Spiritualism Identical with Ancient Sorcery, New Testament Demonology, and Modern Witchcraft: with the Testimony of God and Man Against it — William Donald (W. M'Donald) — 1866

This book is a Christian polemical critique of Spiritualism, written during a time when séances, mediumship, and spirit communication were rapidly gaining popularity in the 19th century. William Donald’s central argument is uncompromising: Spiritualism is not a benign or enlightened movement, but a continuation of practices condemned in the Bible—namely sorcery, demonic influence, and witchcraft.

At its core, the work seeks to warn readers against engaging with Spiritualist practices, framing them as spiritually dangerous and doctrinally incompatible with Christianity.

Core Themes

1. Spiritualism as Forbidden Practice
Donald argues that communication with spirits—whether through mediums, séances, or automatic writing—is fundamentally the same as ancient occult practices explicitly condemned in Scripture.

2. Biblical Demonology
Drawing heavily on the New Testament, he interprets Spiritualist phenomena not as contact with departed human souls, but as interactions with deceptive or demonic entities. He uses biblical accounts of possession and spiritual deception to support this view.

3. Continuity with Sorcery and Witchcraft
The book draws parallels between modern Spiritualism and earlier traditions of sorcery, necromancy, and witchcraft, suggesting that while the language has changed, the underlying forces and dangers remain the same.

4. Testimony of Scripture and Society
Donald combines biblical citations with anecdotal and cultural observations to argue that both divine authority (“the testimony of God”) and human experience (“the testimony of man”) point to the same conclusion: Spiritualism is harmful and deceptive.

5. Moral and Spiritual Warning
A strong emphasis is placed on the spiritual risks of engaging in such practices, including moral corruption, deception, and separation from true religious faith.

Tone and Style

The tone is urgent, cautionary, and doctrinally firm. Unlike New Thought or Spiritualist writings of the same era, which often present unseen forces as empowering or enlightening, Donald’s work is explicitly defensive and oppositional, aiming to protect readers from what he sees as spiritual error.

It reflects a broader 19th-century Christian response to the rise of Spiritualism, contrasting sharply with proponents like Andrew Jackson Davis.

Overall Message

The central message of the book is clear:
Spiritualism is not a new revelation, but a reappearance of ancient practices that are spiritually dangerous and biblically condemned.

Donald urges readers to reject these influences and remain grounded in orthodox Christian belief, viewing Scripture as the only trustworthy guide in matters of the unseen.

In essence, the book serves as both a theological argument and a warning, positioning Spiritualism as a path not to enlightenment, but to deception.