Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls, where he identified words that seemed out of place, dismissing the hypothesis that they were people's names and instead arguing for a connection to hallucinogenic mushrooms. For example, he speculated that the word "Christian" comes from a Sumerian root word meaning "smeared with semen," reflecting the ribald, sexual nature of ancient mushroom cults.
The book caused a media frenzy upon its release, with Allegro's theories being widely ridiculed and denounced by scholars, religious leaders, and the public. Critics described the work as bizarre, academically unsound, and an elaborate hoax. The controversy led to Allegro's resignation from his university position and his publisher issuing an apology. Despite this initial reaction, Allegro's work has gained renewed interest in recent years, with some scholars calling for a re-evaluation of his theories.
In 2009, a 40th-anniversary edition of the book was reprinted with a 30-page addendum by Prof. Carl A. P. Ruck of Boston University, providing a more articulate exposition of Allegro's insights into early Christianity and his interpretations of the Dead Sea Scrolls. While Allegro's claims may seem unconventional, they contribute to ongoing debates about the "real story" of Jesus and the origins of Christianity, inviting a re-examination of the role of hallucinogenic substances in religious experiences and practices.
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Allegro's interpretation of Jesus as a fly agaric mushroom
John Marco Allegro, a British archaeologist and biblical scholar, published "The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross" in 1970. In the book, Allegro put forward the theory that Jesus Christ was a metaphor and did not exist as a historical figure. Instead, Allegro argued that Jesus was a fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria), which is known for its hallucinogenic properties.
One of Allegro's key pieces of evidence for this theory is the fresco at the Plaincourault Chapel in France. Allegro interpreted the fresco as depicting a eucharistic ritual involving the ingestion of Amanita muscaria mushrooms. He also pointed to the Catholic ritual of the Eucharist, where the "body of Christ" is consumed, as further support for his theory.
Allegro's interpretation of Jesus as a mushroom was met with widespread criticism and ridicule from religious scholars, the media, and the general public. His book was described as "bizarre", "difficult to follow", and "academically unsound". Some critics even suggested that Allegro's work was a hoax or an elaborate prank intended to ridicule Christian scholars.
Despite the negative reception, Allegro's work has gained a renewed interest in recent years, with some scholars calling for a re-evaluation of his theories. While his interpretations may seem controversial, they highlight the ongoing debate and exploration of the "real story" of Jesus beyond the biblical narrative.
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The book's reception and the criticism it received
John M. Allegro's book, "The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross", received a lot of criticism from religious scholars and people with religious sensibilities. The book's central thesis was that Jesus Christ was not a man but a hallucinogenic mushroom, Amanita muscaria, and that the New Testament was written by a secret Second Temple Jewish psychoactive mushroom cult. Allegro argued that the mushroom and its powers were a secret and had to be written down in code, hidden in mythical stories. He also speculated that the word "Christian" comes from a Sumerian root word meaning "smeared with semen".
The book was called "one of the strangest books ever published on the subject of religion and pharmacology" and was described as "the psychedelic ravings of a hippie cultist", "an outlandish hoax", and "a Semitic philologist's erotic nightmare". Scholars publicly denounced the book, and members of the clergy rebuked Allegro. His publisher, Hodder and Stoughton, issued a public apology and quietly let the book go out of print. Allegro's academic mentor also rejected his ideas. The book marked the end of Allegro's mainstream career, and he was forced to resign from his university position.
However, some have argued that Allegro's theories are not that much more ridiculous than anything else in the Bible, such as a man living in the stomach of a giant fish for days or a talking snake. Some have also pointed to the powerful hallucinogenic effects of the Amanita muscaria mushroom, which can create a feeling of certainty and clarity similar to a religious experience. In addition, some studies of Allegro's work have led to calls for his theories to be re-evaluated by the mainstream. In 2009, "The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross" was reprinted in a 40th-anniversary edition with a 30-page addendum by Prof. Carl A. P. Ruck of Boston University.
