Oahspe: A New Bible (ePub)

John Ballou Newbrough (1828 - 1891) was a controversial American dentist, spiritualist, and author, best known for his work 'Oahspe: A New Bible,' published in 1882. Newbrough claimed that the text of Oahspe was the result of 'automatic writing,' dictated to him by spirits in a trance state (Newbrough, 1882). A tome of spiritual and moral teachings, the book presents itself as a new revelation which combines elements of nineteenth-century spiritualism with a unique cosmology and narrative of human history. Newbrough's work has been described as part of the broader spiritualist movement of his time, weaving threads from various religious traditions with a heavy emphasis on spirit communion and utopianism (Godwin, 1994). 'Oahspe' includes descriptions of heavenly realms, prophecies, and ethical axioms intended to instruct humanity on a path of spiritual progress. The book outlines a detailed history of the earth and humanity's development, which Newbrough claims was revealed to him not through research but through supernatural means. His literary style is characterized by an idiosyncratic vocabulary and an attempt to create an epic narrative combining theology, spirituality, and moral philosophy. Despite being a divisive figure, Newbrough's influence persists among small spiritual communities that adhere to the teachings of 'Oahspe,' which remains his primary literary and spiritual legacy.