Spiritualism

 SPIRITUALISM is the Science, Philosophy, and Religion of continuous life, based upon the demonstrated fact of communication between this and the Spirit World by means of mediumship.
 
A SPIRITUALIST is one who believes as a part of his or her religion in the communication between this and the Spirit World by means of mediumship, and who endeavors to mold his or her character and conduct in accordance with the highest teachings derived from such communion.
 
A MEDIUM  is one whose organism is sensitive to vibrations from the Spirit World, and through who instrumentality intelligences in that world are able to convey messages and produce the phenomena of Spiritualism.
 
Note:  The last 20 words of the definition of a Spiritualist are very important, but often overlooked.
   ...who endeavors to mold his or her character and conduct
 in accordance with the highest teachings derived
from such communion.....
 
SINCE TIME BEGAN
 
Spirit communication, on which the religion of Spiritualism is based, dates back to the beginning of time. Recorded manifestations of spirit and spirit voices are in the beginnings of every religion, including our own textbook, the Christian Bible. Communicatiion with Spirit is recorded all through our Bible from the book of Genesis to Revelations.
 
Mediumistic phenomena have always existed, or at least have existed since our primitive ancestors became distinctly observant. This is proven by the countless instances in the Bible, in the classical literature of the Greeks and Romans, in the traditions of the saints, in oriental myths, in traditions of the American Indians, and in folklore the world over.
 
But before we go into the history of these spirit manifestations, let us make clear the fact that these phenomena did not make Modern Spiritualism until men {man/woman}  realized what it meant.
 
As we follow the progress of man in his attempt to better understand his God, we find that he has advanced from the theory of believing in many objects of gods to the belief that there is but one god, and that God is spirit~~not physical body or being of any shape or form.
 
In our study of Spiritualism as a religion we are impressed by how frequently revelations occurred, and how the people clamored for a sign to prove the revelation. Below we will mention just a few of our many ancestors who experienced and worked with manifestations of spirit.
 
MESOPOTAMIA
 
Many archeologists believe the primitive Akkadians, inhabitants of central Mesopotamia, definately saw the shadowy forms of their so called dead, even if it might only have been in their dreams. They based this belief on the stone tablets they have found from as early as 3800 B.C. which clearly show their belief in spirit and their worship of ancestral spirits.
 
EGYPT
 
The national religion of ancient Egypt was virtually founded on life after death and spirit communication. Three thousand years ago in Egypt it was not uncommon to lend someone money and expect to be repaid in the spirit world.
 
Egyptian kings and nobles of the Archaic period were buried in large box like tombs made of mud brick. In these tombs were placed along with the bodies, food, furniture, weapons, and ornaments to be used in the after life. And, there was also a false door in these boxes through which the spirit entity could communicate with those still in the living. {This was pre-pyramid time}.
 
In the Egyptian temples the priests and future kings were taught  that they left their bodies during sleep and walked in the spirit world. Their dreams were closely studied for what happened on these walks and bad dreams were thought to be caused by the influence of lower spirit entities~~those who had not yet progressed to higher knowledge.
 
In 1377 B.C. Amenophis IV experienced a spirit manifestation and visions that led him to the belief in one God~~Aton. Amenophis broke with the rituals of the conventional religions of the time~~and the worship of many gods~~and commanded his people to worship one god. He also changed his name from Amenophis to Akhetaton {better known as Nefertiti's husband}.
 
GREECE
 
There were many men of ancient Greece who were noted for their beliefs and experiences with spirit manifestations. Thales, known as one the seven wise men of ancient Greece, firmly believed in spiritual guides who helped mankind and were invisible witnesses to all of man's thoughts and actions.
 
Epimenides, who lived between 640 and 560 B.C. frequently received divine revelations to help him in advising Solon, the ancient Greek statesman who laid the foundations of Athenian democracy.
 
The Greek playwright, Homer, described the spirit of Patroclus as appearing to the Achilles. The spirit begged Achilles to bestow the last funeral rites upon the body of his friend so that he could begin his spiritual progression.
 
Socrates, born in 470 B.C. has certainly received world acclaim for his intelligence. His honesty and integrity were beyond reproach; thus much credibility must be given to his statement that he received his education and inspiration from the world of spirit. He often spoke of the spirit voices which guided him and it is recorded that he often went into long silent trances to receive guidance and inspiration from spirit.
 
