The Spirits' Book

Preface to the revised edition
INTRODUCTION ▸ ▾
- I
- II
- III
- IV
- V
- VI
- VII
- VIII
- IX
- X
- XI
- XII
- XIII
- XIV
- XV
- XVI
- XVII
Prolegomena
BOOK ONE—FIRST CAUSES ▸ ▾
- CHAPTER I—GOD ▸ ▾
  - God and Infinity ▸ ▾
    - 1
    - 2
    - 3
  - Proofs of God’s Existence ▸ ▾
    - 4
    - 5
    - 6
    - 7
    - 8
    - 9
  - Attributes of Divinity ▸ ▾
    - 10
    - 11
    - 12
    - 13
  - Pantheism ▸ ▾
    - 14
    - 15
    - 16
- CHAPTER II—GENERAL ELEMENTS OF THE UNIVERSE ▸ ▾
  - Knowledge of the First Principles of Things ▸ ▾
    - 17
    - 18
    - 19
    - 20
  - Spirit and Matter ▸ ▾
    - 21
    - 22
    - 23
    - 24
    - 25
    - 26
    - 27
    - 28
  - Properties of Matter ▸ ▾
    - 29
    - 30
    - 31
    - 32
    - 33
    - 34
  - Universal Space ▸ ▾
    - 35
    - 36
- CHAPTER III—CREATION ▸ ▾
  - Creation of Worlds ▸ ▾
    - 37
    - 38
    - 39
    - 40
    - 41
    - 42
  - Creation of Living Beings ▸ ▾
    - 43
    - 44
    - 45
    - 46
    - 47
    - 48
    - 49
  - Populating the Earth – Adam ▸ ▾
    - 50
    - 51
  - Diversity of the Human Race ▸ ▾
    - 52
    - 53
    - 54
  - Existence of Multiple Worlds ▸ ▾
    - 55
    - 56
    - 57
    - 58
  - Biblical Account of Creation ▸ ▾
    - 59
- CHAPTER IV—THE VITAL PRINCIPLE ▸ ▾
  - Organic and Inorganic ▸ ▾
    - 60
    - 61
    - 62
    - 63
    - 64
    - 65
    - 66
    - 67
  - Life and Death ▸ ▾
    - 68
    - 69
    - 70
  - Intelligence and Instinct ▸ ▾
    - 71
    - 72
    - 73
    - 74
    - 75
BOOK TWO—THE SPIRIT WORLD ▸ ▾
- CHAPTER I—SPIRITS ▸ ▾
  - Origin and Nature of Spirits ▸ ▾
    - 76
    - 77
    - 78
    - 79
    - 80
    - 81
    - 82
    - 83
  - Primitive Normal World ▸ ▾
    - 84
    - 85
    - 86
    - 87
  - Form and Omnipresence of Spirits ▸ ▾
    - 88
    - 89
    - 90
    - 91
    - 92
  - Perispirit ▸ ▾
    - 93
    - 94
    - 95
  - Different Orders of Spirits ▸ ▾
    - 96
    - 97
    - 98
    - 99
  - Spirit Hierarchy ▸ ▾
  - Progression of Spints ▸ ▾
    - 114
    - 115
    - 116
    - 117
    - 118
    - 119
    - 120
    - 121
    - 122
    - 123
    - 124
    - 125
    - 126
    - 127
  - ANGELS AND DEMONS ▸ ▾
    - 128
    - 129
    - 130
    - 131
- CHAPTER II—INCARNATION OF SPIRITS ▸ ▾
  - Purpose of Incarnation ▸ ▾
    - 132
    - 133
  - The Soul ▸ ▾
    - 134
    - 135
    - 136
    - 137
    - 138
    - 139
    - 140
    - 141
    - 142
    - 143
    - 144
    - 145
    - 146
  - Materialism ▸ ▾
    - 147
    - 148
- CHAPTER III—RETURN TO THE SPIRIT WORLD FROM THE PHYSICAL LIFE ▸ ▾
  - The Soul after Death ▸ ▾
    - 149
    - 150
    - 151
    - 152
    - 153
  - Separation of the Soul and Body ▸ ▾
    - 154
    - 155
    - 156
    - 157
    - 158
    - 159
    - 160
    - 161
    - 162
  - Spirit Confusion ▸ ▾
    - 163
    - 164
    - 165
