Spiritualism, A Satanic Delusion, and a Sign of the Times (1857)
Published in 1857, Spiritualism, A Satanic Delusion, and a Sign of the Times reflects the heated debate surrounding the rise of modern spiritualism in mid-19th century America and Europe. As séances, table-rapping, and communication with the dead gained widespread popularity, religious leaders and theologians responded with strong denunciations. This work is one of the earliest and most direct condemnations, framing spiritualism not as harmless curiosity, but as a dangerous deception of demonic origin.
The book places spiritualist practices within a biblical and moral framework, warning that attempts to summon or communicate with spirits are not messages from the departed but manifestations of satanic influence. It presents spiritualism as both a theological threat and a cultural phenomenon symptomatic of the times signaling what the author believed were deeper spiritual and societal declines.
For collectors, this work represents a fascinating counterpoint to pro-spiritualist writings of the period, providing valuable insight into the religious and cultural resistance that paralleled the movement’s rise. Its pages capture the tension between faith, skepticism, and the supernatural during a pivotal era in occult and religious history.
Title: Spiritualism, A Satanic Delusion, and a Sign of the Times
Publication Year: 1857
Subject Focus: Spiritualism, Occult Criticism, Religious Warnings
Cultural Context: A 19th-century response to the explosive growth of séances, mediumship, and spirit communication.
This 168-year-old volume stands as a stark reminder of how controversial and polarizing the spiritualist movement was in its earliest decades.
 
Additional Keywords used in this book: Witchcraft, demonic, necromancy, séance, mediumship, Satan, phenomena, spirits, manifestations, and more.
 
122-page hard bound book with embossed front and back cover. Gold title on exterior spine. There is shelfware, and pages have age. Book is intact. There is a signature and date from 1858 on the inside page. 
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important.
Author William Ramsey 1803-1858.
Edited with a preface by H. L. Hastings, (Horace Lorenzo), 1831-1899.
 
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