The Debatable Land between this World and the Next
With Illustrative Narrations

An examination of spiritualist phenomena and an argument of the belief's importance by one of its leading nineteenth-century proponents.

Robert Dale Owen (Author)

9781108073110, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 19 May 2011

466 pages, 4 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2.6 cm, 0.59 kg

Robert Dale Owen (1801–1877) left Scotland at the age of twenty-four to help run an experimental colony in New Harmony, Indiana, established by this father Robert Owen, the social reformer. While in the United States, he became a prominent proponent of slave emancipation and public education, eventually joining the Indiana legislature before moving on to become a member of the United States Congress, which led to his posting as a diplomat in Naples. In addition to his political interests, Owen was fascinated with the world of spiritualism. In this work, published in 1871, he assesses Protestantism and Catholicism and considers how spiritualism can 'confirm the truths and assure the progress of Christianity'. He goes on to explain at length the characteristics of spiritualism, including the physical manifestations and identity of spirits, as well as his own experience of apparitions.

Preface
Prefatory address to the Protestant clergy
Book I. Touching Communication of Religious Knowledge to Men: 1. Of human infallibility
2. Of mediate spiritual revealings
3. Of inspiration
4. Difficulties and prejudices
Book II. Some Characteristics of the Phenomena: 1. Their coming usually unexpected
2. Animals perceiving spiritual phenomena
3. Universality of spiritual manifestations
4. Spiritual phenomena sometimes result in seeming trifles
Book III. Physical Manifestations: 1. The spirit-rap
2. Moving ponderable bodies by occult agency
3. Direct spirit writing
4. Spirit touches
Book IV. Identity of Spirits: 1. Stubborn facts connecting two worlds
2. A case of identity three hundred years old
3. A beautiful spirit manifesting herself
Book V. The Crowning Proof of Immortality: 1. The great faith-article of the first century
2. Apparitions showing themselves spontaneously
3. My own experience touching apparitions
4. A near relative shows herself, throughout five years, to a surviving friend
5. What apparitions are, and how formed
Book VI. Spiritual Gifts of the First Century Appearing in our Own Times: 1. Cures by spiritual agency
2. Other spiritual gifts
Book VII. The Conclusion of the Whole Matter: 1. Summary
2. What underlies Christ's teachings, as foundation-motive
Index.

Subject Areas: Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography [JHMC]