- CHAPTER IV—MULTIPLE LIVES ▸ ▾
  - On Reincarnation ▸ ▾
    - 166
    - 167
    - 168
    - 169
    - 170
  - Justice of Reincarnation ▸ ▾
    - 171
  - Incarnation on Different Worlds ▸ ▾
    - 172
    - 173
    - 174
    - 175
    - 176
    - 177
    - 178
    - 179
    - 180
    - 181
    - 182
    - 183
    - 184
    - 185
    - 186
    - 187
    - 188
  - Progressive Transmigration ▸ ▾
    - 189
    - 190
    - 191
    - 192
    - 193
    - 194
    - 195
    - 196
  - Fate of Children after Death ▸ ▾
    - 197
    - 198
    - 199
  - Gender of Spirits ▸ ▾
    - 200
    - 201
    - 202
  - Family Relationships ▸ ▾
    - 203
    - 204
    - 205
    - 206
  - Physical and Moral Likeness ▸ ▾
    - 207
    - 208
    - 209
    - 210
    - 211
    - 212
    - 213
    - 214
    - 215
    - 216
    - 217
  - Innate Ideas ▸ ▾
    - 218
    - 219
    - 220
    - 221
- CHAPTER V—CONSIDERATIONS ON MULTIPLE LIVES ▸ ▾
  - 222
- CHAPTER VI—SPIRIT LIFE ▸ ▾
  - Errant Spirits ▸ ▾
    - 223
    - 224
    - 225
    - 226
    - 227
    - 228
    - 229
    - 230
    - 231
    - 232
    - 233
  - Transitional Worlds ▸ ▾
    - 234
    - 235
    - 236
  - Spirit Perceptions, Sensations and Suffering of Spirits ▸ ▾
    - 237
    - 238
    - 239
    - 240
    - 241
    - 242
    - 243
    - 244
    - 245
    - 246
    - 247
    - 248
    - 249
    - 250
    - 251
    - 252
    - 253
    - 254
    - 255
    - 256
  - Theoretical Essay of Spirit Sensation ▸ ▾
    - 257
  - Choice of Trials ▸ ▾
    - 258
    - 259
    - 260
    - 261
    - 262
    - 263
    - 264
    - 265
    - 266
    - 267
    - 268
    - 269
    - 270
    - 271
    - 272
    - 273
  - Relationships Beyond the Grave ▸ ▾
    - 274
    - 275
    - 276
    - 277
    - 278
    - 279
    - 280
    - 281
    - 282
    - 283
    - 284
    - 285
    - 286
    - 287
    - 288
    - 289
    - 290
  - Spirit Sympathy and Antipathy – Soul Mates ▸ ▾
    - 291
    - 292
    - 293
    - 294
    - 295
    - 296
    - 297
    - 298
    - 299
    - 300
    - 301
    - 302
    - 303
  - Memory of Physical Life ▸ ▾
    - 304
    - 305
    - 306
    - 307
    - 308
    - 309
    - 310
    - 311
    - 312
    - 313
    - 314
    - 315
    - 316
    - 317
    - 318
    - 319
  - Commemoration of the Dead - Funerals ▸ ▾
    - 320
    - 321
    - 322
    - 323
    - 324
    - 325
    - 326
    - 327
    - 328
    - 329
- CHAPTER VII—RETURN TO PHYSICAL LIFE ▸ ▾
  - Before the Return ▸ ▾
    - 330
    - 331
    - 332
    - 333
    - 334
    - 335
    - 336
    - 337
    - 338
    - 339
    - 340
    - 341
    - 342
    - 343
  - Union of Body and Soul – Abortion ▸ ▾
    - 344
    - 345
    - 346
    - 347
    - 348
    - 349
    - 350
    - 351
    - 352
    - 353
    - 354
    - 355
    - 356
    - 357
    - 358
    - 359
    - 360
  - Moral and Intellectual Faculties ▸ ▾
