The New Revelation by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The work explores the author's journey from skepticism to belief in spiritualism and the afterlife, detailing personal experiences and observations that challenge materialist views. Initially a materialist, the author recounts how encounters with spiritual phenomena, such as table movements and messages from purported spirits, prompted a reevaluation of his beliefs. He reflects on the influence of notable scientists who endorsed spiritualism, which further piqued his interest. The narrative includes various seances, where messages from spirits provided insights into life after death, often contradicting preconceived notions. The author describes instances of communication with deceased individuals, emphasizing the consistency of their messages regarding the afterlife, which includes themes of happiness, community, and the absence of pain. He notes that spirits retain their personalities and experiences, suggesting continuity beyond death. The text critiques materialism, arguing that the evidence for spiritual existence undermines its foundations. It posits that traditional religious beliefs may need to adapt to incorporate these new understandings, particularly regarding the nature of sin, redemption, and the role of Christ. The author suggests that the essence of Christianity aligns with the revelations from the spirit world, emphasizing love, personal growth, and the importance of moral conduct. The work also addresses the challenges of discerning genuine spiritual communication from deception, highlighting the need for critical examination of messages received from the other side. The author advocates for a respectful and open-minded approach to spiritualism, encouraging readers to explore the vast literature on the subject and to seek personal experiences that affirm the continuity of life after death. Ultimately, the text presents spiritualism as a significant development in human understanding, offering hope and comfort in the face of mortality. It calls for a synthesis of spiritual insights with existing religious frameworks, aiming for a more unified and compassionate worldview that transcends dogma and embraces the shared human experience of seeking truth and connection with the divine.
By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle · First published 1918 · Genre: Spiritualism, Philosophy, Non-fiction · 7 chapters · 26,939 words
First lines
The subject of psychical research is one upon which I have thought more / and about which I have been slower to form my opinion, than upon any / other subject whatever. Every now and then as one jogs along through / life some small incident happens which very forcibly brings home the / fact that time passes and that first youth and then middle age are / slipping away. Such a one occurred the other day. There is a column / in that excellent little paper, Light, which is devoted to what was / recorded on the corresponding date a generation -- that is thirty / years -- ago. As I read over this column recently I had quite a start as / I saw my own name, and read the reprint of a letter which I had written / in 1887, detailing some interesting spiritual experience which had / occurred in a seance. Thus it is manifest that my interest in the / subject is of some standing, and also, since it is only within the last / year or two that I have finally declared myself to be satisfied with / the evidence, that I have not been hasty in forming my opinion. If I / set down some of my experiences and difficulties my readers will not, I / hope, think it egotistical upon my part, but will realise that it is / the most graphic way in which to sketch out the points which are likely / to occur to any other inquirer. When I have passed over this ground, / it will be possible to get on to something more general and impersonal / in its nature.
What this Textopian page supports
The New Revelation is listed on Textopian as an essay by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, dated 1918 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- Date: 1918 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Spiritualism, Philosophy, Non-fiction, Mysticism, Biography
- Length: 26,939 words
- Structure: 7 chapters, 106 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The New Revelation by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
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Genres
- Spiritualism — The book explores themes of life after death and communication with spirits, central to spiritualist beliefs.
- Philosophy — It delves into philosophical questions about existence, morality, and the nature of reality.
- Non-fiction — The work presents arguments and discussions based on real-life experiences and observations.
- Mysticism — It incorporates mystical elements and the exploration of higher consciousness.
Tags
spirituality · philosophy · mysticism · supernatural · afterlife · mediumship · communication · spirit world · belief · science · religion · enlightenment
Contents
- The Search
- The Revelation
- The Coming Life
- Problems and Limitations
- The Next Phase of Life
- Automatic Writing
- The Cheriton Dugout
More by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- The Parish Magazine (1914)
- The Great Brown-Pericord Motor (1914)
- The Holocaust of Manor Place (1901)
- The Debatable Case of Mrs. Emsley (1901)
- The Love Affair of George Vincent Parker (1901)
- The Disintegration Machine (1927)
- The Bully of Brocas Court (1914)
- The Brown Hand (1914)
- All works by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle