296.灵人以为他们是具有肉身的人。我通过大量经历获知，灵人，以及死后新来的灵魂以为，事实上相信他们在肉身生命中，并且的确如此深信，以致当被告知真相，从他们能从一个地方被转移到另一个地方，以及其它表明他们是没有骨肉的灵人的经验知道这真相时，他们都极为惊讶；他们无法以其它任何方式获知，就肉身生命而言，他们已经死了。（1747年12月4日）
296. Spirits think they are bodied people.
From a great deal of experience I have learned that spirits and also [newly arrived] souls after death thought, in fact believed, that they were in the life of the body, and indeed, with such conviction that they were extremely surprised when they were told [the truth] and were able to know it [themselves] from the fact that they could be transferred, as well as other experiments [showing] that they were spirits without bones and flesh; nor could they learn [in any other way] that they were dead as to the life of the body. 1747, the 4th day of December.
296. THAT SPIRITS SUPPOSE THAT THEY ARE MEN IN THE BODY
From very much experience I have learned that spirits and also souls after death supposed, indeed believed, that they were in the life of the body, and indeed were so persuaded that they wondered exceedingly when they were told this; and they were also told that from the fact that they could be transferred [from one place to another], and from other experiences, they could know that they were spirits without bones and flesh, and that [otherwise] they could not know that as to the life of the body they were dead. 1747, Dec. 4. 1
Footnotes:
1. Crossed out: "Indeed they were also so persuaded that they were carrying the body about, that after it was shown them that it was false ..."
296. Quod spiritus se putent homines corporeos esse
Ex permulta experientia didici, quod spiritus, etiam animae post mortem, putarent imo crederent, quod in vita corporis essent, et quidem ita persuasi, ut summopere mirarentur, quum id iis diceretur, ac ii tunc scire possent ex eo quod transferri potuissent, aliisque experientiis quod spiritus essent, absque ossibus et carne, nec scire potuerunt sic quod essent quoad corporis vitam mortui. 1747, die 4 Dec.