    - 361
    - 362
    - 363
    - 364
    - 365
    - 366
  - Infuence of the Body ▸ ▾
    - 367
    - 368
    - 369
    - 370
  - Mental Impairment and Insanity ▸ ▾
    - 371
    - 372
    - 373
    - 374
    - 375
    - 376
    - 377
    - 378
  - Infancy ▸ ▾
    - 379
    - 380
    - 381
    - 382
    - 383
    - 384
    - 385
  - Earthly Sympathies and Antipathies ▸ ▾
    - 386
    - 387
    - 388
    - 389
    - 390
    - 391
  - Forgetfulness of the Past ▸ ▾
    - 392
    - 393
    - 394
    - 395
    - 396
    - 397
    - 398
    - 399
- CHAPTER VIII—EMANCIPATION OF THE SOUL ▸ ▾
  - Sleep and Dreams ▸ ▾
    - 400
    - 401
    - 402
    - 403
    - 404
    - 405
    - 406
    - 407
    - 408
    - 409
    - 410
    - 411
    - 412
  - Spirit Visits of Living Individuals ▸ ▾
    - 413
    - 414
    - 415
    - 416
    - 417
    - 418
  - Concealed Transmission of Thoughts ▸ ▾
    - 419
    - 420
    - 421
  - Lethargy and Catalepsy – Apparent Death ▸ ▾
    - 422
    - 423
    - 424
  - Somnambulism ▸ ▾
    - 425
    - 426
    - 427
    - 428
    - 429
    - 430
    - 431
    - 432
    - 433
    - 434
    - 435
    - 436
    - 437
    - 438
  - Ecstatic Trance ▸ ▾
    - 439
    - 440
    - 441
    - 442
    - 443
    - 444
    - 445
    - 446
  - Second Sight ▸ ▾
    - 447
    - 448
    - 449
    - 450
    - 451
    - 452
    - 453
    - 454
  - Theoretical Summary of Somnambulism, Ecstatic Trance and Second Sight ▸ ▾
    - 455
- CHAPTER IX—INTERVENTION OF SPIRITS ON THE PHYSICAL WORLD ▸ ▾
  - Penetration of our Thoughts by Spirits ▸ ▾
    - 456
    - 457
    - 458
  - Covert Infuence of Spirits on our Thoughts and Actions ▸ ▾
    - 459
    - 460
    - 461
    - 462
    - 463
    - 464
    - 465
    - 466
    - 467
    - 468
    - 469
    - 470
    - 471
    - 472
  - The Possessed ▸ ▾
    - 473
    - 474
    - 475
    - 476
    - 477
    - 478
    - 479
    - 480
  - Convulsionaries ▸ ▾
    - 481
    - 482
    - 483
  - Affection of Spirits for Certain Individuals ▸ ▾
    - 484
    - 485
    - 486
    - 487
    - 488
  - Guardian Angels: Protective, Familiar and Sympathetic Spirits ▸ ▾
    - 489
    - 490
    - 491
    - 492
    - 493
    - 494
    - 495
    - 496
    - 497
    - 498
    - 499
    - 500
    - 501
    - 502
    - 503
    - 504
    - 505
    - 506
    - 507
    - 508
    - 509
    - 510
    - 511
    - 512
    - 513
    - 514
    - 515
    - 516
    - 517
    - 518
    - 519
    - 520
    - 521
  - Presentiments ▸ ▾
    - 522
    - 523
    - 524
  - Influence of Spirits in Life Events ▸ ▾
    - 525
    - 526
    - 527
    - 528
    - 529
    - 530
    - 531
    - 532
    - 533
    - 534
    - 535
  - Role of Spirits in Natural Phenomena ▸ ▾
    - 536
    - 537
    - 538
    - 539
    - 540
  - Spirits during Wars ▸ ▾
    - 541
    - 542
    - 543
    - 544
    - 546
