Oahspe: A New Bible (Annotated)
About the eBook
John Ballou Newbrough's *Oahspe: A New Bible* (1882) is an immense work of occult scripture that presents itself as a revelation for the modern age. Comprising cosmological histories, prophetic narratives, ethical teachings, and accounts of spiritual worlds, it reimagines human history within a vast celestial struggle and envisions a communal, humanitarian society guided by cooperation rather than domination. Its archaic biblical diction, visionary symbolism, genealogical catalogues, and pseudo-historical chronicles deliberately recall the King James Bible while also reflecting nineteenth-century spiritualism, esoteric speculation, and utopian reform. The result is less a conventional narrative than a total religious cosmology, intended to supply new sacred authority for a changing world. Newbrough (1828–1891), an American dentist and committed spiritualist, claimed that the text was produced through supernatural or automatic writing, reportedly with the aid of a typewriter operated under spiritual influence. His interests in mediumship, social reform, communal living, and humanitarian service shaped the book's expansive theology and its practical vision of a more equitable civilization. *Oahspe* therefore belongs both to the history of alternative scriptures and to the broader nineteenth-century search for religious forms capable of reconciling science, revelation, and social progress. Readers interested in spiritualism, new religious movements, utopian thought, or the cultural history of American religion will find *Oahspe* a remarkable and provocative document. Its extraordinary scale and unconventional theology can be demanding, but they reward attentive reading as evidence of how revelation was reinvented in the modern era. It is especially recommended as a primary text for examining the imaginative possibilities—and persistent anxieties—of nineteenth-century religious innovation.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
About the Author
John Ballou Newbrough (1828 - 1891) was a controversial American dentist, spiritualist, and author, best known for his work 'Oahspe: A New Bible,' published in 1882. Newbrough claimed that the text of Oahspe was the result of 'automatic writing,' dictated to him by spirits in a trance state (Newbrough, 1882). A tome of spiritual and moral teachings, the book presents itself as a new revelation which combines elements of nineteenth-century spiritualism with a unique cosmology and narrative of human history. Newbrough's work has been described as part of the broader spiritualist movement of his time, weaving threads from various religious traditions with a heavy emphasis on spirit communion and utopianism (Godwin, 1994). 'Oahspe' includes descriptions of heavenly realms, prophecies, and ethical axioms intended to instruct humanity on a path of spiritual progress. The book outlines a detailed history of the earth and humanity's development, which Newbrough claims was revealed to him not through research but through supernatural means. His literary style is characterized by an idiosyncratic vocabulary and an attempt to create an epic narrative combining theology, spirituality, and moral philosophy. Despite being a divisive figure, Newbrough's influence persists among small spiritual communities that adhere to the teachings of 'Oahspe,' which remains his primary literary and spiritual legacy.
Product Details
Publisher: DigiCat
Genre: Sprache - Englisch
Language: English
Size: 2021 Pages
Filesize: 12.2 MB
ISBN: 8596547734338
Published: Nov. 26, 2023