Accredited Entheogenic Seminary: Inside the Congregation for Sacred Practices with Paul Ryder

Accredited Entheogenic Seminary interview focuses on Paul Ryder and the Congregation for Sacred Practices (CSP) after CSP received precedent setting accreditation approval from the Global Accreditation Council (GAC). Ryder traces CSP’s origins to spiritual use of entheogenic sacraments and positions the seminary as a religious and community building alternative to a purely psychomedical framing of psychedelic work. CSP pursued US 501(c)(3) religious status and built its education model around “awakening as a process, not a creed,” with core beliefs centered on divine presence, sacraments, and becoming more present and loving. CSP’s accreditation pathway is presented as a way to avoid forcing entheogenic ministry into traditional academic boxes. The training described includes a four year minister program with practicum and live sacrament, using MDMA and psilocybin primarily as entry points, plus supervision and mentoring. Safety and legal compliance are emphasized through storage and record keeping protocols, an ethics committee, and complaint based licensure consequences, alongside an RFRA framing and steps to prevent diversion of sacramental substances.