Book

Schmidt, Leigh Eric.

Hearing things : religion, illusion, and the American enlightenment / Leigh Eric Schmidt.

Cambridge, Mass. : Harvard University Press, 2000.

xiii, 318 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

"Leigh Eric Schmidt conducts us through natural histories of the oracles, anatomies of the diseased ear, psychologies of the unsound mind, acoustic technologies (from speaking trumpets to talking machines), philosophical regimens for educating the senses, and rational recreations elaborated from natural magic, notably ventriloquism and speaking statues. Hearing Things enters this labyrinth - all the new disciplines and pleasures of the modern ear - to explore the fate of Christian listening during the Enlightenment and its aftermath." "In Schmidt's analysis the reimagining of hearing was instrumental in constituting religion itself as an object of study and suspicion. The mystic's ear was hardly lost, but it was now marked deeply with imposture and illusion."--BOOK JACKET.

Listening -- Religious aspects -- Christianity -- History of doctrines -- 18th century.

Piety -- History -- 18th century.

Enlightenment -- United States.

Listening -- Religious aspects -- Christianity -- History of doctrines -- 19th century.

Piety -- History -- 19th century.

United States -- Church history -- 18th century.

United States -- Church history -- 19th century.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 253-305) and index.

Hearing loss: More than meets the eye -- Absences and presences -- Sound Christians: Extraordinary call -- God's oracles -- Spiritual disciplines, spiritual senses -- "The startled ear of night" -- The noises of revival -- "Take heed, therefore, how ye hear" -- Oracles of reason: Working the oracle -- Acoustics and the mechanization of the oracular voice -- "Truth changes from day to day, and so do I" -- How to become a ventriloquist: Vocal artifice -- Magic shows -- (Dis)trusting the ear -- "Shivered into pieces" -- "The diseased ear" and the unsound mind -- Voices from spirit-land: Talking with angels -- Bodies, spirits, senses -- Talking with Swedenborg -- Of tongue-speaking and the gifted hearer -- Sacramental technologies.

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