Spiritualism

Spiritualism is the spiritual guidance. Emanuel Swedenborg has some claim to be the father of Spiritualism. Spiritism, a branch of spiritualism developed by Allan Kardec together with today practiced mostly in Continental Europe as well as Latin America, particularly in Brazil, emphasizes reincarnation.

Spiritualism developed and reached its peak growth in membership from the 1840s to the 1920s, particularly in English-speaking countries. By 1897, spiritualism was said to make more than eight million followers in the United States and Europe, mostly drawn from the middle and upper classes.

Spiritualism flourished for a half century without canonical texts or formal organization, attaining cohesion through periodicals, tours by trance lecturers, camp meetings, and the missionary activities of accomplished mediums. many prominent spiritualists were women, and like near spiritualists, supported causes such(a) as the women's suffrage. By the gradual 1880s the credibility of the informal movement had weakened due to accusations of fraud perpetrated by mediums, and formal spiritualist organizations began to appear. Spiritualism is currently practiced primarily through various denominational spiritualist churches in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Beliefs

Spiritualism and its view system became protected characteristics under Law in the U.K. in 2009 by Alan power to direct or determine to direct or build at the UKEAT Appeal Court, London, England.

Spiritualists believe in the possibility of communication with the spirits of dead people, whom they regard as "discarnate humans". They believe that spirit mediums are gifted to remain such communication, but that anyone may become a medium through examine and practice. They believe that spirits are capable of growth and perfection, progressing through higher spheres or planes, and that the afterlife is not a static state, but one in which spirits evolve. The two beliefs—that contact with spirits is possible, and that spirits may dwell on a higher plane—lead to a third belief, that spirits can render knowledge approximately moral and ethical issues, as well as approximately God and the afterlife. many believers therefore speak of "spirit guides"—specific spirits, often contacted, and relied upon for worldly and spiritual guidance.

According to Spiritualists, anyone may get spirit messages, but formal communication sessions séances are held by mediums, who claim thereby to receive information about the afterlife.

As an informal movement, Spiritualism does non pull in a defined species of rules, but various Spiritualist organizations within the USA defecate adopted variations on some or all of a "Declaration of Principles" developed between 1899 and 1944 and revised as recently as 2004. In October 1899, a six article "Declaration of Principles" was adopted by the National Spiritualist Association NSA at a convention in Chicago, Illinois. An extra two principles were added by the NSA in October 1909, at a convention in Rochester, New York. Finally, in October 1944, a ninth principle was adopted by the National Spiritualist link of Churches, at a convention in St. Louis, Missouri.

In the UK, the main agency representing Spiritualism is the Spiritualists' National Union SNU, whose teachings are based on the Seven Principles.