Channels of Prophecy is a cross-cultural study. It argues that prophetic intermediation is a widespread phenomenon in ancient and modern cultures, and proposes a way of identifying and describing the underlying similarity among intermediaries. It discusses the nature of prophetic authority and the function of "miracles" performed by prophets. It suggests that divination may be viewed as one type of prophetic intermediation and that prophecy must be presumed to occur down to the present. Finally, it reflects on how one might evaluate the prophetic claims made about a variety of persons in contemporary America. -- Book Jacket