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Table Movings and Spirit Rappings: From Mercersburg Review, October Number, 1861 (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

Lewis Henry Steiner

 
9780282356309: Table Movings and Spirit Rappings: From Mercersburg Review, October Number, 1861 (Classic Reprint)

Synopsis

This book explores the origins and causes of table-movings and spirit rappings, phenomena which caused a widespread sensation across the United States in the 19th century. The author provides an overview of how the craze originated, and how the phenomena spread rapidly across the country, involving people of all ages, classes, and professions. The author also examines the various theories that attempted to account for the phenomena, some attributing it to supernatural causes, while others suggested physical or psychological explanations. The book concludes by asserting the fraudulent nature of the claims of supernatural origin in most cases and the self-deception of honest operators due to psychological conditions. It underscores how the prevailing excitement of the time and the eagerness to discover novelty can lead to a suspension of critical thinking and an acceptance of the marvelous.

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