{"product_id":"cassadaga-the-souths-oldest-spiritualist-community-9780813081465","title":"Cassadaga: The South's Oldest Spiritualist Community","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe story of a small Florida community that has drawn spiritual seekers for over 125 years\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCalling\u003cbr\u003e itself a \"metaphysical mecca,\" the small town of Cassadaga, between \u003cbr\u003eOrlando and Daytona Beach in central Florida, was established more than \u003cbr\u003e125 years ago on the principle of continuous life, the idea that spirits\u003cbr\u003e of the dead commune with the living. Though the founders of Cassadaga \u003cbr\u003ehave passed on to the \"spirit plane,\" the quaint Victorian town remains \u003cbr\u003ethe oldest continuously active Spiritualist center in the South and was \u003cbr\u003eadded to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. While the \u003cbr\u003ecommunity has often been sensationalized and misrepresented, this is the\u003cbr\u003e first serious work to examine its history, people, cultural \u003cbr\u003eenvironment, and religious system.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter presenting an overview of\u003cbr\u003e nineteenth-century religion, the book explores the town's early years, \u003cbr\u003edistinctive architecture, ritual life, core beliefs, healing work, and \u003cbr\u003eview of the future. It also probes the extent to which Cassadaga has \u003cbr\u003eassimilated New Age beliefs and reflects larger trends in contemporary \u003cbr\u003eAmerican religious culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe study includes a group biography \u003cbr\u003ebased on interviews with four residents, plus a chapter on the colorful \u003cbr\u003elife of Eloise Page, a practicing medium in Cassadaga for more than 40 \u003cbr\u003eyears. In addition, it features 47 photographs that guide readers \u003cbr\u003ethrough the town and portray residents engaged in various sacred and \u003cbr\u003eeveryday activities. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University Press of Florida\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 12\/16\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780813081465\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 272","brand":"John J. Guthrie","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51911600963765,"sku":"9780813081465","price":25.46,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_116b4e29-67ef-4044-9a36-7b6c6037d24a.jpg?v=1761056814","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/cassadaga-the-souths-oldest-spiritualist-community-9780813081465","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}