First off science is not opinion. It's evidence based, and changes based on evidence. Of course you know this, but had to get it out of the way.
As for me:
I did LSD when I was younger. I see how people would think of it as some paranormal experience. The thing is it's manifesting the subconscious because of the neurochemical roadblocking going on.
For instance while tripping in the woods I went to urinate. I was urinating when I realized I better be careful because I was away from the group. That instance Predator (from the movie of the same name) appeared in the distance. It was cloaked, jumping from tree to tree coming towards me till it lept at me with me laughing knowing it was an hallucination. The point is as soon I thought of danger my subconscious dumped it's normal background processes into my visual processes. It gave me a different kind of predator instead of the woodsy kind. Now think of what the subconscious would come up with when someone is of the mindset that such a drugs opens your mind to the "spirit world"?
I had a relative that was schizo-typal (not full on). She would make irrational connections to things to support her views while completely ignoring the rational against it. She would think that words of reason would somehow manifest to mess things up. She would sometimes hallucinate things, and think she was being told a message. She had imaginary enemies out of Hollywood celebrities. Yet to people unaware of this would think she was normal.
On rare occasions I would have a waking hallucination. Now thanks to science I know it's just dreamstate neurochemistry following me in my awake state.
One time I had a Dopamine dump brought on by sleep deprivation. I saw auras around objects. I felt euphoric, and felt at one with the universe through spatial displacement. Irrational concepts made perfect sense. I also see how addictive the experience can be to people. People who fast, and meditate for this experience are seen as noble, but in reality are Dope addicts.
So yes I speak from experience, and understanding through science.
People want to abuse their brains, and think their word salad contains truth because it feels good. When one thinks they have special knowledge that's not demonstrable, it's the ancient motivating part of the brain that's overriding the modern thinking part.