{"product_id":"mushrooms-myth-and-mithras-the-drug-cult-that-civilized-europe-9780872864702","title":"Mushrooms, Myth and Mithras: The Drug Cult that Civilized Europe","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMushrooms, Myth and Mithras: The Drug Cult that Civilized Europe\u003c\/strong\u003e by Ruck, Carl. paperback edition. ISBN: 9780872864702.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis illustrated book traces the history of an unlikely force in the shaping of Western civilization: the use of psychedelic mushrooms, namely by a secret society called the cult of Mithras. Nero was the first emperor to be initiated by the group’s “magical dinners,” and most of his successors embraced the ritual as a source of spiritual transcendence. The cult was officially banned after the Conversion, but aspects of their rituals were assimilated or co-opted by Christianity, and the brotherhoods persist today as secret societies such as the Freemasons. This is a fascinating exploration of a powerful force kept behind the scenes for thousands of years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"City Lights Publishers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45212568584245,"sku":"ByrdShop_0872864707","price":349.31,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780872864702_da49b948-ccac-4286-8c41-9327f66ab9fe.jpg?v=1779902361","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/mushrooms-myth-and-mithras-the-drug-cult-that-civilized-europe-9780872864702","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}