The Spirits' Book
From New Age Village
By Allan Kardec (Translated By Anna Blackwell)
Edited by David Gregg
When two "grave and serious" spirits began speaking to a French academic through two young mediums and "completely revolutionized [his] ideas and convictions," Allan Kardec decided to set down these spiritualistic revelations. The result electrified the high society of the mid 19th century, which was already fascinated by "spirit tapping" and other paranormalities, and earned Kardec-a pseudonym his spirits commanded him to use-a place in this history of the paranormal as the father of spiritism. Kardec "interviews" the spirits, asking more than 1000 questions about morality, the nature of the soul, the history of humanity, and more, including: "Is the soul reincarnated immediately after its separation from the body?" "Does the spirit remember his corporeal existence?" "Could two beings, who have already known and loved each other, meet again and recognise one another, in another corporeal existence?" . "What is to be thought of the signification attributed to dreams?" . "Are good and evil absolute for all men?" "What is the aim of God in visiting mankind with destructive calamities?" "Is it possible for man to enjoy perfect happiness upon the earth?" Promising nothing less than the secret of the destiny of the human race, this extraordinary book, first published in 1856, is as curious today as it was a century and a half ago.
God
- God and infinity
- Proofs of the existence of God
- Attributes of the Divinity
- Pantheism
General Elements Of The Universe
- Knowledge of the first principles of things
- Spirit and Matter
- Properties of matter
- Universal space
Creation
- Formation of worlds
- Production of living beings
- Peopling of the earth: Adam
- Diversity of human races
- Plurality of worlds
- The Biblical account of the creation
The Vital Principle
- Organic and inorganic beings
- Life and death
- Intelligence and instinct
Spirits
- Origin and nature of spirits
- Primitive and normal world
- Form and ubiquity of spirits
- Perispirit
- Different orders of spirits
- Spirit-hierarchy
- Progression of Spirits
- Angels and demons
Incarnation of Spirits
- Aim of Incarnation
- The soul
- Materialism
Return From Corporeal To The Spirit-Life
- The soul after death
- Separation of soul and body
- Temporarily confused state of the soul after death
Plurality Of Existences
- Reincarnation
- Justice of reincarnation
- Incarnation in different worlds
- Progressive transmigrations
- Fate of children after death
- Sex In spirits
- Relationship-Filiation
- Physical and moral likeness
- Innate Ideas
- Considerations on the Plurality of Existences
Spirit-Life
- Errant or wandering spirits
- Transitional worlds
- Perceptions, sensations, and sufferings of spirits
- Theoretical explanation of the nature of sensation in spirits
- Choice of earthly trials
- Relationships beyond the grave
- Sympathies and antipathies of spirits-Eternal halves
- Remembrance of corporeal existence
- Commemoration of the dead-Funerals
Return To Corporeal Life
- Preludes to return
- Union of soul and body-Abortion
- Moral and Intellectual faculties of mankind
- Influence of organism
- Idiocy and madness
- Infancy
- Terrestrial sympathies and antipathies
- Forgetfulness of the past
Emancipation Of The Soul
- Sleep and dreams
- Visits between the spirits of living persons
- Occult transmission of thought
- Lethargy-Catalepsy-Apparent death
- Somnambulism
- Trance
- Second-sight
- Explanation of somnambulism, trance, and second-sight
Intervention of Spirits in the Corporeal World
- Penetration of our thoughts by spirits
- Occult influence of spirits on our thoughts and actions
- Possession
- Convulsionaries
- Affection of certain spirits for certain persons
- Guardian-angels-Protecting, familiar, and sympathetic spirits
- Presentiments
- Influence of spirits on the events of human life
- Action of spirits In the production of the phenomena of nature
- Spirits during a battle
- Pacts with spirits
- Occult power-Talismans-Sorcerers
- Benedictions and curses
Occupations and Missions of Spirits
- Occupations
The Three Reigns
- Minerals and plants
- Animals and men
- Metempsychosis
Divine or Natural Law
- Characteristics of natural law
- Knowledge of natural law
- Good and evil
- Division of natural law
The Law of Adoration
- Aim of adoration
- External acts of adoration
- Life of contemplation
- Prayer
- Polytheism
- Sacrifices
The Law of Labor
- Necessity of labor
- Limit of labor-Rest
The Law of Reproduction
- Population of the globe
- Succession and improvement of races
- Obstacles to reproduction
- Marriage and celibacy
- Polygamy
The Law of Preservation
- Instinct of self-preservation
- Means of self-preservation
- Enjoyments of the fruits of the earth
- Necessities and superfluities
- Voluntary privations-Mortifications
The Law of Destruction
- Necessary destruction and unjustifiable destruction
- Destructive calamities
- War
- Murder
- Cruelty
- Dueling
- Capital punishment
Social Law
- Necessity of social life
- Life of isolation
- Family ties
The Law of Progress
- State of nature
- March of progress
- Degenerate peoples
- Civilization
- Progress of human legislation
- Influence of spiritism on progress
The Law of Equality
- Natural equality
- Inequality of aptitudes
- Social inequalities
- Inequality of riches
- Trials of riches and of poverty
- Equality of rights of men and women
- Equality in death
The Law of Liberty
- Natural liberty
- Slavery
- Freedom of thought
- Freedom of conscience
- Free-will
- Fatality
- Foreknowledge
- Theoretic summary of the springs of human action
The Law of Justice, of Love, and of Charity
- Natural rights and justice
- Right of Property-Robbery
- Charity-Love of the neighbor
- Maternal and filial affection
Moral Perfection
- Virtues and vices
- The passions
- Selfishness
- Characteristics of the virtuous man
- Self-knowledge
Earthly Joys and Sorrows
- Happiness and unhappiness
- Loss of those we love
- Disappointments--Ingratitude--Blighted affections
- Antipathetic unions
- Fear of death
- Weariness of Life--Suicide
Future Joys and Sorrows
- Annihilation--Future life
- Intuition of future joys and sorrows
- Intervention of God in rewards and punishments
- Nature of future joys and sorrows
- Temporal sorrows
- Expiation and repentance
- Duration of future penalties
- Resurrection of the body
- Paradise--Hell-Purgatory--Original sin
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