An Unruly Spirit

Unruly Spirits connects the study of séances, telepathy, telekinesis, materializations, and other parapsychic phenomena in France during the age of Sigmund Freud to an epistemological crisis that would eventually yield the French adoption of psychoanalysis. Skillfully navigating experiments conducted by nineteenth-century French psychical researchers and the wide-ranging debates that surrounded their work, M. Brady Brower situates the institutional development of psychical research at the intersection of popular faith and the emergent discipline of psychology. Brower shows how spiritualist mediums were ignored by French academic scientists for nearly three decades. Only after the ideologues of the Third Republic turned to science to address what they took to be the excess of popular democracy would the marvels of mediumism begin to emerge as legitimate objects of scientific inquiry. Taken up by the most prominent physicists, physiologists, and psychologists of the last decades of the nineteenth century, psychical research would eventually stall in the 1920s as researchers struggled to come to terms with interpersonal phenomena (such as trust and good faith) that could not be measured within the framework of their experimental methods. In characterizing psychical research as something other than a mere echo of popular spirituality or an anomaly among the sciences, Brower argues that the questions surrounding mediums served to sustain the scientific project by forestalling the establishment of a closed and complete system of knowledge. By acknowledging persistent doubt about the intentions of its participants, psychical research would result in the realization of a subjectivity that was essentially indeterminate and would thus clear the way for the French reception of psychoanalysis and the Freudian unconscious and its more comprehensive account of subjective uncertainty.

Unruly Spirits connects the study of séances, telepathy, telekinesis, materializations, and other parapsychic phenomena in France during the age of Sigmund Freud to an epistemological crisis that would eventually yield the French adoption of psychoanalysis. Skillfully navigating experiments conducted by nineteenth-century French psychical researchers and the wide-ranging debates that surrounded their work, M. Brady Brower situates the institutional development of psychical research at the intersection of popular faith and the emergent discipline of psychology. Brower shows how spiritualist mediums were ignored by French academic scientists for nearly three decades. Only after the ideologues of the Third Republic turned to science to address what they took to be the excess of popular democracy would the marvels of mediumism begin to emerge as legitimate objects of scientific inquiry. Taken up by the most prominent physicists, physiologists, and psychologists of the last decades of the nineteenth century, psychical research would eventually stall in the 1920s as researchers struggled to come to terms with interpersonal phenomena (such as trust and good faith) that could not be measured within the framework of their experimental methods. In characterizing psychical research as something other than a mere echo of popular spirituality or an anomaly among the sciences, Brower argues that the questions surrounding mediums served to sustain the scientific project by forestalling the establishment of a closed and complete system of knowledge. By acknowledging persistent doubt about the intentions of its participants, psychical research would result in the realization of a subjectivity that was essentially indeterminate and would thus clear the way for the French reception of psychoanalysis and the Freudian unconscious and its more comprehensive account of subjective uncertainty.

This book demonstrates that 'the awkward age' formed a fault-line in Victorian female experience, an unusual phase in which restlessness, self-interest, and rebellion were possible. Tracing evolving treatments of female adolescence though a host of long-forgotten women's fictions, the book reveals that representations of the girl in popular women's literature importantly anticipated depictions of the feminist in the fin de siècle New Woman writing; conservative portrayals of girls' hopes, dreams, and subsequent frustrations helped clear a literary and cultural space for the New Woman's 'awakening' to disaffected consciousness. The book thus both historicises the evolution and mythic appeal of the female adolescent and works to receive suggestive exchanges between apparently diverse female literary traditions.

According to the author, Christians need to check in with their Lord and Master, the Great Physician, to be certain that the challenges of this life have not produced any major, bad spiritual changes in their spiritual condition. In thirteen chapters, Braswell helps readers assess themselves and addresses how they can recover from their current state. Braswell starts by identifying what readers should look for during the checkup. She covers all aspects of ones being, from the mind to the heart. At the end, she helps readers handle the results of their spiritual examination and leads them to move forward.

"Can you believe he is wearing sandals to church?" "I know, and did you see what she brought for potluck? Doesn't see know better?" "Tell me about it, and did you hear that the pastor supports the school board's decision to hire another teacher? How ridiculous! The school doesn't have the money!" Sound familiar? Our church is often plagued with critical comments and a negative spirit. Instead of reaching out to those in the world, we criticize them. And if they do come to church, we are quick to point out their faults in an effort to help them "grow." Of course, we aren't any better with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We like to point out what we think other people are doing wrong. If we are to finish the work of spreading the gospel to the world, we must unite and cultivate the fruit of the Spirit. We must become like Jesus and banish our critical spirit and let the Holy Spirit develop a loving character in us. Jim Hammer shares personal stories and insights from his own spiritual journey that has brought him Victory Over a Critical Spirit. This is a must read! "Jim has given us a much-needed message. If we could each incorporate its principles into our lives we would bring a new peace and happiness into our families, the church, and the world." June Strong, author of Project Sunlight and Song of Eve "The toxic results of being judgmental are at the heart of why Christianity and its love message have not swept the world. I thank Jim for writing such a sensitive book and for his vulnerability. May God bless you and your Christian walk as you digest and grow in grace by reading this book." Mike Ortel, president, Northern New England Conference