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Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Alternative belief systems > General
It was a commonly expressed view during the First World War that
the conflict had seen a major revival of 'superstitious' beliefs
and practices. Churches expressed concerns about the wearing of
talismans and amulets, the international press paid considerable
interest to the pronouncements of astrologers and prophets, and the
authorities in several countries periodically clamped down on
fortune tellers and mediums due to concerns over their effect on
public morale. Out on the battlefields, soldiers of all nations
sought to protect themselves through magical and religious rituals,
and, on the home front, people sought out psychics and occult
practitioners for news of the fate of their distant loved ones or
communication with their spirits. Even away from concerns about the
war, suspected witches continued to be abused and people continued
to resort to magic and magical practitioners for personal
protection, love, and success. Uncovering and examining beliefs,
practices, and contemporary opinions regarding the role of the
supernatural in the war years, Owen Davies explores the broader
issues regarding early twentieth-century society in the West, the
psychology of the supernatural during wartime, and the extent to
which the war cast a spotlight on the widespread continuation of
popular belief in magic. A Supernatural War reveals the surprising
stories of extraordinary people in a world caught up with the
promise of occult powers.
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