Carl Ruck is best known for his work along with other scholars in mythology and religion on the sacred role of entheogens, or psychoactive plants that induce an altered state of consciousness, as used in religious or shamanistic rituals. His focus has been on the use of entheogens in classical western culture, as well as their historical influence on modern western religions. He currently teaches a mythology class at Boston University that presents this theory in depth.
The book The Road to Eleusis: Unveiling the Secret of the Mysteries, co-authored by Ruck with Albert Hofmann and R. Gordon Wasson, makes a case that the psycho-active ingredient in the secret kykeion potion used in the Eleusinian mysteries was most likely the ergotism causing fungus Claviceps purpurea. Furthermore the book introduced for the first time the term "entheogen" as an alternative for terms such as "psychedelic", "hallucinogen" and "drug" that can be misleading in certain contexts.
The Apples of Apollo: Pagan and Christian Mysteries of the Eucharist (2001) explores the role that entheogens in general, and Amanita muscaria in particular, played in Greek and biblical mythology and later on in Renaissance painting, most notably in the Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grünewald.
In January 2003 Ruck came to public attention commenting on a book by the cannabis activist Chris Bennett. He was quoted in The Guardian,[1] and then wrote an article for The Sunday Times.[2] His later work explored entheogenic connections to the Roman cult of Mithras.
Bibliography
Entheogens, Myth, and Human Consciousness, with Mark Alwin Hoffman (2013, ISBN1-57951-141-4)
The Effluents of Deity: Alchemy and Psychoactive Sacraments in Medieval and Renaissance Art, with Mark Alwin Hoffman (2012, ISBN1-61163-041-X)
Mushrooms, Myth and Mithras: The Drug Cult that Civilized Europe, with Mark Alwin Hoffman and Jose Alfredo Gonzalez Celdran (2009, ISBN0-87286-470-7)
The Hidden World: Survival of Pagan Shamanic Themes in European Fairytales, with Blaise Daniel Staples, José Alfredo González Celdrán and Mark Alwin Hoffman (2007, ISBN1-59460-144-5)
Ancient Greek: A New Approach (1972, 2nd ed. 1979)
The Road to Eleusis: Unveiling the Secret of the Mysteries, with R. Gordon Wasson, Albert Hofmann and Blaise Daniel Staples (1978, ISBN978-1-55643-752-6)
Pindar: Selected Odes (1967)
The List of Victors in Comedies at the Dionysia (1967)
Further reading
Muraresku, Brian C. The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion with No Name. Macmillan USA. 2020. ISBN978-1-250-20714-2
References
^The Guardian The Guardian 6 Jan 2003 6 January 2003 "There can be little doubt about a role for cannabis in Judaic religion," Carl Ruck, professor of classical mythology at Boston University said. Referring to the existence of cannabis in anointing oils used in ceremonies, he added: "Obviously the easy availability and long-established tradition of cannabis in early Judaism _ would inevitably have included it in the [Christian] mixtures."
^“Was There a Whiff of Cannabis about Jesus?” The Sunday Times, January 12, 2003 July 2, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
External links
Summary of The Apples of Apollo
Heretical Visionary Sacraments Amongst the Ecclesiastical Elite and Melusina of Plaincourault - Two video lectures by Carl Ruck in RealVideo format.
Carl explains what it is about us that craves altered states on The Filter Podcast.
