The Rise of Contemporary Spiritualism

'In this insightful book, Anne Kalvig studies spiritualism - communication with the dead. In spite of spiritualism being very visible in the contemporary world, and one of the elementary forms of the religious life, it has not been much researched. Kalvig illuminates the diversity of this practice and combines the perspectives of interpretation and explanation in an exciting and fruitful way.' - Ingvild Sælid Gilhus, University of Bergen, Norway 'This is the first thorough study of contemporary spiritualism/spiritism from a Religious Studies perspective. A long neglected subject, this is a very important book, covering the phenomenon historically as well as next to all contemporary aspects. A brilliant book.' - Liselotte Frisk, Dalarna University, Sweden

Auteur

Anne Kalvig is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Stavanger, Norway.

Texte du rabat

This book analyses the practices of today's mediums, who insist on standing at the threshold between life and death, interpreting signs and passing on communications, and asks how such concepts and practices are perceived by contemporary society.

Résumé
This book analyses the practices of todayâ™s mediums, who insist on standing at the threshold between life and death, interpreting signs and passing on communications, and asks how such concepts and practices are perceived by contemporary society.

Contenu

1. What is spiritualism?

2. Spiritualism's birth and days of glory

3. Communication with the dead today: forms, actors, organizations

4. Spiritualist messages and the appeal to women

5. Spiritualism, shamanism, healing and popular culture - array and lattice

6. Controversies and delineations

7. Table turning and other spiritualist challenges to the science of religion