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The Survival Hypothesis: Essays on Mediumship — Spiritualism

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The Survival Hypothesis: Essays on Mediumship

Name: The Survival Hypothesis: Essays on Mediumship
Price: 49.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780786472208

✍️ Rock, Adam J

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

This compelling anthology delves into the profound question of post-mortem existence, specifically through the lens of mediumship. Unlike typical parapsychological texts focused on ESP, this collection brings together an international cohort of experts from psychology, philosophy, anthropology, and neuroscience. They critically examine the "survival hypothesis"—the proposition that some aspect of our personal identity persists after death—by scrutinizing reported communications with the deceased. Organized into sections covering explanation, cultural impact, empirical studies, and future directions, this book offers a rigorous, multidisciplinary exploration of humanity's most enduring mystery.

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Spiritualism

Praise for this book

“an excellent book destined to become a standard reference in mediumship studies...provides an unprecedented overview of research on mediumship and supplies a good synopsis of the state of the art...a job well done...recommended highly”

— Journal of the Society for Psychical Research.

🏛 McFarland & Company 📅 2014 📖 320 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780786472208

Fun Fact

Adam J. Rock's anthology stands out as a serious, academic exploration of a topic often relegated to fringe science. Its multidisciplinary approach, drawing from esteemed scholars across various fields, lends significant weight to the examination of the survival hypothesis through mediumship. While not for readers seeking definitive answers or light spiritual reading, it excels in providing a robust framework for critical inquiry. Those looking for an uncritical endorsement of mediumship may be disappointed, but anyone interested in a scholarly, nuanced debate on post-mortem consciousness will find this a vital addition to their library.

📝 Description: The Survival Hypothesis: Essays on Mediumship

Contemporary parapsychology tends to be preoccupied with ESP (telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition) and psychokinesis. In contrast, this cutting-edge anthology assembles an international team of experts from the fields of psychology, parapsychology, philosophy, anthropology and neuroscience to examine critically what is referred to as the survival hypothesis the tentative statement or prediction that some aspect of our personhood (e.g., consciousness) persists subsequent to the death of the physical body. The appraisal of the survival hypothesis will be restricted to the phenomenon of mediumship; that is, humans who ostensibly communicate with the deceased. The book has been divided into four main sections: Explanation and Belief; Culture, Psychopathology and Psychotherapy; Empirical Approaches; The Present and Future. The issue of postmortem survival is supremely relevant to us all because the human encounter with death is, of course, a certainty.

📑 What's inside

Foreword by Lance Storm 1
Preface 5
Introduction: The Medium and the Message (Adam J. Rock) 7
Part 1: Explanation and Belief
The Possibility of Mediumship: Philosophical Considerations (Stephen E. Braude) 21
Is Postmortem Survival the Best Explanation of the Data of Mediumship? (Michael Sudduth) 40
Non-Parapsychological Explanations of Ostensible Mediumship (Chris A. Roe and Elizabeth C. Roxburgh) 65
A Skeptic's View of Mediumship (Krissy Wilson) 79
The Psychology of Belief in Discarnate Communication (Tony Jinks) 90
Part 2: Culture, Psychopathology and Psychotherapy
Cultural Aspects of Personality, Beliefs and Attentional Strategies in Mediumship (Joan H. Hageman and Stanley Krippner) 107
Shamanism and Mediumship: Confluence and Difference (Rafael G. Locke, Adam J. Rock and Roger N. Walsh) 122
Communication with Gods and Spirits in East and -Southeast Asia (Christopher C. Cott) 135
Mediumship and Psychopathology (Jacob Kaminker) 146
Mediumship and Psychotherapy (Rafael G. Locke) 160
Part 3: Empirical Approaches
Advances in Quantitative Mediumship Research (Julie Beischel) 177
A Review of Qualitative Mediumship Research (Kylie Harris and Carlos S. Alvarado) 196
A -Mixed Methods Approach to Mediumship Research (Elizabeth C. Roxburgh and Chris A. Roe) 220
A Systems Level Neuroscience Approach to Mediumship and the -Source-of-Psi Problem (Graham A. Jamieson and Adam J. Rock) 235
Neuroscience of Trance and Mediumship (Julio F. P. Peres, Alexander -Moreira-Almeida and Leonardo Caixeta) 254
Part 4: The Present and the Future
Mediumship and Its Place Within Parapsychology (Julie Beischel, Mark Boccuzzi and Edwin C. May) 275
About the Contributors 303
Index 307

