Altered States addresses the two greatest challenges of human consciousness: death and holiness. The questions are: What happens when you die? and What is holy? These two concerns drive culture and civilization, and shape all human experience, personal and communal. History and literature bear testimony to this conscious preoccupation. Yet, one must ask, Is there any consensus on the subject of death and the holy? Is there anything that can be called "truth?" Altered States offers surprising answers. The text comprises two major essays, "The State of the Dead," and "The State of the Holy." Dr. Yeagley has provided a wide scope of research for each, and the essays inevitably involve elements of philosophy, anthropology, archeology, sociology, psychology, literature, and of course, religion.