Religion: Did psychedelic's over embellish what actually happened?

[EricPH]

I've been trying to get a better handle on history and it seems to me that if Constantine had a vision that converted him,

The Gospels are about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Constantine is only one in a chain of people throughout history; who have helped pass the Gospels on.

then one can speculate on what caused it, and lead pipes would seem to be a fair candidate., since hallucinations is among the symptoms.

Lead pipes have been used up to the 1960's in the UK, is our history cantered on lead pipe hallucination? Did lead pipe influence our music up to the 60's? My guess is that the 60's rockers had to up their hallucinations with some proper hard core drugs.

[Sy Borg]

I've been trying to get a better handle on history and it seems to me that if Constantine had a vision that converted him,

The Gospels are about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Constantine is only one in a chain of people throughout history; who have helped pass the Gospels on.

then one can speculate on what caused it, and lead pipes would seem to be a fair candidate., since hallucinations is among the symptoms.

Lead pipes have been used up to the 1960's in the UK, is our history cantered on lead pipe hallucination? Did lead pipe influence our music up to the 60's? My guess is that the 60's rockers had to up their hallucinations with some proper hard core drugs.

The lead use was not in the same ballpark as in Rome.

https://www.science.org/content/article ... cient-rome

The team's thousand-year historical record included noticeable changes in lead pollution from Rome following major events such as the Gothic Wars in 535 C.E., Byzantine repairs to abandoned Roman aqueducts in 554 C.E., and the mid-9th century Arab sack of Rome. The team says this timeline can support historians studying the changing character of Rome and Portus during the turbulent post-empire years.

[EricPH]

From your link it suggests lead may have been responsible for gout, but does not mention hallucinations.

https://www.science.org/content/article ... cient-rome

While the lead contamination was measureable, the team says the levels were unlikely high enough to be harmful, ruling out tap water as a major culprit in Rome's demise.

Hallucinations or not, Constantine was only one man in the long history of Christianity, he did not have that much influence.

[Sy Borg]

From your link it suggests lead may have been responsible for gout, but does not mention hallucinations.

https://www.science.org/content/article ... cient-rome

While the lead contamination was measureable, the team says the levels were unlikely high enough to be harmful, ruling out tap water as a major culprit in Rome's demise.

Hallucinations or not, Constantine was only one man in the long history of Christianity, he did not have that much influence.

https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/ ... poisoning/

Lead overexposure may cause children to be less playful, clumsier, irritable, and sluggish (lethargic). In some cases, symptoms include headaches, vomiting, abdominal pain, lack of appetite (anorexia), constipation, slurred speech (dysarthria), changes in kidney function, unusually high amounts of protein in the blood (hyperproteinemia), and unusually pale skin (pallor) resulting from a low level of iron in the red blood cells (anemia). Neurological symptoms associated with lead overexposure include an impaired ability to coordinate voluntary movements (ataxia), brain damage (encephalopathy), seizures, convulsions, swelling of the optic nerve (papilledema), and/or impaired consciousness. Some affected children experience learning or behavioral problems such as mental retardation and selective deficits in language, cognitive function, balance, behavior, and school performance. In some cases, symptoms may be life-threatening.

In adults, overexposure to lead may cause high blood pressure and damage to the reproductive organs. Additional symptoms may include fever, headaches, fatigue, sluggishness (letheragy), vomiting, loss of appetite (anorexia), abdominal pain, constipation, joint pain, loss of recently acquired skills, incoordination, listlessness, difficulty sleeping (insomnia), irritability, altered consciousness, hallucinations, and/or seizures. In addition, affected individuals may experience low levels of iron in the red blood cells (anemia), peripheral neuropathy, and, in some cases, brain damage (encephalopathy). Some affected individuals experience decreased muscle strength and endurance; kidney disease; wrist drop; and behavioral changes such as hostility, depression, and/or anxiety. In some cases, symptoms may be life-threatening.

Constantine had been seeing visions, hence his conversion. He was highly influential in establishing Christianity:

https://occatholic.com/a-turning-point-in-history/

“Both Helena and Constantine played a critical role relative to the history of Christianity and its spread in what is today western Europe,” Holquin says. “Prior to Constantine, the religion of Roman Empire was officially paganism and the belief in multiple gods. This was not a matter of personal discretion — it was a mandated belief of the empire.”

Because of their beliefs, Christians did not acknowledge the pantheon of Roman gods, Holquin adds. “It was for this reason that Christians were persecuted and martyred,” he says.

But as the Roman Empire grew under Constantine, Christianity became more common among its citizens.

Constantine’s connection to Christianity began in 312 A.D. when he saw a vision in the evening sky before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge at the Tiber River in Rome. The vision brought Constantine to believe he was under guidance and protection of God. Constantine won the battle and became the sole ruler of the Roman Empire.

Constantine established the Edict of Milan in 313 A.D., an empire-wide mandate establishing tolerance for all faiths and beliefs. The edict outlawed religious persecution and gave Christians legal rights. It set the foundation for Christianity to become the religion of the Roman Empire, which was officially declared by Emperor Theodosius I in 380 AD.

[EricPH]

Constantine had been seeing visions, hence his conversion. He was highly influential in establishing Christianity:

St Paul also had visions on the road to Damascus, he too was influential in spreading Christianity. I believe that Paul's vision came through God. I have had a number of profound experiences and I trust Paul's story to be true.

I shall be going out on the streets of our town tonight until the early hours of the morning. We put our faith and trust in God so we can bring a little kindness to our town.

[ASYD-PAPI]

Please, this is a discussion, not a "who's right about a fairy tal- errr.. religion"

[Sy Borg]

ASYD-PAPI, I would think that lead-induced hallucinations are relevant to the topic but if you don't care for that line of inquiry, no drama. You started the discussion, so the ball is back in your court to extrapolate.