Abstract
Two 1970s channelers claimed to be in touch with the spirit of William James. Their writings present an interesting version of James that they admit is partially their own construction. Demonic possession for them becomes something psychologically nuanced: a semi-conscious, creative blend of personalities rather than uncontrolled alternations of controlling personalities. Using the investigations of contemporary psychologist Gary Schwartz, the writings of James, and the writings of two prominent mediums claiming to be in contact with a post-mortem James, an analysis is made not only of the epistemological issues involved in demonic influence but also the ethical issues involved in therapeutic practice. The insights of two contemporary mediums—Allison DuBois and John Edward—are given both a charitable and skeptical reading.
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Ruetenik, T. (2018). Contemporary Mediums and the Return of William James. In: The Demons of William James. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91623-1_4
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