Research &
Academic Inquiry
Bridging ancient wisdom and modern scholarship to advance the understanding of sacred plant practices.
Truth & Inquiry
The Church of Direct Experience maintains that spiritual truth and intellectual inquiry are not adversaries, but allies. Sacred plant practices have been studied by anthropologists, theologians, neuroscientists, and philosophers for decades.
CODE is committed to advancing this body of knowledge through meaningful engagement with the academic world. We believe that the credibility of sacred plant practices depends on rigorous scholarship, not to reduce the sacred to data, but to demonstrate that these traditions stand up to the most serious intellectual scrutiny.
Harvard Divinity School
CODE has established a meaningful relationship with Harvard Divinity School, one of the world’s most respected institutions for the study of religion and spirituality.
Psychedelic Intersections 2026
The Church of Direct Experience has been invited to participate in Psychedelic Intersections 2026 at Harvard Divinity School.
Alex Patterson will join a panel on April 10 exploring Direct Experience in contemporary spiritual life.
The event is free and nearing capacity.
Read Harvard's full articleProgram on Psychedelics & Spirituality
This program explores the intersection of entheogenic experience, religious tradition, and contemporary spiritual seeking. CODE’s engagement reflects a shared commitment to understanding how sacred plants function within authentic religious contexts.
“In our engagement with the Church of Direct Experience, we have observed a sincere commitment to ethical, spiritually grounded practice.”
Our Research Vision
CODE is working to expand its academic partnerships beyond Harvard to include collaborations with research hospitals, seminaries, and universities across the country. Our goal is to build a body of theological, psychological, and neurological evidence that supports the recognition of sacred plant practices as legitimate and valuable forms of religious expression.
We invite scholars, clinicians, and researchers who share our commitment to rigorous, ethical inquiry to join us in this work.
