Spiritualism in Brief
There are Spiritualist groups all around the country, many of them small independent organisations and some are part of associations or larger groups.
However, what most Spiritualist Churches and organisations have in common is a welcoming, non-judgemental attitude. Spiritualism doesn’t tell you what to believe and therefore there are many different and interesting views out there. While they are all valuable, it is important to take time to reflect on your own beliefs and find your own faith.
What is common throughout Spiritualism is a belief that there is life after death and that communication with the Spirit world is possible.
More interesting Articles on Spiritualism.
A Brief History of Spiritualism
Dates and Events that have influenced Spiritualism.
500 BC – Greek Philosophers
Greek philosophers Aristotle and Plato, influenced by Greek poet Pindar, establish the idea that the Soul is divine and would return after physical death.
1619 AD – French Philosopher
Rene Descartes, a French philosopher, believed that the body was an Organic Machine and would eventually stop and that the Soul was independent of the body, therefore could live on after the organic machine had stopped working. “I think, therefore I am”
1688 AD – Swedish Philosopher
Emanuel Swedenborg was born. He believed that Spirits wrote books through him. He met with the Queen of Sweden, who also believed in his revelations after meeting with him. This also made others in the country believe.
1848 AD – The Fox Family of America
The Fox Family owned a farm in New York, where they claimed bumps and taps were coming from the other side as a form of communication. The 3 daughters of the family developed a code so that they could communicate with the spirits. The sparked many other people who claimed to be able to communicate with spirits.
In 1888 Margaret confessed that their rappings had been a hoax and publicly demonstrated their method. She attempted to recant her confession the next year, but their reputation was ruined. Read more on Wikipedia.
1853 AD – First Spiritualist Church in UK
David Richmond founded the first Spiritualist Church in the UK.
1870 AD – Message Spreads from America
At this time the subject had been widely written about and communication with Spirits had become fashionable in the high society of England, Europe and of course America.
1882 AD – The Society for Psychical Research Founded
The Society for Psychical Research was founded, a group who set out to prove Scientifically, the claims one way or the other.
1898 AD – The Roman Catholic Churches Condemnation
In 1898 the Roman Catholic Church issued a Condemnation of the Spiritualist movement and all theories and ideas relating to it. Unfortunately for the Catholic Church, this helped the Spiritualist movement, by having Holy recognition that it existed, because you can not condemn something which is not real. Therefore proving it was no longer as important.
1951 AD – Passing of the Fraudulent Mediums Act
Allowed people to practice their religion, without risk of the Witch Craft Acts.
2008 AD – Repeal of the Fraudulent Mediums Act 1951
Now covered by the Unfair Commercial Practices Directives under The Department of Trade and Industry and the Office of Fair Trading.