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

This anthology succeeds in elevating the discourse on mediumship through rigorous academic standards, offering a valuable synthesis of diverse expert perspectives. However, it does not suit readers seeking comforting spiritual validation or those who prefer anecdotal ghost stories over empirical data. The dense, scholarly tone may alienate casual enthusiasts of the occult who are unaccustomed to critical scientific scrutiny. It is best appreciated by academics and serious researchers willing to engage with complex arguments regarding consciousness and post-mortem existence without emotional bias or supernatural preconceptions.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers deeply invested in the philosophical and scientific debate surrounding consciousness will find this anthology indispensable. It is specifically tailored for those who seek rigorous, multidisciplinary analysis rather than anecdotal comfort. By bringing together experts from psychology, neuroscience, and anthropology, it offers a rare, balanced examination of whether personal identity survives death. If you are tired of superficial paranormal claims and desire a scholarly, evidence-based exploration of mediumship, this collection provides the intellectual depth and critical scrutiny necessary to understand the survival hypothesis in a serious academic context.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you are a serious student of parapsychology, philosophy, or anthropology, or simply a discerning reader grappling with the mysteries of life and death, this academic collection offers a rigorous intellectual challenge. It's ideal for those who appreciate critical, evidence-based inquiry into…

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

This anthology succeeds in elevating the discourse on mediumship through rigorous academic standards, offering a valuable synthesis of diverse expert perspectives. However, it does not suit readers seeking comforting spiritual validation or those who prefer anecdotal ghost stories over empirical data. The dense, scholarly tone may alienate casual enthusiasts of the occult who are unaccustomed to critical scientific scrutiny. It is best appreciated by academics and serious researchers willing to engage with complex arguments regarding consciousness and post-mortem existence without emotional bias or supernatural preconceptions.

❓ Frequently asked questions

It's the academic proposition that some element of an individual's consciousness, personality, or identity continues to exist beyond the death of the physical body. This book critically examines the evidence for and against this assertion.

The editors have intentionally narrowed the scope to mediumship because it represents a direct and potentially testable avenue for investigating purported communication with the deceased, which serves as a primary source of evidence for the survival hypothesis.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Persistence Beyond Death

The book's core inquiry revolves around the "survival hypothesis," which posits that consciousness or some facet of personality continues after the physical body's demise. It gathers diverse academic perspectives to critically evaluate the evidence and implications of such an enduring self, moving beyond mere speculation into structured scientific and philosophical debate.

Mediumship's Central Role

Rather than focusing broadly on psychic phenomena, this volume specifically narrows its investigation to mediumship. By examining alleged communications with the deceased, the contributors explore how these phenomena might offer the most tangible and testable avenues for appraising the survival hypothesis, providing case studies and theoretical frameworks for analysis.

Interdisciplinary Inquiry

This collection distinguishes itself by weaving together insights from psychology, parapsychology, philosophy, anthropology, and neuroscience. This expansive approach ensures a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of mediumship and the survival hypothesis, addressing the subject from various empirical, cultural, and epistemological angles, fostering a rich intellectual discourse.

📜 Historical context

While modern parapsychology often emphasizes ESP and psychokinesis, this work deliberately harks back to earlier spiritualist and psychical research traditions that placed a strong emphasis on post-mortem survival. It reframes this foundational question with contemporary academic rigor, positioning itself as a vital contribution to the ongoing, albeit often marginalized, scientific inquiry into the enduring human encounter with mortality.

📚 Glossary

Survival Hypothesis
Mediumship
Parapsychology

📔 Questions to reflect on

How does the concept of a 'survival hypothesis' challenge your current understanding of life, death, and personal identity?
What ethical considerations arise when studying phenomena like mediumship from a scientific and academic perspective?
If consciousness were definitively proven to survive physical death, how might this profoundly alter societal views on mortality, grief, and human purpose?