    - 546
    - 547
    - 548
  - Pacts ▸ ▾
    - 549
    - 550
  - Occult Powers, Talismans and Sorcerers ▸ ▾
    - 551
    - 552
    - 553
    - 554
    - 555
    - 556
  - Blessings and Curses ▸ ▾
    - 557
- CHAPTER X—SPIRIT OCCUPATIONS AND MISSIONS ▸ ▾
  - 558
  - 559
  - 560
  - 561
  - 562
  - 563
  - 564
  - 565
  - 566
  - 567
  - 568
  - 569
  - 570
  - 571
  - 572
  - 573
  - 574
  - 575
  - 576
  - 577
  - 578
  - 579
  - 580
  - 581
  - 582
  - 583
  - 584
- CHAPTER XI—THE THREE KINGDOMS ▸ ▾
  - Minerals and Plants ▸ ▾
    - 585
    - 586
    - 587
    - 588
    - 589
    - 590
    - 591
  - Animals and Humans ▸ ▾
    - 592
    - 593
    - 594
    - 595
    - 596
    - 597
    - 598
    - 599
    - 600
    - 601
    - 602
    - 603
    - 604
    - 605
    - 606
    - 607
    - 608
    - 609
    - 610
  - Metempsychosis ▸ ▾
    - 611
    - 612
    - 613
BOOK THREE—MORAL LAWS ▸ ▾
- CHAPTER I—DIVINE OR NATURAL LAW ▸ ▾
  - Characteristics of Natural Law ▸ ▾
    - 614
    - 615
    - 616
    - 617
    - 618
  - Knowledge of Natural Law ▸ ▾
    - 619
    - 620
    - 621
    - 622
    - 623
    - 624
    - 625
    - 626
    - 627
    - 628
  - Good and Evil ▸ ▾
    - 629
    - 630
    - 631
    - 632
    - 633
    - 634
    - 635
    - 636
    - 637
    - 638
    - 639
    - 640
    - 641
    - 642
    - 643
    - 644
    - 645
    - 646
  - Division of Natural Law ▸ ▾
    - 647
    - 648
- CHAPTER II—I. LAW OF WORSHIP ▸ ▾
  - Purpose of Worship ▸ ▾
    - 649
    - 650
    - 651
    - 652
  - External Worship ▸ ▾
    - 653
    - 654
    - 655
    - 656
  - Life of Contemplation ▸ ▾
    - 657
  - Prayer ▸ ▾
    - 658
    - 659
    - 660
    - 661
    - 662
    - 663
    - 664
    - 665
    - 666
  - Polytheism ▸ ▾
    - 667
    - 668
  - Sacrifices ▸ ▾
    - 669
    - 670
    - 671
    - 672
    - 673
- CHAPTER III—II. LAW OF LABOR ▸ ▾
  - Necessity of Labor ▸ ▾
    - 674
    - 675
    - 676
    - 677
    - 678
    - 679
    - 680
    - 681
  - Limit of Labor – Rest ▸ ▾
    - 682
    - 683
    - 684
    - 685
- CHAPTER IV—III. LAW OF REPRODUCTION ▸ ▾
  - Population of the Globe ▸ ▾
    - 686
    - 687
  - Succession and Development of the Human Race ▸ ▾
    - 688
    - 689
    - 690
    - 691
    - 692
  - Obstacles to Reproduction ▸ ▾
    - 693
    - 694
  - Marriage and Celibacy ▸ ▾
    - 695
    - 696
    - 697
    - 698
    - 699
  - Polygamy ▸ ▾
    - 700
    - 701
- CHAPTER V — IV. THE LAW OF PRESERVATION ▸ ▾
  - Instinct of Self-Preservation ▸ ▾
    - 702
    - 703
  - Means of Self-Preservation ▸ ▾
    - 704
    - 705
    - 706
    - 707
    - 708
    - 709
    - 710
  - Enjoying the Fruits of the Earth ▸ ▾
    - 711
    - 712
    - 713
    - 714
  - Necessary and Superfluous Things ▸ ▾
    - 715
    - 716
    - 717
  - Voluntary Deprivations – Mortifications ▸ ▾
    - 718
