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Life Beyond Death: Being a review of the world's beliefs on the subject, a consideration of present conditions of thought and feeling, leading to the ... to whether it can be demonstrated as a fact
Life Beyond Death - Being a review of the world's beliefs on the subject, a consideration of present conditions of thought and feeling, leading to the question as to whether it can be demonstrated as a fact is an unchanged, high-quality reprint of the original edition of 1899. Hansebooks is editor of the literature on different topic areas such as research and science, travel and expeditions, cooking and nutrition, medicine, and other genres. As a publisher we focus on the preservation of historical literature. Many works of historical writers and scientists are available today as antiques only. Hansebooks newly publishes these books and contributes to the preservation of literature which has become rare and historical knowledge for the future.
360 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2002
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August 18, 2024
A 19TH CENTURY UNITARIAN LOOKS AT SPIRITUALISM AND LIFE AFTER DEATH
Minot Judson Savage (1841-1918) was an American Unitarian minister and author, who was an advocate of social reform. He wrote in the Preface to this 1899 book, "I submit then to all competent thinkers that the psychical problems can be scientifically investigated, and that a true scientific theory concerning them can be framed and verified." (Pg. xi)
He admits, "Several different explanations have been offered [for psychical phenomena]. The principal ones are these: 1. Fraud. 2. Auto-suggestion: that is, that the sitter unintentionally 'gives himself away'---as the phrase goes. He unconsciously imparts the information which so astonishes him when he gets it back again. I have seen a great deal of both of these." (Pg. x) He asserts, "As a matter of fact, God has not directly told us anything. He has left us to study and investigate on our own account, and to develop and cultivate our own intellectual and moral and spiritual natures in this process of study and investigation." (Pg. 8)
He suggests, "[The apostle] Paul is a Unitarian. Paul is not the kind of Unitarian that is known to-day. He is what we should call ... an Arian. He believed in the pre-existence of Christ, that he had lived in heaven. But he distinctly says [Col 1:15] of him that he was the first-born among the creatures..." (Pg. 78) He adds, "We are glad to find that Paul was a Universalist... Paul teaches [Rom 11:26] that even the Jews---who were rejected on account of their rejection of Christ---were not to be finally passed by." (Pg. 82) He states, "We are the children of God. We are immortal this moment; and, though here on this planet, and encased in these bodies, we are living the immortal life." (Pg. 107)
He clarifies, "I have never called myself a Spiritualist... I believe that at the heart of Spiritualism there is a great truth... But I have never been able to call myself a Spiritualist, because, as that word is used popularly in the newspapers, it would utterly misrepresent me. There are so many things connected with the movement that I not only do not believe, but with which I am disgusted beyond words, that I am not willing to wear the name... Spiritualism as organised has been its own worst enemy. There have been a large class among Spiritualists who are so credulous that, no matter what sort of a story you tell them, they will simply ask for a bigger one." (Pg. 190-191)
Later, he adds, "[Spiritualism] so opposes itself to any scientific investigation, has covered and defended so many proven frauds, that I should misrepresent my position if I were willing to be known by the name." (Pg. 313)
He even admits, "I should still be studying the question of continued existence if I believed in no God at all. Belief in God does not seem to me proof of a future life; neither does disbelief in Him seem to me disproof of a future life." (Pg. 229-230)
This book may be of interest to those studying 19th century Universalism and Spiritualism.
Minot Judson Savage (1841-1918) was an American Unitarian minister and author, who was an advocate of social reform. He wrote in the Preface to this 1899 book, "I submit then to all competent thinkers that the psychical problems can be scientifically investigated, and that a true scientific theory concerning them can be framed and verified." (Pg. xi)
He admits, "Several different explanations have been offered [for psychical phenomena]. The principal ones are these: 1. Fraud. 2. Auto-suggestion: that is, that the sitter unintentionally 'gives himself away'---as the phrase goes. He unconsciously imparts the information which so astonishes him when he gets it back again. I have seen a great deal of both of these." (Pg. x) He asserts, "As a matter of fact, God has not directly told us anything. He has left us to study and investigate on our own account, and to develop and cultivate our own intellectual and moral and spiritual natures in this process of study and investigation." (Pg. 8)
He suggests, "[The apostle] Paul is a Unitarian. Paul is not the kind of Unitarian that is known to-day. He is what we should call ... an Arian. He believed in the pre-existence of Christ, that he had lived in heaven. But he distinctly says [Col 1:15] of him that he was the first-born among the creatures..." (Pg. 78) He adds, "We are glad to find that Paul was a Universalist... Paul teaches [Rom 11:26] that even the Jews---who were rejected on account of their rejection of Christ---were not to be finally passed by." (Pg. 82) He states, "We are the children of God. We are immortal this moment; and, though here on this planet, and encased in these bodies, we are living the immortal life." (Pg. 107)
He clarifies, "I have never called myself a Spiritualist... I believe that at the heart of Spiritualism there is a great truth... But I have never been able to call myself a Spiritualist, because, as that word is used popularly in the newspapers, it would utterly misrepresent me. There are so many things connected with the movement that I not only do not believe, but with which I am disgusted beyond words, that I am not willing to wear the name... Spiritualism as organised has been its own worst enemy. There have been a large class among Spiritualists who are so credulous that, no matter what sort of a story you tell them, they will simply ask for a bigger one." (Pg. 190-191)
Later, he adds, "[Spiritualism] so opposes itself to any scientific investigation, has covered and defended so many proven frauds, that I should misrepresent my position if I were willing to be known by the name." (Pg. 313)
He even admits, "I should still be studying the question of continued existence if I believed in no God at all. Belief in God does not seem to me proof of a future life; neither does disbelief in Him seem to me disproof of a future life." (Pg. 229-230)
This book may be of interest to those studying 19th century Universalism and Spiritualism.
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