Publisher's Synopsis
The Ghosts is a book written by Col. Robert Green Ingersoll, an American lawyer, lecturer, and politician who lived in the 19th century. The book is a collection of essays and speeches on the topic of ghosts and supernatural phenomena.Ingersoll was a well-known skeptic and atheist, and he used his platform to debunk popular beliefs in ghosts and spirits. He argued that these beliefs were based on superstition and fear, and that there was no scientific evidence to support them.The book covers a wide range of topics related to ghosts, including ghost stories from different cultures, the history of ghost beliefs, and the psychology behind belief in ghosts. Ingersoll also discusses the role of religion in perpetuating belief in ghosts, and the ways in which ghost stories have been used to control and manipulate people.Despite his skepticism, Ingersoll was not dismissive of the human need for mystery and wonder. He acknowledged the power of storytelling and the allure of the unknown, but urged his readers to approach these things with a critical eye and a healthy dose of skepticism.Overall, The Ghosts is a thought-provoking and entertaining book that challenges readers to question their beliefs and think critically about the world around them.For thousands of years it was believed that ghosts, good and bad, benevolent and malignant, weak and powerful, in some mysterious way, produced all phenomena; that disease and health, happiness and misery, fortune and misfortune, peace and war, life and death, success and failure, were but arrows from the quivers of these ghosts; that shadowy phantoms rewarded and punished mankind; that they were pleased and displeased by the actions of men; that they sent and withheld the snow, the light, and the rain; that they blessed the earth with harvests or cursed it with famine; that they fed or starved the children of men.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.