420lovethatCHRONIC

I dont know if anyone has heard about this, but i heard of it from a friend who said that it was his religion and so i thought id look it up and it sounds cool, but im wondering if its a real religion, and i wanted to know what peoples opinions are on it.

Cantheism, also Kantheism, is a modern term for religions based on the inherent goodness of the cannabis plant. Adherents are known as cantheists or cannabists. Cantheism neither endorses nor discriminates against any other church, faith, or system of belief.

Observance of Cantheist rites are beneficial but not mandatory. These include the regular consumption of cannabis, offering thanksgiving and blessing for cannabis when you partake, and sharing the holy smoke among the faithful. Other rituals, such as bonfire jumping during the summer solstice, are practiced among different communities.

Vicki

I know there have been discussions about this before. Mostly people wanting to join this religion because they thought it would mean they could smoke marijuana legally.

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SpiralArchitect

I guess I am a cannabist. I even do that last part, but it doesn't even have anything to do with my cannabis consumption, it's just fun.

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Herbal Meditation

I think many of the people who regularly enjoy weed, LSD and other psychotropics will usually create their little ceremonies and rituals and ways of intaking and enjoying that which is offered as a burnt offering 'pon the holy chalice.

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Logos

I accepted Cannabis as a sacrament long before becoming a Cannabis Sacrament Minister with the THC Ministry. It has clearly allowed me to explore my religious thoughts more fully.

Whatever you honestly believe is your religion, it has nothing to do with what is "real". Who defines what is a religion and what is not a religion? The government? That is crossing the line. The highest law of the land states that the "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;..." To me that includes deciding to use cannabis as a sacrament.

If you feel in your heart that your religion could benefit from contemplation under the influence of cannabis, then it is an honest part of your religion whatever that religion is, and the government can't do shit about it.

In reality however, it won't keep you out of jail, mostly because the Bill of Rights doesn't really mean anything anymore.

God knows your heart, and in the end, it is my belief that everything you do is between you and your creator. Unless I'm wrong, and we really do simply cease to exist, at which point, you have nothing to worry about because you don't exist, and nonexistent things are incapable of worrying about anything...

Peace and Love

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Buzzby

The government defines when the use of otherwise-illegal substances is legal for use as a religious sacrament.

Does it also include human sacrifice as a sacrament? If not, why not? The idea that you can break any law under cover of religion just doesn't fly.

You can't have it both ways!

The Bill of Rights offers no guarantee that a citizen can do whatever he wants as long as he calls it "religion".

From the standpoint of legalization efforts, the religion argument is the weakest and possibly the most counterproductive. If we want average Americans to approve of cannabis, we have to make ourselves look like them. They're going to look at people who deify an intoxicating plant as wackos who are inimical to their way of life.

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capella

I'm sorry, perhaps I am ignorant, but I fail to really understand the point of this Cantheism.

It just seems like a bunch of agnostics that smoke weed to me. I see just as much relevance in the idea of oh, say, "TI-83 Plusism", which would believe in the inherent goodness and godliness of the TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator but says nothing else about a belief system.

Let me again reiterate that I am meaning to insult NO ONE.

Not that I wouldn't think they were awesome, as I am sure Cantheists are awesome and if TI-83 Plusists exist I might be a big enough mathematics nerd to be their high priestess.

I'm a Buddhist myself, who does independent shamanic study, so I'm not an ungodly heathen or anything, although there are those that would disagree. I incorporate marijuana into my religious practice in order to enter more easily into meditations or trances, and into my daily life to ease arthritis pain. However, weed is not a "tenet" or even considered relevant in a huge way-- it is a medicine from the earth that I use to make my life easier and when I perhaps need to look at something from a different perspective.

Perhaps Cantheism deals with the idea that cannabis contains a concentrated "essence" of God or the Universe? I can't seem to find any clear information.

Feel free to call me out on being ignorant here...

--Capella

dirtbomb

I don't think that smoking brings me "closer to G-d". It does increase my perception and appreciation of things that make me grateful.
That said, I'm exceedingly thankful for MJ.

