{"product_id":"cassadaga-the-souths-oldest-spiritualist-community-paperback","title":"Cassadaga: The South's Oldest Spiritualist Community - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eJohn J. Jr. Guthrie\u003c\/b\u003e (Editor), \u003cb\u003ePhillip Charles Lucas\u003c\/b\u003e (Editor), \u003cb\u003eGary Monroe\u003c\/b\u003e (Editor)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe story of a small Florida community that has drawn spiritual seekers for over 125 years\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCalling itself a \"metaphysical mecca,\" the small town of Cassadaga, between Orlando and Daytona Beach in central Florida, was established more than 125 years ago on the principle of continuous life, the idea that spirits of the dead commune with the living. Though the founders of Cassadaga have passed on to the \"spirit plane,\" the quaint Victorian town remains the oldest continuously active Spiritualist center in the South and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. While the community has often been sensationalized and misrepresented, this is the first serious work to examine its history, people, cultural environment, and religious system.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter presenting an overview of nineteenth-century religion, the book explores the town's early years, distinctive architecture, ritual life, core beliefs, healing work, and view of the future. It also probes the extent to which Cassadaga has assimilated New Age beliefs and reflects larger trends in contemporary American religious culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe study includes a group biography based on interviews with four residents, plus a chapter on the colorful life of Eloise Page, a practicing medium in Cassadaga for more than 40 years. In addition, it features 47 photographs that guide readers through the town and portray residents engaged in various sacred and everyday activities.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJohn J. Guthrie, Jr.\u003c\/b\u003e (1955-2000) was associate professor of history at Daytona Beach Community College and the author of \u003ci\u003eKeepers of the Spirits: The Judicial Response to Prohibition Enforcement in Florida, 1885-1935\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cb\u003ePhillip Charles Lucas\u003c\/b\u003e is emeritus professor of religious studies at Stetson University and founding general editor of \u003ci\u003eNova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions\u003c\/i\u003e. Lucas's books include \u003ci\u003ePrime Time Religion: An Encyclopedia of Religious Broadcasting\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eNew Religious Movements in the Twenty-First Century: Legal, Political, and Social Challenges in Global Perspective\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cb\u003eGary Monroe\u003c\/b\u003e is a photographer who is best known for his long-term involvements with the old-world Jewish community of South Beach and his work about Haitian immigration and travels throughout Haiti. He has photographed lifestyles in Florida and around the world. His life's work is housed at Emory University's Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eContributors: \u003c\/b\u003e Bret E. Carroll Ann Jerome Croce Paul Jerome Croce John J. Gutherie, Jr. Sidney P. Johnston Phillip Charles Lucas Gary Monroe Anne Barclay Morgan\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 264\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.72 x 10 x 7 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e April 21, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":65933915980125,"sku":"9780813081465","price":34.94,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1025\/5558\/2813\/files\/9PI9Y9d33g9780813081465.webp?v=1789524358","url":"https:\/\/novellybooks.com\/products\/cassadaga-the-souths-oldest-spiritualist-community-paperback","provider":"Novelly Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}