Product Description

Since its birth in 1848, Spiritualism as a religion, science, and philosophy has experienced great highs and lows. At the center of this purely American-made modern-religious movement are "mediums"--the people who are able to communicate, in some way, with spirit entities that are no longer on the earth plane.

Based on three years of on-site investigation, and a plethora of data and research collected on the modern Spiritualist movement in America, Talking to the Other Side focuses upon the ethno-religious aspects of the religion, mediumship, and the mediums themselves.

The first four chapters offer an expansive review of the history of religion in America, mediumship, and the Spiritualist movement. Chapters 5-7 comprise the research and data that were compiled and analyzed based on fieldwork analysis, a comprehensive questionnaire, personal interviews, and published literature on the topic of Spiritualism and mediumship.

According to Spiritualist mediums, "people don't die, bodies do." Talking to the Other Side offers a contemporary look into the lives and backgrounds of the mediums who bridge this world and the Spirit world, connecting those who have passed over with those they left behind.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #398232 in Books
• Published on: 2005-07-21
• Released on: 2005-07-21
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 364 pages

Download Description
Since its birth in 1848, Spiritualism as a religion, science, and philosophy has experienced great highs and lows. At the center of this purely American-made modern-religious movement are "mediums"--the people who are able to communicate, in some way, with spirit entities that are no longer on the earth plane.

Based on three years of on-site investigation, and a plethora of data and research collected on the modern Spiritualist movement in America, Talking to the Other Side focuses upon the ethno-religious aspects of the religion, mediumship, and the mediums themselves.

The first four chapters offer an expansive review of the history of religion in America, mediumship, and the Spiritualist movement. Chapters 5-7 comprise the research and data that were compiled and analyzed based on fieldwork analysis, a comprehensive questionnaire, personal interviews, and published literature on the topic of Spiritualism and mediumship.

According to Spiritualist mediums, "people don't die, bodies do." Talking to the Other Side offers a contemporary look into the lives and backgrounds of the mediums who bridge this world and the Spirit world, connecting those who have passed over with those they left behind.

Download Description
Since its birth in 1848, Spiritualism as a religion, science, and philosophy has experienced great highs and lows. At the center of this purely American-made modern-religious movement are "mediums"--the people who are able to communicate, in some way, with spirit entities that are no longer on the earth plane.

Based on three years of on-site investigation, and a plethora of data and research collected on the modern Spiritualist movement in America, Talking to the Other Side focuses upon the ethno-religious aspects of the religion, mediumship, and the mediums themselves.

The first four chapters offer an expansive review of the history of religion in America, mediumship, and the Spiritualist movement. Chapters 5-7 comprise the research and data that were compiled and analyzed based on fieldwork analysis, a comprehensive questionnaire, personal interviews, and published literature on the topic of Spiritualism and mediumship.

According to Spiritualist mediums, "people don't die, bodies do." Talking to the Other Side offers a contemporary look into the lives and backgrounds of the mediums who bridge this world and the Spirit world, connecting those who have passed over with those they left behind.

About the Author
Todd Jay Leonard, PhD, holds a doctorate in social science with a specialization in American religious history. He has written fourteen books and has authored numerous academic articles in the areas of history, language, culture, religion, and spirituality. He now calls Hirosaki, Japan home, where he lives, writes, and teaches.

Customer Reviews

Should not be used for academic/scholarly purposes
This book is poorly written and inadequately researched. Many of the author's conclusions are highly questionable, based as they are on sloppy or erroenous scholarship. At best, this book could pass as a mediocre introduction to the subject of spiritualism. However, it should not be relied on for serious academic usage.

Spiritualism has the answers!
I must respond to this book! I was privileged to be one of the mediums interviewed for this book and Dr. Leonard has done a superb job of collecting data and telling the story. For those readers with no experience of Spiritualism and its beautiful philosophy of life, this is a great place to start. Dr. Leonard gives history, he quotes interviews with mediums, and gives this religion the solid basis it deserves as it continues to minister to the needs of people world-wide.Congratulations, Dr. Leonard on a job well done!!!

Great history and a fascinating read
Dr. Leonard's work is a well-rounded history of modern Spiritualism. It fills the gap in a hole of religious history that is so often neglected. The work would be of interest to the professional scholar or casual student of Spiritualism or religious history. I highly recommend it.