Modern spiritism; its science and religion - SpiritArchive.org

SPIRITISM AND THE DEAD 105
is so great that I cannot recognise myself under these
conditions as the same person
I now am.
"We are apt to thrust this difference aside by
saying that the true self of a man consists of his
moral characteristics. That I do not question as an
abstract proposition. But moral characteristics are
elusive and difficult to define. I imagine a man
would have some difficulty in picking out his wife in
a crowd ... if he had nothing but her moral
characteristics to go by. Speaking for myself, I
am by no means sure what my moral characteristics
are. I would much rather be asked for my weight
or my height." Professor Jacks also notes that
"there is no proof whatever in Spiritism that the
voice comes from 'the other side,' or from spirits,
or that these are disembodied. They may come from
this world, and other sources altogether."
Some Discrepancies
Another significant point he notes is that those
who communicate always retain the distinction of sex.
"Must," Professor Jacks further asks, "they always
speak in the language of the present day, and not
that of the age they lived in ;
in English or in French ?
Moreover, they are in time, not eternity, for they
speak of the 'future.' They are constantly getting
tired" (which, however intelligible in the medium
is inexplicable in them). "They can hear and see!
We are led to conclude these are human beings, but
this need not prove they are the dead. You cannot
separate the individual from his world; and these
individuals evidently carry their world with them;
for it is ours!"