5. A band of spirits arose from behind me, making their way to the back of my head, then further above my head, and at length they came to rest above me and in front. The spirits of this band were inconspicuous but still could be seen obscurely. I thought they must be deceitful, but I was told that they were a special kind of spirits, inconspicuous in a spiritual sphere, but clearly seen in a natural sphere. (Those who think spiritually have a spiritual sphere; but those who think naturally a natural.) The reason for this was that while they were men they did not believe in the existence of anything spiritual, but only in what is natural; and from this belief a state of this kind awaits them after death. These same spirits, having no belief in the existence of anything spiritual, had also no belief in the existence of hell or of heaven, and therefore none in life after death. I was told that they were of a European nation, famous, free and prosperous in trade. Later I talked with them and noticed how they strove with the utmost effort and the most subtle craft to disclose nothing of their own thoughts. That they might be successful in this, they had learned how to steal the ideas of others, and to excite in their place such ideas as might turn their thoughts into other directions. They did this for a considerable time and with some cunning. It was thus revealed that, in the life of the body, they were such as were unwilling that anything should be discovered of what they were thinking and doing, and that they were eager to steal the goods of others. They did not, however, make false pretences so as to deceive by lies; none the less it was deception of a peculiar kind. They employed it for ten hours or so, that I might learn what sort of men they are who behave in this manner in the life of the body. As they had no belief in hell, in heaven or in the life after death, I was allowed to ask them what they now thought of their former belief, as they must now know that those things are; and what they now thought about life in the world, which had seemed to them of such importance as to be the only one, when yet that life was but momentary for, in the life they now experience, a thousand years, yea ten thousand years, are scarcely anything. When they heard these words they were thoughtful, but made no reply. Afterwards I was permitted to talk with them about the truths of faith. When they lived in the world, they had rejected these because they were spiritual matters, so to these questions also they answered nothing. It was noticeable that they continually rejected the truths of faith, and that their sphere was even more opposed to them than is the sphere of other spirits. I thus saw for a whole day how difficult it would be to bring them to acknowledge even a single truth of faith, for they were obstinately silent, and put forward no open contradiction. Moreover, strange to relate, they could not bear that the truth should be demonstrated to them by any living proof. It may be noted that, in a natural sphere, they appear, unlike others, to be dressed in clothing similar to that of men on earth, even to the extent of wearing breeches; but in a spiritual sphere they appear monsters. There they have the face drawn back so that it appears scarcely more than a framework of teeth. The reason for this is that in the world of spirits the face represents the spiritual interiors, and the teeth the natural. Those of them who have led a moral life, and have not craftily robbed people of their goods, are not instructed in the other life concerning the truths of faith like others, but they are left to themselves to think about the kingdom in which they find themselves, and concerning its government and laws; and about what they are to do there, since that kingdom has no laws other than those of good and truth; and they wonder anxiously as to the future state that awaits them, and so at last they are brought, as from themselves, to a healthier state. Later, however, they are taught that this is not from themselves.