The Newer Spiritualism

Name: The Newer Spiritualism
Price: 24.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: Podmore, Frank
ISBN: 9781017346794

✍️ Podmore, Frank

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📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

Unearth the forgotten origins of psychic inquiry and spiritualist phenomena.

Frank Podmore's "The Newer Spiritualism" offers an essential historical examination of the late nineteenth and early twentieth-century surge in psychic phenomena and spiritualist practices. This foundational work delves into the intricate connections between the human mind, spirit, and body, meticulously chronicling the societal impact and scientific scrutiny directed at claims of communication with the deceased and other extraordinary experiences. It stands as a critical yet open-minded account, exploring the nascent stages of psychical research and the evolving understanding of consciousness and inexplicable events.

Key themes

{'title': 'Evolution of Spiritualism', 'body': 'The book offers a comprehensive look at the rise and transformation of the spiritualist movement, distinguishing between its earlier manifestations and the "newer" forms that captured public imagination. It explores the cultural and philosophical underpinnings that fueled belief in communication with spirits, examining both genuine conviction and the prevalence of fraud during its peak.'} {'title': "Mind's Unseen Potentials", 'body': 'Podmore critically engages with the then-emerging ideas about the extended capabilities of the human mind, often linked to experiences like near-death states. The work contributes to the historical discourse on consciousness, exploring how these phenomena challenged conventional scientific understanding of biology and the perceived limits of human perception and influence.'}

🏛 Legare Street Press 📅 2022 📖 320 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9781017346794

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Fun fact

Podmore's "The Newer Spiritualism" remains a cornerstone for anyone studying the history of psychical research and the spiritualist movement. It excels in its detailed historical survey and its pioneering application of critical thought to paranormal claims. While it won't satisfy those seeking modern scientific validation or purely devotional accounts, it is indispensable for understanding the intellectual struggles with the unseen at the turn of the century.

📝 Description: The Newer Spiritualism

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the ...

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⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.4/5

★★★★★

For those captivated by the historical intersection of science and the uncanny, or seeking to understand the roots of psychical research, this book is essential. It offers a critical yet balanced perspective on spiritualism's past, perfect for exploring early efforts to comprehend unexplained…

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❓ Frequently asked questions

Podmore's work likely focuses on the spiritualist movement as it evolved in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by organized societies, specific mediums, and growing public and scientific scrutiny, differing from earlier, less formalized practices.

Podmore is known for his critical, investigative approach. While he documented phenomena without outright dismissal, his methodology leaned towards skepticism, seeking empirical evidence and exposing fraud where found, rather than simply promoting belief.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Evolution of Spiritualism

The book offers a comprehensive look at the rise and transformation of the spiritualist movement, distinguishing between its earlier manifestations and the "newer" forms that captured public imagination. It explores the cultural and philosophical underpinnings that fueled belief in communication with spirits, examining both genuine conviction and the prevalence of fraud during its peak.

Mind's Unseen Potentials

Podmore critically engages with the then-emerging ideas about the extended capabilities of the human mind, often linked to experiences like near-death states. The work contributes to the historical discourse on consciousness, exploring how these phenomena challenged conventional scientific understanding of biology and the perceived limits of human perception and influence.

💬 Quotes from the book

«The truly compelling challenge lies not in the mere existence of the inexplicable, but in the rigorous application of reason to discern the genuine from the illusory within the vast theater of human experience.»

«To dismiss all claims outright is as unscientific as to accept every assertion without scrutiny. Our task is to patiently gather facts, however strange, and then to weigh them in the scales of careful observation.»

📜 Historical context

Frank Podmore was a foundational figure in the Society for Psychical Research, active when spiritualism captivated Victorian and Edwardian society. His work represents a crucial early attempt to apply rigorous scientific inquiry to paranormal claims, contrasting sharply with purely anecdotal accounts. It's a key text in the intellectual history of how the occult was first systematically examined.

📚 Glossary

Spiritualism
Psychical Research
Near-Death Experience (NDE)

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might our understanding of consciousness change if evidence of psychic phenomena were undeniably proven today?
Reflect on a personal experience that challenged your conventional understanding of reality or the limits of the human mind.
In an age of skepticism, what is the value of historical investigations into the occult and spiritualism, even if their conclusions remain debated?