Why do Christians and other religions draw such a dichotomy between the carnal and the spiritual?
If life is sacred... how does life begin in the first place?
You're experience and conclusion regarding your time in the desert speaks of the need to keep one foot firmly planted in both worlds.
While this video addresses a number of topics... it touches on some these issues...
It is not necessary to use hallucinogenics as meditation can activate the same brain... more slowly and safely for some. Also... the intellect and belief systems are another form of prison.
There is also a paradox here in that in releasing the attachment to the conceptual mind... the intellectual capacity actually increases.
The commands of God of which you speak have been passed down to you by way of the Bible. (The same holds true in any tradition where the focus is placed on a transcendent higher power and 'special' teachers or gurus who relay these beliefs.)
Ask yourself this... could there have possibly been a hidden agenda for turning people away from what is inherent within them and turning to external sources of guidance to lead them in another direction instead?
(Regarding the first question above... there is a explanation... although it is not what most understand it to be.)