1C6 THE FOURTH DIMENSION. 



thing of this sense-perceptible world a real transcendental and four- 

 dimensional "thing-in itself " whose projection in the space of ex- 

 perience is what we falsely regard as the independent thing. Thus 

 every man besides existing in his terrestrial self also exists in a 

 spiritual or astral self which constantly accompanies him in his 

 walks through life and whose existence is especially proclaimed in 

 states of profound sleep, of somnambulism, and in the conditions 

 of mediums. In this way Du Prel explains the wonderful feats of 

 somnambulists, and the aerial journeys of sorcerers and witches. 

 Whereas, ordinarily the separation of the material body from the 

 astral body is only effected at the moment of death ; in the case of 

 somnambulists this separation may take place at any time, or, as Du 

 Prel says, "the threshold of feeling may be permanently displaced." 



In view of the natural relations of such theories to the dogmas 

 of Christianity it is explainable that theologians also have raised 

 their voices for or against spiritualism. While the Protestant Church 

 Times beheld in the "repulsive thaumaturgic performances which 

 these coryphaei of modern science offer, a lack of comprehension of 

 real philosophy," the magazine The Proof of Faith expresses its de- 

 light at the discovery of spiritualism in the following manner: 

 "Every Christian will surely rejoice at the deep and perhaps mor- 

 tal wound which these new discoveries have in all probability ad- 

 ministered to modern materialism." 



We shall pass by the childish opinion that the Bible also speaks 

 of four dimensions, as both in Job (xi. 8-9) and in the Epistle to 

 the Ephesians (iii. 18) only breadth, length, depth, and height, 

 that is, four directions of extension, are mentioned. Yet we will 

 still add, as Cranz has done, the reflections which Zollner, as the 

 most prominent representative of modern spiritualism, has put for- 

 ward respecting its relations to the doctrines of Christianity ( Wis- 

 sensch. AbhandL, Vol. III). By the foundation of transcendental 

 physics on the basis of spiritualistic phenomena, the "new light" 

 has arisen which is spoken of in the New Testament. The rending of 

 the veil of the Temple on the crucifixion of Christ, the resurrection, 

 the ascension, the transfiguration, the speaking with many tongues 

 on the giving out of the Holy Ghost, all these are in Zollner's view 