    - 719
    - 720
    - 721
    - 722
    - 723
    - 724
    - 725
    - 726
    - 727
- CHAPTER VI—V. LAW OF DESTRUCTION ▸ ▾
  - Necessary versus Abusive Destruction ▸ ▾
    - 728
    - 729
    - 730
    - 731
    - 732
    - 733
    - 734
    - 735
    - 736
  - Destructive Scourges ▸ ▾
    - 737
    - 738
    - 739
    - 740
    - 741
  - War ▸ ▾
    - 742
    - 743
    - 744
    - 745
  - Murder ▸ ▾
    - 746
    - 747
    - 748
    - 749
    - 750
    - 751
  - Cruelty ▸ ▾
    - 752
    - 753
    - 754
    - 755
    - 756
  - Duelling ▸ ▾
    - 757
    - 758
    - 759
  - Capital Punishment ▸ ▾
    - 760
    - 761
    - 762
    - 763
    - 764
    - 765
- CHAPTER VII—VI. LAW OF SOCIETY ▸ ▾
  - Necessity of Social Life ▸ ▾
    - 766
    - 767
    - 768
  - Life of Isolation – Vow of Silence ▸ ▾
    - 769
    - 770
    - 771
    - 772
  - Family Ties ▸ ▾
    - 773
    - 774
    - 775
- CHAPTER VIII—VII. LAW OF PROGRESS ▸ ▾
  - State of Nature ▸ ▾
    - 776
    - 777
    - 778
  - The March of Progress ▸ ▾
    - 779
    - 780
    - 781
    - 782
    - 783
    - 784
    - 785
  - Declining Nations ▸ ▾
    - 786
    - 787
    - 788
    - 789
  - Civilisation ▸ ▾
    - 790
    - 791
    - 792
    - 793
  - Progress of Societal Legislation ▸ ▾
    - 794
    - 795
    - 796
    - 797
  - Influence of Spiritism on Progress ▸ ▾
    - 798
    - 799
    - 800
    - 801
    - 802
- CHAPTER IX—VIII. LAW OF EQUALITY ▸ ▾
  - Natural Equality ▸ ▾
    - 803
  - Inequality of Aptitudes ▸ ▾
    - 804
    - 805
  - Social Inequalities ▸ ▾
    - 806
    - 807
  - Economic Inequality ▸ ▾
    - 808
    - 809
    - 810
    - 811
    - 812
    - 813
  - Trials of Wealth and Poverty ▸ ▾
    - 814
    - 815
    - 816
  - Equality Rights for Men and Women ▸ ▾
    - 817
    - 818
    - 819
    - 820
    - 821
    - 822
  - Equality in Death ▸ ▾
    - 823
    - 824
- CHAPTER X—IX. LAW OF LIBERTY ▸ ▾
  - Natural Freedom ▸ ▾
    - 825
    - 826
    - 827
    - 828
  - Slavery ▸ ▾
    - 829
    - 830
    - 831
    - 832
  - Freedom of Thought ▸ ▾
    - 833
    - 834
  - Freedom of Conscience ▸ ▾
    - 835
    - 836
    - 837
    - 838
    - 839
    - 840
    - 841
    - 842
  - Free Will ▸ ▾
    - 843
    - 844
    - 845
    - 846
    - 847
    - 848
    - 849
    - 850
  - Fatalism ▸ ▾
    - 851
    - 852
    - 853
    - 854
    - 855
    - 856
    - 857
    - 858
    - 859
    - 860
    - 861
    - 862
    - 863
    - 864
    - 865
    - 866
    - 867
  - Foreknowledge of the Future ▸ ▾
    - 868
    - 869
    - 870
    - 871
  - Theoretical Explanation of the Motive Behind Human Action ▸ ▾
    - 872
- CHAPTER XI—X. LAW OF JUSTICE, LOVE AND CHARITY ▸ ▾
  - Natural Rights and Justice ▸ ▾
    - 873
    - 874
    - 875
    - 876
    - 877
    - 878
    - 879
  - The Right of Property – Theft ▸ ▾
    - 880
    - 881
