Borderland Experiences Or Do The Dead Return - A Study Of Spirit States And Activities

A theory of a thing is not necessarily true because one believes it, but because the theory explains the facts more nearly than any other theory. When psychic phenomena can be reasonably explained on the basis of certain residual powers in the human mind, it is at least unscieitific to bring in some theory of outside intelligences. It is likewise unscientific to deny the reality and activity of outside spiritual itelligences when the phenomena can not be reasonably accounted for on the ground of inherent mental forces. But it is alloable even in this situation for the scientific mind which has discovered so many mental powers and glimpsed others in the exalted heights of superconsciousness, and in the abysmal depths of sirbconsciousness, to assume that the given phenomena are explainable by some as yet undiscovered and uncharted forces resident in the mind rather than to attribute them to the action of outside intelligences. JVhen a man is fully persuaded in his own mind as to the explanation, he must still be wiIling to concede that the other explanation may be right, otherwise progress is retarded if not impossible. The explanation of the experiences recorded here is satisfactory to myself. The reader is invited to exercise his 0wn juclgment in line with the foregoing principles. We find in the creed the words, I believe in the communion of Saints, but just what do we mean by it Is it some beatific exercise of those who have assed or the brotherly interchange of people in the flesh Is it some hazy and indefinite meditation by which we can hold in imagination a one-sided conversation with the Saints Or do we mean that these Saints are living, intelligent beings who have lived on the earth as we are living, passed through its various experiences achieved something of the Christian character, and have passed into another realm of activity that these intelligent and good beings whom we call Saints, are still interested in those in the earth life, and act as ministering spirits to them, not only seeking to give them a spiritual atmosphere in which to live, but also to project into their mental life thoughts and messages of truth so that they may grasp and use them in a practical and helpful way In this day when vast numbers are being hurled violently out of the flesh, and are entering the domain of that undiscovered country from whose world of activity there is a tradition that no traveler has returned, the mind of humanity turns with intense scrutiny to catch some fleeting vision or to hear some footfall or sense some message which will tell them that the spiritual world is real, and that if a man dies, he Iives again. The heart of humanity longs to know by reasonable assurance that love cannot cease nor life die nor identity be Iost. Therefore as never before, the human mind is beating at the barriers that have so persistently shut us out from knowledge of the undiscovered country. Something within us gives strong presumptive assurance that there is a path which no fowl knoweth the vultures eye hath not seen it ...