Intimations of Immortality: Seeing that Leads to BelievingThis book begins with some intriguing evidence in favour of the belief in survival. It consists of a study of the testimonies of people who, like Lazarus of Bethany, suffered suspended animation, or pseudo-death. The conclusions that were reached by over a hundred serious investigators of the problem of survival are reviewed. Of these investigators, including psychical researchers, psychologists, physicians, surgeons, physicists, lawyers, businessmen, authors, clergymen, etc, about eighty-one percent became absolutely sure of survival, about fourteen percent were more or less convinced, and only about four per cent remained in doubt. These results preceded the publication in 1960 of the 'Palm Sunday' case by the Society for Psychical Research, representing the most convincing evidence of all. This case is discussed in some detail. Specific matters considered include possible preparations for one's own 'passing' and for the 'passing' of others, the most desirable method of disposing of a corpse, whether by cremation, burial, or embalming, etc. The hypotheses that have been advanced alternative to the survival hypothesis are given due consideration. The author concludes that survival is a 'virtual certainty'. |
Contents
I | 3 |
THE RELIABILITY OR OTHERWISE OF THE TESTIMONIES | 14 |
IV | 23 |
GRADATIONS BETWEEN PSEUDODEATH AND ACTUAL DEATH | 29 |
COMPARISONS | 36 |
THIRD PART | 43 |
AN IMPORTANT DEDUCTION | 53 |
Common terms and phrases
after-life Aquarian Press Astral Body Astral Projection Balfour became believe blackout book entitled C. D. Broad Carington clairvoyant concerning conclusion consciousness convinced of survival cord"-extension Countess dead death-beds deceased described discarnate souls Dr Hereward Carrington enveiling eventually evidence for survival F. W. H. Myers Faber fact feet Fellowship for Psychical H. H. Price Hades Hans Driesch Henry Sidgwick Hereward Carrington Hodgson horizontal hypothesis ibid immortality included investigation Kegan Paul later leave the body light living Mary Lyttleton medium mediumship mental images mind Miss mist observed out-of-the-body experiences Palm Sunday Paradise passing permanently released permanently-released doubles physical body present writer Proc Prof Professor pseudo-death psychical phenomena Psychical Research Psychical Study psychologists published re-entered realised released double Revd Rider sceptic second death seen sensitives Sewall silver cord Sir William Barrett Soul Body Spiritual Body suggest Supreme Adventure survival and communication telepathy testimonies vapour vehicle of vitality Yram