Is Spiritualism Based on Fraud?
Aug 2021 · Otbebookpublishing
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121
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About this ebook
Excerpt: "On March 11 of this year Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did me the honour of debating the claims of Spiritualism with me before a vast and distinguished audience at the Queen's Hall, London. My book has a serious aim. The pen of even the dullest author—and I trust I do not fall into that low category of delinquents—must grow lively or sarcastic at times in the course of such a study as this. When one finds Spiritualists gravely believing that a corpulent lady is transferred by spirit hands, at the rate of sixty miles an hour, over the chimney-pots of London, and through several solid walls, one cannot be expected to refrain from smiling. When one contemplates a group of scientific or professional men[Pg iv] plumbing the secrets of the universe through the mediumship of an astute peasant or a carpenter, or a lady of less than doubtful virtue, one may be excused a little irony. When our creators of super-detectives enthusiastically applaud things which were fully exposed a generation ago, and affirm that, because they could not, in pitch darkness, see any fraud, there was no fraud, we cannot maintain the gravity of philosophers. When we find this "new revelation" heralded by a prodigious outbreak of fraud, and claiming as its most solid foundations to-day a mass of demonstrable trickery and deceit, our sense of humour is pardonably irritated. Nor are these a few exceptional weeds in an otherwise fair garden. In its living literature to-day, in its actual hold upon a large number of people in Europe and America, Spiritualism rests to a very great extent on fraudulent representations."
Excerpt: "On March 11 of this year Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did me the honour of debating the claims of Spiritualism with me before a vast and distinguished audience at the Queen's Hall, London. My book has a serious aim. The pen of even the dullest author—and I trust I do not fall into that low ca...
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About the author
Joseph McCabe (1867–1955) was a British writer, historian, and former Roman Catholic priest whose life and work straddled the tumultuous shifts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Manchester, McCabe entered the Franciscan order at a young age, quickly rising to the priesthood. However, his voracious appetite for knowledge and critical inquiry led him to question the very foundations of his faith. By 1896, McCabe had left the priesthood, embarking on a journey that would see him become one of the most vocal critics of organized religion.McCabe's literary contributions are vast, with over 250 books and pamphlets to his name. His works often tackled subjects ranging from history and science to religion and philosophy, always with a keen eye for detail and a fearless commitment to rationalism. He was a staunch advocate for secularism and humanism, aligning himself with contemporary freethinkers and skeptics. His writing style, characterized by clarity and rigor, made complex ideas accessible to a broad audience, influencing a generation of thinkers and writers.Not without controversy, McCabe's outspoken criticism of the Catholic Church and other religious institutions earned him both ardent supporters and fierce detractors. His revolutionary ideas about science, religion, and society challenged the status quo, contributing to the broader secularization movements of his time.McCabe's legacy endures in the ongoing dialogue between faith and reason, and his life's journey from devout priest to ardent secularist continues to inspire those who champion intellectual freedom and critical inquiry.
Joseph McCabe (1867–1955) was a British writer, historian, and former Roman Catholic priest whose life and work straddled the tumultuous shifts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Manchester, McCabe entered the Franciscan order at a young age, quickly rising to the priesthood. Howe...
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