January 20, 2023
carl, ruck, german, athlete, carl, ruck, field, hockey, born, december, 1935, bridgeport, connecticut, professor, classical, studies, department, boston, university, received, yale, university, university, michigan, harvard, university, lives, hull, massachuse. For the German athlete see Carl Ruck field hockey Carl A P Ruck born December 8 1935 Bridgeport Connecticut is a professor in the Classical Studies department at Boston University He received his B A at Yale University his M A at the University of Michigan and a Ph D at Harvard University He lives in Hull Massachusetts Contents 1 Entheogen theory 2 Bibliography 3 Further reading 4 References 5 External linksEntheogen theory EditCarl Ruck is best known for his work along with other scholars in mythology and religion on the sacred role of entheogens or psychoactive plants that induce an altered state of consciousness as used in religious or shamanistic rituals His focus has been on the use of entheogens in classical western culture as well as their historical influence on modern western religions He currently teaches a mythology class at Boston University that presents this theory in depth The book The Road to Eleusis Unveiling the Secret of the Mysteries co authored by Ruck with Albert Hofmann and R Gordon Wasson makes a case that the psycho active ingredient in the secret kykeion potion used in the Eleusinian mysteries was most likely the ergotism causing fungus Claviceps purpurea Furthermore the book introduced for the first time the term entheogen as an alternative for terms such as psychedelic hallucinogen and drug that can be misleading in certain contexts The Apples of Apollo Pagan and Christian Mysteries of the Eucharist 2001 explores the role that entheogens in general and Amanita muscaria in particular played in Greek and biblical mythology and later on in Renaissance painting most notably in the Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grunewald In January 2003 Ruck came to public attention commenting on a book by the cannabis activist Chris Bennett He was quoted in The Guardian 1 and then wrote an article for The Sunday Times 2 His later work explored entheogenic connections to the Roman cult of Mithras Bibliography EditEntheogens Myth and Human Consciousness with Mark Alwin Hoffman 2013 ISBN 1 57951 141 4 The Effluents of Deity Alchemy and Psychoactive Sacraments in Medieval and Renaissance Art with Mark Alwin Hoffman 2012 ISBN 1 61163 041 X Mushrooms Myth and Mithras The Drug Cult that Civilized Europe with Mark Alwin Hoffman and Jose Alfredo Gonzalez Celdran 2009 ISBN 0 87286 470 7 The Hidden World Survival of Pagan Shamanic Themes in European Fairytales with Blaise Daniel Staples Jose Alfredo Gonzalez Celdran and Mark Alwin Hoffman 2007 ISBN 1 59460 144 5 Sacred Mushrooms of the Goddess Secrets of Eleusis 2006 ISBN 978 1 57951 030 5 The Apples of Apollo Pagan and Christian Mysteries of the Eucharist with Clark Heinrich and Blaise Daniel Staples 2000 ISBN 0 89089 924 X Intensive Latin First Year and Review 1997 The World of Classical Myth Gods and Goddesses Heroines and Heroes with Blaise Daniel Staples 1994 ISBN 0 89089 575 9 Persephone s Quest Entheogens and the Origins of Religion with R Gordon Wasson Stella Kramrisch and Jonathan Ott 1988 Latin A Concise Structural Course 1987 Ancient Greek A New Approach 1972 2nd ed 1979 The Road to Eleusis Unveiling the Secret of the Mysteries with R Gordon Wasson Albert Hofmann and Blaise Daniel Staples 1978 ISBN 978 1 55643 752 6 Pindar Selected Odes 1967 The List of Victors in Comedies at the Dionysia 1967 Further reading EditMuraresku Brian C The Immortality Key The Secret History of the Religion with No Name Macmillan USA 2020 ISBN 978 1 250 20714 2References Edit The Guardian The Guardian 6 Jan 2003 6 January 2003 There can be little doubt about a role for cannabis in Judaic religion Carl Ruck professor of classical mythology at Boston University said Referring to the existence of cannabis in anointing oils used in ceremonies he added Obviously the easy availability and long established tradition of cannabis in early Judaism would inevitably have included it in the Christian mixtures Was There a Whiff of Cannabis about Jesus The Sunday Times January 12 2003 Archived July 2 2014 at the Wayback Machine External links EditPage for Carl Ruck at BU s Classics Department including a list of publications Summary of The Apples of Apollo Heretical Visionary Sacraments Amongst the Ecclesiastical Elite and Melusina of Plaincourault Two video lectures by Carl Ruck in RealVideo format Carl explains what it is about us that craves altered states on The Filter Podcast Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Carl A P Ruck amp oldid 1117553917, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