Socrates' student, Plato, added to the teachings of Socrates the fact that every human being has one particular guiding spirit who watches over him his entire earth life. This could well be where the idea of a guardian angel originated.
 
Pythagoras, from 6th Century B.C., was one of the most astonishing psychics of ancient Greece. His birth was predicted by a medium so his mother dedicated him to the spirit world. An intelligent man he worked not only with spirit inspiration but also studied to improve his own mind. His visions became so well known that he traveled to Africa, Asia, and Egypt.  When Egypt was conquered by the Persians, Pythagoras was taken prisoner. During his imprisonment, he studied under Persian psychics and learned to produce spirit manifestations and light lamps on command. 
 
Several years later the Greek, Zeno, who founded the Stoic school which advocated the pursuit of virtue above all else, stated that he was guided by guardian angels whenever he spoke.
 
CHINA
 
Many great leaders and teachers of China claimed to converse with departed spirits, and the worship of ancestors is still fairly common in China.
 
In 1400 B.C. , during the Shang Dynasty, prophets used heat and turtle shells to foretell the future. A design was painted on the shell by the "seer," then the shell was held over the fire until it cracked. The seer read the lines of the crack as it affected the painted design. But many of these seers used the shells and cracks merely as points of concentration, and the reading actually came from clairvoyance and clairaudience.
 
Both Lao-tse and Confucius claimed to converse with departed spirit entities.
 
INDIA
 
Specific names are not as prominent in the history of India; but their religious literature is full of communication with spirit entities; and even yet today the religions of India emphasize meditation.
 
AMERICA
 
The history of the American Indian is full of spirit manifestations and communication with those in spirit. Chief Crazy Horse earned his name because he was always guided in battle by a spiritual white horse.
 
There are just a few of the people who since time began have communicated with the spirit world. They are not ancestors of the religion of Spiritualism, but they are ancestors of the belief in spirit and spirit communication, upon which the religion of Spiritualism is based.
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF SPIRITUALISM
 
The Bible has been a guide in living on this earth life for many generations and it is the book upon which the religion of Spiritualism was founded. Therefore, we should study and understand the words in it, with particular emphasis on spirit manifestation, communication, and prophecy. One should not quote brief passages from the Bible if they have not read, and studied, the entire chapter~~or chapters if the story is in more than one. We will give several references below to spirit manifestation in the Bible. Look them up, read the complete story. To try to list all the examples of spirit manifestation would require almost as much space as reprinting the Bible, so we will list only enough to prove our statement that spirit manifestation began in the book of Genesis.
 
Genesis 15~~Abraham, then known as Abram, sees a vision and is told that he will have a son.
 
Genesis 16:7~~Abraham's wife, Sarai {Sarah}, is visited by an angel.
 
Genesis 18:2~~Abraham sees three spiritual beings, who bring him a message from God.
 
Genesis 19~~two angels visit Lot at the gate to Sodom.
 
Genesis 22~~an angel of the Lord speaks to Abraham to stop him from sacrificing his son.
 
Genesis 37~~story of Joseph's dreams, which even the Bible records as prophetic.
 
Isaiah was a man of many gifts, a writer, a musician, a statesman, a reformer, a teacher, and a theologian. It is also interesting to observe that his wife was a prophetess {Isaiah 8:3}.
 
Jeremiah received his phophetic call through a vision {Jeremiah 1:2}.  It is interesting to note that God taught Jeremiah how to work with symbols {Jeremiah 1:11-14}.
 
Some others to read and study and to help you understand Spiritualism would be: Ezekiel and Daniel. And listed below are just a few of the teachings of Jesus that you might find of special interest in helping you to understand Spiritualism.
 
Matthew 7:20-23
Matthew19:17
Mark 2:21-22
Mark 3:21-22
Mark 10:18
Luke 8:16-17
John 4:10-19
John 14:12
 
The scripture in Corinthians that all Spiritualists should read is found in I Corinthians 12:7-11
 
But the manifestations of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
 
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Sprit.
 
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
 
To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers of kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues;
 
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
 
The greatness of these gifts is accepted in Chapter 13, with the reservation that they must be accompanied with charity {love}.

Thank you Dearheart for providing this page for this section.