The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion with No Name

The pagan continuity hypothesis makes so much sense. Brian Muraresku is quite the intrepid scholar. His thesis is not presented in dry academic prose but unfolds as a compelling narrative, a lively quest to unearth buried mysteries that shine a new light on history. This book not only illuminates the world of classical antiquity in exquisite detail, it excites the imagination. I love his determination to redeem Carl Ruck, the classicist who joined Gordon Wasson and Albert Hoffman to write “The Road to Eleusis”. Seems Ruck thereby torpedoed his promising academic career but did not let that deter him in the pursuit of truth. Muraresku’s vindication of Ruck is a touching story. This book is a true eye-opener. The Dionysian parallels with the Gospel of John alone hit like lightning. The author still subscribes to the notion of a historical Jesus, which I do not (see Richard Carrier). He is and always has been a visionary figure, in my view, for reasons too numerous to catalogue here. But be that as it may, Muraresku not only argues persuasively for the commingling of the Dionysian rites and the Christian Eucharist in the context of the first centuries of the Common Era but takes us with him as he travels Europe to recondite archives to prove his case. That a sacramental libation would draw adherents more enthusiastically than mere stories and arid doctrines is just human nature. The role of women, versed in herbal lore, as spirit guides in these Dionysian/Proto-Christian rites, their threat to the “bishop factory” of Rome. Castigated as witches, tormented, murdered, as with the Cathars, Muraresku touches on so much, and helps form a credible picture of the Christian Mysteries, before they became a Byzantine bureaucracy. I highly recommend this book. Truth be told, I’m only 2/3rds through it as I write this but that’s how excited I am. I’m eager to continue the journey.

I am now watching the author (and Graham Hancock!!) talk to Joe Rogan and I think that anyone thinking about reading this book should spend some time with the JRE podcast. Regarding the book, I read it in one (long) sitting. This book merges themes that I have been chasing after for years. Ancient Greek mythology (and Christianity) and psychedelics – how can it get any better? The book is incredibly well researched. The author does his homework in the US and then takes off for Europe to investigate some more. He is not shy about chasing scholars and scientists and probing the living hell out of them. Finally someone that’s willing to hold their feet to the fire! So, Muraresku is this unique product of post-Gen X America. He majored in Sanskrit – and Greek! He worked for a New York law firm (I guess someone had to pay the student loans). And he’s curious and incredibly entertaining in person (at least in the podcast) and in the book. As you read, you can actually find yourself rooting for him as he unspools the thread of the mystical use of psychedelics as the basis for the whole of Western civilization – and he nails it! I’ve read (and imagine that anyone thinking about reading this book has read as well) a significant amount of the current literature on psychedelics and this is by far the more entertaining one I’ve laid hands on. Muraresku heads to Greece, Spain, France, Germany and Italy with a fascinating romp through Rome. The most fun is had when he makes it to the Vatican and rummages around in archives where he focuses with laser type precision on closely kept secrets. Unlike the author (who sounds a little straight edgy to me) I’ve consumed psylocibin – several times. And it gave me an intuitive understanding of the new testament – a new understanding, a welcome reconciliation, a coming home. Enjoy this book, folks. I know I did.

This is a truly fascinating book that melds history, religious studies, linguistics, pharmacology, chemistry, biology, and a hefty dose of travelogue. What at first seems like a book about the history of psychedelics in the age of Jesus Christ, turns out to be much more that. The author is entertaining and clearly a very funny dude who brings his intelligence and curiosity to topics that are at the heart of life’s biggest questions. This may seem cliche, but one can travel through this treatise with a belief that you are reading a book that would be written by a character in a Dan Brown book, hoping he never meets the character in the hair shirt. The author truly knows his stuff, when to draw on experts in the fields critical to this journey, and how to spin it all together in an entertaining yarn, although you get to enjoy the whole spool. His ability to synthesize classics, linguistics, religion, chemistry, biology, and archeology is stunning. A wonderful book, not for the faint of heart, but if you’re willing to open your mind to new concepts this is the book for you.

Great Book. Would have given 5 stars but unfortunately the binding fell apart and a whole chapter fell out (entire chapter 8, after the first photo section, weak point do to stiff photo pages). I had to glue it back together to finish reading this page turner.Bad Manufacturing gluing method + 400 pages = gonna fall apartGet the hardcover copy. Need an arching spine for opening a book this large for comfortable reading.