The Other World: Glimpses of the Supernatural

Оглавление

Various Authors . The Other World: Glimpses of the Supernatural

The Other World: Glimpses of the Supernatural

Table of Contents

Volume 1

PREFACE

MATERIALISM OF THE PRESENT AGE

THE MIRACULOUS IN CHURCH HISTORY

SPIRITUAL POWERS AND PROPERTIES. OF THE CHURCH

WITCHCRAFT AND NECROMANCY

DREAMS, OMENS, WARNINGS, PRESENTIMENTS, AND SECOND SIGHT

Volume 2

SPECTRAL APPEARANCES

HAUNTED HOUSES AND LOCALITIES

MODERN SPIRITUALISM

MODERN SPIRITUALISM. CONTINUED

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Отрывок из книги

Various Authors

Complete Edition (Vol. 1&2)

.....

Again: while Scepticism is rampant, and some are endeavouring to bring back the Pagan notions of ancient nations, to galvanize into new life the corrupt imbecilities of the past, men of science are making assertions and assumptions of the boldest, if not of the wildest nature. One such recently maintained the following proposition:—“Taking our earth, we know that millions of years have passed since she began to be peopled.” Now, the maintainer of this assertion notoriously holds some peculiar theories about the means by which the solar system (and consequently other systems) was made, or rather grew. These theories, in some of their details, are or may be founded upon certain more or less well-ascertained facts. But when he uses the term “know,” we are bold to point out that such an assertion rests on mere assumption.[7] We need facts—facts which could stand the careful investigation of persons skilled in taking and measuring evidence; and secondly, we require to be reasonably convinced that no other possible explanation of a difficulty be forthcoming, except that on which his assumption is founded and his inevitable conclusion (as he regards it) deduced. But how often with scientific people the phrase “We know” stands for “This is our theory,” or rather “This is our present theory;” for scientific theories change very frequently; and points which have been most dogmatically laid down at one period have been with equal dogmatism condemned and repudiated at another, by those who apparently strain every nerve and exercise every gift bestowed upon them, to deny and cast out the Supernatural from amongst mankind.

From the introduction to a volume of great interest (“The Maxims and Examples of the Saints”), the following extract is taken, both because of its inherent truth, and also because the Christian instinct in defence of the Supernatural is so prominently and forcibly expressed in every line. Mr. de Lisle’s words stand thus:—

.....