Thomas Lynn Bradford

Thomas Lynn Bradford was an American spiritualist, notable for his involvement in an experiment to prove the existence of an afterlife. Bradford, born in the late 19th century, became a part of one of the most talked-about stories in the history of spiritualism. His life and the circumstances surrounding his death have been subjects of interest and debate among believers and skeptics of spiritualism alike.

Early Life

Little is known about the early life of Thomas Lynn Bradford. He was born in the United States and is believed to have had a conventional upbringing. However, as he grew older, Bradford developed a keen interest in the spiritual world, which was a popular movement during his time. This interest eventually led him to become a spiritualist, a person who believes in communicating with the spirits of the dead.

Spiritualism and the Afterlife Experiment

In the early 20th century, spiritualism had garnered a significant following, with many people attending séances and participating in other activities in hopes of communicating with deceased loved ones. Thomas Lynn Bradford was among these spiritualists, but he wanted to go a step further. He proposed an experiment to definitively prove the existence of the afterlife.

Bradford's experiment involved him taking his own life, with the plan that he would then communicate from the beyond with a living accomplice. He advertised for someone willing to participate in this experiment with him, and a woman named Ruth Doran agreed to be his partner in this endeavor. The idea was that, after his death, Bradford would attempt to contact Doran from the afterlife to provide proof of life after death.

Death and Legacy

Thomas Lynn Bradford carried out his part of the experiment on February 5, 1921, by extinguishing the pilot light on his gas heater and then turning on the gas, leading to his death by asphyxiation. Following his death, Ruth Doran claimed to have received messages from Bradford, thus supposedly proving the existence of the afterlife. However, the scientific community and skeptics dismissed these claims, citing the lack of empirical evidence and the possibility of fraud.

The story of Thomas Lynn Bradford has been a subject of fascination and controversy. It raises questions about the lengths to which individuals will go to prove their beliefs and the inherent difficulties in attempting to scientifically validate the existence of an afterlife. Bradford's experiment is often cited in discussions on spiritualism and the afterlife, serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of extreme belief.

See Also

• Spiritualism
• Afterlife
• Séance

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