In a provocative interview on the opinion podcast "Interesting Times," Christian Angermayer, the founder of the Enhanced Games, argued that psychedelic drugs can enable direct communication with the divine. Speaking with New York Times columnist Ross Douthat, Angermayer described his personal experiences with substances like magic mushrooms as encounters with God.
"It's almost impossible to be a true atheist after taking psychedelics," Angermayer said. "Everyone comes out with deep, spiritual experiences. Some meet entities. I have met God every single time."
He acknowledged the difficulty of describing such experiences: "God is so much bigger than our comprehension. But on psychedelics, you enter a state of consciousness that allows you to grasp the nature of the divine and communicate with it."
When Douthat pressed him on the potential dangers — whether one might encounter a misleading or malevolent entity — Angermayer admitted he thinks about that a great deal. However, he expressed confidence that a sincere seeker will find only goodness. "I believe that God is good. If you bring a sincere problem to God on psychedelics, he, she, or it will always answer."
Angermayer framed psychedelics as a gift from God, intended for spiritual discovery when one is ready. The interview touched on the broader movement to destigmatize and safely integrate mind-altering drugs into modern life, with Angermayer advocating for their controlled use as part of a full human experience.