A THEORY ABOUT PSEUDO-ILLUMINATION:
Whether it's through bullying, fraternity/sorority hazing, or initiation into the Illuminati, there seems to be a potential life-long conveyor belt of grooming for dissociation in people.
see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissociation_(psychology)
My very simple Occam's razor theory is that in this upside-down world. An integrated mind is seen as not only unaware, but incapable of waking up to deeper realities…whereas a dissociated mind has "gone beyond".
There are lots of books or sources to learn about this issue. I think Dietrich Bonhoeffer called it "cheap grace". Chögyam Trungpa categorizes it under spiritual materialism. All different descriptions of the same thing in my opinion.
Yes, it allow for a new perspective…and for many, this has an awakening effect because the awe of a new "mindspace" is like seeing the world with new eyes. That said, they completely fail to comprehend the price they've paid for that and it's effects on their mind.
Meditation, prayer, long-term permanent development is the "true" path of illumination. No short-cuts. The path is wide, but the gate is narrow.