Logos

An illegal substance with ZERO logic or reason for said illegality. Why again is it illegal? Not one recorded death from overdose, no instances of domestic violence, even evidence that brings into question ones ability to drive safely. What gives the government the right to regulate something with almost no discernible negative effect upon society? I have been asking the why of cannabis' illegality for ten years now and have yet to receive one reasonable response. How is it the Catholic church was able to skirt alcohol prohibition and maintain wine as a sacrament? Ignorance and love of money have to be at the root of this particular evil. More harm comes to society from the laws than the plant.

If you can't see the fundamental difference between killing another being and consuming a consciousness altering plant, I honestly don't know what to tell you bro. Harm factor. I also don't condone the having sex with children under the guise of religion for what should be very obvious reasons.

I don't want it both ways, there is only one way I want it and that is completely legal. I want the government to be honest, but I know that ain't gonna happen, probably ever...

Excellent point, however, since no relative social harm comes from my considering cannabis a sacrament, it shouldn't really matter... Refer back to the Catholic use of wine during alcohol's failed stint as illegal. God's own prohibition failed. Prohibition laws strike a blow at the very foundations on which this nation was founded in that it attempts to control man's appetites through legislation making crimes out of things which are not crimes. --Honest Abe. Any law which can be broken without causing anyone harm is but a laughingstock --Spionoza

I'm not deifying a plant. I'm using it for conscious elevation, and perspective enhancement. God gave me the choice to use it or not, as God gave everyone all choice. I don't see where average ignorant Americans are being harmed by my considering cannabis as a sacrament and a personal choice. Ironically I view them as wackos who are inimical (wow, a word I don't know) to my way of life. A way of life which harms no one I might add again...

I have no desire to look or even act like my average countrymen. I'm as much an individual as anyone else, and all I want is to be judged by my actions towards others and not my looks or my choice of sacrament. Especially when I'm not hurting anyone by my choices.

I'm not using this argument as a reason for legalization. Ignorance keeps it illegal, and these laws are harming our nation far more than the plant ever could.

I can understand your argument from the point of churches dealing in massive quantities, and the media surrounding those instances. THat is detrimental to the legalization movement, and I wish they would stop it as much as you do. I don't deal in sacrament however and only discuss it with like minded individuals for the most part. I think that when you see me talking about my opinions you are actually seeing the stories about churches that were moving lots of cannabis. Maybe I'm wrong, but we have had this discussion and dealt with most of these arguments before. I'm guessing that my points will make as much difference this time as they have in the past, however, I'm entitled to my opinion and so are you.

Nothing but respect for your opinions bro, even if I don't agree with them. They are yours to have and hold until death do you part, as long as they don't harm anyone, I won't have a problem with them, and all I hope is you treat my opinions likewise

Peace and Love

Logos

I know this isn't really significant or anything, but there is a song, and I don't recall the artist, or even the title of the song, but the plot is that a cop finds some marijuana growing along the road, and says who owns this land, someone has to answer for this crime. Turns out the land belongs to God, so God goes before the judge and says I created this plant to ease your stressed and worried little minds. Of course the judge throws him in prison anyway...

I have read (on the internet so it must be true... ) that Cannabis is the botanical Christ.

All that doesn't really mean much, but to me cannabis helps me to understand the scriptures of not only Christ's teachings, but those of other religious traditions as well, it helps me to harmonize the varied religions of the world rather than to judge or condemn any religions which basically teach us to love one another. This is why I declare it to be my sacrament.

We each hold within us our own religion, and each of our religions are unique regardless of which canned branded religion we happen to claim. I happen to be striving to follow the pattern which Christ gave to humanity. That makes me a Christian, but it definitely doesn't lump me into the same camp as the average Christian who doesn't really know what Christ taught, but follows whatever their preacher tells them without question. In some Christian factions, it is even an excommunicateable offense to ask too many questions.

Christ said that you would know his followers in that they keep his commandments. He only really gave one that I'm aware of (other than reiterating the adhering to the previous ten) That we are to love each other as he had loved us. In my opinion, that pretty much covers the previous ten. If you are loving everyone, you definitely aren't breaking any of the others.

Peace and Love