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Allegro's academic background and his interest in hallucinogenic mushrooms
John Marco Allegro (1923-1988) was an English archaeologist, Dead Sea Scrolls scholar, and a lecturer in Semitic Philology. He served in the Royal Navy during World War II and began training for the Methodist ministry but later shifted to Oriental Studies, earning degrees from Manchester and Oxford. Allegro was a renowned and beloved scholar, popular for his work on the Dead Sea Scrolls, which he popularised through his books and radio broadcasts. He was also the editor of some of the most famous and controversial scrolls, the pesharim.
Allegro's later works, including "The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross", published in 1970, brought him both fame and notoriety and complicated his career. The book argues that Christianity and other religions originated from ancient fertility cults involving rituals with psychoactive mushrooms, claiming that Jesus was a mythological figure created under the influence of psychoactive substances. Allegro's theory has been widely criticised and ridiculed by scholars and led to his academic ostracism. His work has been described as "bizarre", "difficult to follow", and "academically unsound". Allegro's publisher later apologised for issuing the book, and Allegro was forced to resign his academic position.
Allegro's interest in hallucinogenic mushrooms stemmed from his interpretation of the Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls. He speculated that the word "Christian" comes from a Sumerian root word meaning "smeared with semen", and that the mushroom cults of ancient times were sexual in nature. He also interpreted the fresco at Plaincourault Chapel in France as depicting a eucharistic ritual ingestion of Amanita muscaria.
Allegro's theory about Jesus and hallucinogenic mushrooms has been the subject of much debate and controversy. Some have criticised his work as academically unsound, while others have called for his theories to be re-evaluated by the mainstream. Despite the criticism he received, Allegro remains a significant figure in the study of the Dead Sea Scrolls and early Christianity, and his work continues to spark discussions and intrigue.
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The influence of early Christian movements and fertility cults on Allegro's thesis
John Marco Allegro's 1970 book, *The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross*, put forward the idea that Jesus was a mythological figure created under the influence of psychoactive mushroom extracts. Allegro was a British archaeologist and philologist with expertise in comparative Semitic languages. He was one of a handful of individuals allowed to study the original Dead Sea Scrolls.
Allegro's thesis was influenced by his interpretation of early Christian movements and fertility cults. He believed that the roots of Christianity lay in fertility cults and their practices, such as ingesting visionary plants to perceive the mind of God. He interpreted the fresco of the Plaincourault Chapel in France as an accurate depiction of the eucharistic ritual ingestion of the fly agaric mushroom (*Amanita muscaria*), a powerful hallucinogen found throughout the Northern Hemisphere.
Allegro's interpretation of early Christian movements was heavily influenced by his study of the Dead Sea Scrolls. He suggested that the scrolls proved that a historical Jesus never existed. Allegro's work has been criticised for relying on texts that may not exist in the form he cited them. Some scholars have described his interpretations as poor and academically unsound, and his work has been labelled bizarre and difficult to follow.
Despite the criticism and ridicule Allegro's work received, some scholars and authors have called for his theories to be re-evaluated. Allegro's thesis has been described as boldly inventive, and his insights into early Christianity and the Dead Sea Scrolls have been further explored in subsequent publications.
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Frequently asked questions
John Marco Allegro was a British archaeologist and philologist who published "The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross" in 1970.
Allegro argued that Jesus was not a living man but a hallucinogenic mushroom, specifically, the fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria). He claimed that early Christianity was created by a cult that recorded their shamanistic practices through the texts of the New Testament.
Allegro used etymology to tease out hidden meanings in the Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls. For example, he speculated that the word "Christian" comes from a Sumerian root word meaning "smeared with semen".
Allegro's theory was widely ridiculed and scorned by religious scholars and people with religious sensibilities. Critics described his book as "bizarre", "difficult to follow", and "academically unsound". His publisher issued an apology, and Allegro eventually resigned from his university position.