    - 882
    - 883
    - 885
  - Charity and Loving Your Neighbor ▸ ▾
    - 886
    - 887
    - 888
    - 889
  - Maternal and Filial Love ▸ ▾
    - 890
    - 891
    - 892
- CHAPTER XII—MORAL PERFECTlON ▸ ▾
  - Virtues and Vices ▸ ▾
    - 893
    - 894
    - 895
    - 896
    - 897
    - 898
    - 899
    - 900
    - 901
    - 902
    - 903
    - 904
    - 905
    - 906
  - Passions ▸ ▾
    - 907
    - 908
    - 909
    - 910
    - 911
    - 912
  - Selfishness ▸ ▾
    - 913
    - 914
    - 915
    - 916
    - 917
  - Characteristics of the Virtuous Man ▸ ▾
    - 918
  - Self-Knowledge ▸ ▾
    - 919
BOOK FOUR—HOPE AND CONSOLATION ▸ ▾
- CHAPTER I—EARTHLY JOYS AND SORROWS ▸ ▾
  - Relative Happiness and Unhappiness ▸ ▾
    - 920
    - 921
    - 922
    - 923
    - 924
    - 925
    - 926
    - 927
    - 928
    - 929
    - 930
    - 931
    - 932
    - 933
  - Loss of Loved Ones ▸ ▾
    - 934
    - 935
    - 936
  - Disappointment – Shattered Affections ▸ ▾
    - 937
    - 938
  - Antipathetic Relationships ▸ ▾
    - 939
    - 940
  - Fear of Death ▸ ▾
    - 941
    - 942
  - Distaste for Life – Suicide ▸ ▾
    - 943
    - 944
    - 945
    - 946
    - 947
    - 948
    - 949
    - 950
    - 951
    - 952
    - 953
    - 954
    - 955
    - 956
    - 957
- CHAPTER II—FUTURE JOYS AND SORROWS ▸ ▾
  - Nothingness – Future Life ▸ ▾
    - 958
    - 959
  - Intuition of Future Joys and Sorrows ▸ ▾
    - 960
    - 961
    - 962
  - Intervention of God in Rewards and Atonements ▸ ▾
    - 963
    - 964
  - Nature of Future Joys and Sorrows ▸ ▾
    - 965
    - 966
    - 967
    - 968
    - 969
    - 970
    - 971
    - 972
    - 973
    - 974
    - 975
    - 976
    - 977
    - 978
    - 979
    - 980
    - 981
    - 982
  - Temporary Atonements ▸ ▾
    - 983
    - 984
    - 985
    - 986
    - 987
    - 988
    - 989
  - Atonement and Repentance ▸ ▾
    - 990
    - 991
    - 992
    - 993
    - 994
    - 995
    - 996
    - 997
    - 998
    - 999
    - 1000
    - 1001
    - 1002
  - Duration of Future Atonements ▸ ▾
    - 1003
    - 1004
    - 1005
    - 1006
    - 1007
    - 1008
    - 1009
  - Resurrection of the Body ▸ ▾
    - 1010 ▸ ▾
      - 1010 - a
  - Heaven, Hell and Purgatory ▸ ▾
CONCLUSION ▸ ▾
- I
- II
- III
- IV
- V
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769. As a rule, we understand that social life is founded in nature as well as all preferences. Why is absolute isolation wrong if an individual finds satisfaction in it and since all predilections are found in nature?
“This satisfaction is selfish. There are those who find satisfaction in getting drunk. Do you approve of them? God is not happy with lives that are doomed to not being useful to anyone.”

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The Spirits' Book

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