Can psychedelics release fears of physical death?

[gengar]

Can psychedelic use acutely or permanently release fears of death and other fears?

In other words, can you use it to sever karmic chains that are keeping you shackled to certain earthly concerns?

[Leo Gura]

Yes, this is scientifically demonstrated.

But don't expect it to be 100%.

[Opulence]

I don't have fears of physical death. Why would I need psychedelics then?

[Leo Gura]

4 minutes ago, Opulence said:

I don't have fears of physical death. Why would I need psychedelics then?

Why would you limit Consciousness to fear of death?

[gengar]

Just now, Leo Gura said:

Yes, this is scientifically demonstrated.

But don't expect it to be 100%.

What do you mean with "scientifically"? Are you talking about actual published scientific papers?

I found this one which I'm reading now: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12152-024-09564-3

But maybe you have some study in your mind that I missed.

Look at the abstract of the above paper:

"Increasing evidence suggests that psychedelic experiences, undergone in controlled conditions, can have various durable psychological benefits. One such benefit is reductions in fear of death, which have been attested in both psychiatric patients and healthy people. This paper addresses the question: how, exactly, do psychedelic experiences reduce fear of death? It argues, against some prominent proposals, that they do so mainly by promoting non-physicalist metaphysical beliefs. This conclusion has implications for two broader debates: one about the mechanisms of psychedelic therapy, and one about the potential non-medical uses of psychedelics for the alleviation of existential angst in psychiatrically healthy people. On the first count, the paper argues that the role of metaphysical belief change in fear of death supports the “Relaxed Beliefs Under Psychedelics” (REBUS) model of psychedelic therapy over alternative accounts. On the second count, the paper argues that the role of metaphysical belief change undermines the proposed use of psychedelics in the “neuroexistentialist” project of naturalizing spirituality. The best available evidence suggests that when psychedelic experiences reduce existential angst and restore a sense of meaning in life, they do so primarily by persuading people of the falsity of a broadly naturalistic worldview, and thus do not help reconcile people to the truth of such a worldview." 
 

Is this paper unironically making the claim in the last sentence ("... the truth of such a worldview") that the naturalist worldview is rightfully assumed to be true, or am I reading it wrong? If so I'm flabbergasted by the unscientific arrogance. Holy shit!
 

[gengar]

10 minutes ago, Opulence said:

I don't have fears of physical death. Why would I need psychedelics then?

How is that possible, are you really some freak or just boasting?

[Opulence]

11 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

Why would you limit Consciousness to fear of death?

You're right. I want psychedelics to experience joy, peace, and transcendence. Fear of death is not among them.

 

[Opulence]

6 minutes ago, gengar said:

How is that possible, are you really some freak or just boasting?

You can call me a freak but there's a lot of people I have known who don't fear of death. Death is as natural as sleeping.

 

[gengar]

1 minute ago, Opulence said:

You can call me a freak but there's a lot of people I have known who don't fear of death. Death is as natural as sleeping.

 

I don't mean it as a pejorative, just in the sense that it's very rare or "unnatural".

If someone came into your room right now with a gun pointed at you would you not fear?

[Leo Gura]

14 minutes ago, gengar said:

What do you mean with "scientifically"? Are you talking about actual published scientific papers?

Yes. They did studies with mushrooms which showed that mushrooms reduce fear of death in terminal people.

[Opulence]

1 minute ago, gengar said:

I don't mean it as a pejorative, just in the sense that it's very rare or "unnatural".

If someone came into your room right now with a gun pointed at you would you not fear?

No. But that doesn't mean I want to die. I simply don't have fear. Although I would want to defend myself because living is still fun.

 

[Opulence]

Just now, Leo Gura said:

Yes. They did studies with mushrooms which showed that mushrooms reduce fear of death in terminal people.

Good. 

[gengar]

1 minute ago, Opulence said:

No. But that doesn't mean I want to die. I simply don't have fear. Although I would want to defend myself because living is still fun.

 

Interesting

[Leo Gura]

Speaking from my own experience, I kinda look forward to death nowadays.

Don't misunderstand that.

Edited 5 minutes ago by Leo Gura