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Life Everlasting

Chapter 7: Historical
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About This Book

A philosophical and anthropological exploration traces how human cultures have developed beliefs about survival after bodily death from primitive ghost‑ideas to refined theological and poetic formulations. It analyzes origins in dreams, animism, and funerary practice and shows how such beliefs have influenced ethics and social institutions. It then confronts modern evolutionary and scientific objections, assessing whether notions of a disembodied continuant remain coherent when natural history is taken into account. Through comparative myth‑making and reasoned argument the work seeks to reconcile imaginative yearnings for immortality with critical knowledge while clarifying the psychological and moral functions those yearnings perform.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Shaler, The Individual, p. 194.

[2] Herbert Spencer, First Principles (final ed.), p. 185.


WRITINGS OF JOHN FISKE

Historical

THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA

With some Account of Ancient America and the Spanish Conquest. With a Steel Portrait of Mr. Fiske, many maps, facsimiles, etc. 2 vols. crown 8vo, gilt top, $3.60.

The book brings together a great deal of information hitherto accessible only in special treatises, and elucidates with care and judgment some of the most perplexing problems in the history of discovery.—The Speaker (London).

OLD VIRGINIA AND HER NEIGHBOURS

2 vols. crown 8vo, gilt top, $3.60.
Illustrated Edition, 2 vols. 8vo, $8.00.

History has rarely been invested with such interest and charm as in these volumes.—The Outlook (New York).

THE BEGINNINGS OF NEW ENGLAND

Or, the Puritan Theocracy in its Relations to Civil and Religious Liberty. Crown 8vo, $1.80. Illustrated Edition. Containing Portraits, Maps, Facsimiles, Contemporary Views, Prints, and other Historic Materials. 8vo, gilt top, $4.00.

Having in the first chapters strikingly and convincingly shown that New England's history was the birth of centuries of travail, and having prepared his readers to estimate at their true importance the events of our early colonial life, Mr. Fiske is ready to take up his task as the historian of the New England of the Puritans.—Advertiser (Boston).

THE DUTCH AND QUAKER COLONIES IN AMERICA

With 8 Maps. 2 vols. crown 8vo, gilt top, $3.60.
Illustrated Edition, 2 vols. 8vo, $8.00.

The work is a lucid summary of the events of a changeful and important time, carefully examined by a conscientious scholar, who is master of his subject.—Daily News (London).

All prices are net.

NEW FRANCE AND NEW ENGLAND

With Maps. Crown 8vo, $1.80.

Illustrated Edition. Containing about 200 Illustrations. 8vo, gilt top, $4.00.

This volume presents in broad and philosophic manner the causes and events which marked the victory on this continent of the English civilization over the French.

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

With Plans of Battles, and a Steel Portrait of Washington. 2 vols. crown 8vo, gilt top, $3.60. Illustrated Edition. Containing about 300 Illustrations. 2 vols. 8vo, gilt top, $8.00.

Beneath his sympathetic and illuminating touch the familiar story comes out in fresh and vivid colors.—New Orleans Times-Democrat.

THE CRITICAL PERIOD OF AMERICAN HISTORY, 1783-1789

With Map, Notes, etc. Crown 8vo, gilt top, $1.80. Illustrated Edition. Containing about 170 Illustrations. 8vo, gilt top, $4.00.


The foregoing historical works also in the Riverside Pocket Edition, in 12 vols. Each with a frontispiece. Narrow 16mo, limp leather, $2.00 each. The set, $24.00.


THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

In Riverside Library for Young People. With Maps. 16mo, 75 cents.

THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY IN THE CIVIL WAR

With 23 Maps and Plans. 1 vol. crown 8vo, $1.80.

A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES FOR SCHOOLS

With Topical Analysis, Suggestive Questions, and Directions for Teachers, by F. A. Hill, and Illustrations and Maps. Crown 8vo, $1.00, net.

AMERICAN POLITICAL IDEAS

Crown 8vo, $1.50.

Religious and Philosophical

THE DESTINY OF MAN

Viewed in the Light of His Origin. 16mo, gilt top, $1.00.

Of one thing we may be sure: that none are leading us more surely or rapidly to the full truth than men like the author of this little book, who reverently study the works of God for the lessons which He would teach his children.—Christian Union (New York).

THE IDEA OF GOD

As Affected by Modern Knowledge. 16mo, gilt top, $1.00.

The vigor, the earnestness, the honesty, and the freedom from cant and subtlety in his writings are exceedingly refreshing. He is a scholar, a critic, and a thinker of the first order.—Christian Register (Boston).

THROUGH NATURE TO GOD

16mo, gilt top, $1.00.

Contents.The Mystery of Evil; The Cosmic Roots of Love and Self-Sacrifice; The Everlasting Reality of Religion.

The little volume has a reasonableness and a persuasiveness that cannot fail to commend its arguments to all.—Public Ledger (Philadelphia).

LIFE EVERLASTING

16mo, gilt top, $1.00 net.

This brief work is a contribution to the evolution of the theory of evolution on lines which are full of the deepest suggestiveness to Christian thinkers.—The Congregationalist.

OUTLINES OF COSMIC PHILOSOPHY

Based on the Doctrine of Evolution, with Criticisms on the Positive Philosophy. In 4 volumes, 8vo, $7.20.

You must allow me to thank you for the very great interest with which I have at last slowly read the whole of your work.... I never in my life read so lucid an expositor (and therefore thinker) as you are.—Charles Darwin.

DARWINISM, AND OTHER ESSAYS

Crown 8vo, gilt top, $1.80.

MYTHS AND MYTH-MAKERS

Old Tales and Superstitions interpreted by Comparative Mythology. Crown 8vo, gilt top, $1.80.

THE UNSEEN WORLD

And Other Essays. Crown 8vo, gilt top, $1.80.

EXCURSIONS OF AN EVOLUTIONIST

Crown 8vo, gilt top, $1.80.

Miscellaneous

A CENTURY OF SCIENCE

And Other Essays. Crown 8vo, $1.80.

Among our thoughtful essayists there are none more brilliant than Mr. John Fiske. His pure style suits his clear thought.—The Nation (New York).

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED STATES

Considered with some Reference to its Origins. With Questions on the Text by Frank A. Hill, and Bibliographical Notes by Mr. Fiske. Crown 8vo, $1.00, net.

It is most admirable, alike in plan and execution, and will do a vast amount of good in teaching our people the principles and forms of our civil institutions.—Moses Coit Tyler, Professor of American Constitutional History and Law, Cornell University.

 

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