Spiritualism (movement)

Spiritualism is a social and religious movement that gained significant popularity during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

At its core, the movement is based on the belief that an individual's awareness persists after physical death. Spiritualists refer to these deceased individuals as "discarnate humans." Unlike some views of an afterlife as a static or unchanging place, spiritualists believe the "spirit world" is a dynamic environment. In this realm, spirits continue to interact, grow, and evolve through different spheres or planes. This belief in constant progression suggests that the afterlife is a journey of continuous development.

This belief in evolution leads to a specific understanding of how spirits relate to the living. Because spirits are thought to be more advanced than humans, they are believed to be capable of providing guidance. Many followers rely on "spirit guides," which are specific spirits used for spiritual or worldly direction. These guides may offer advice on moral and ethical issues, as well as insights into the nature of God. To facilitate this contact, many people utilize a medium. A medium is a person believed to possess the gift of communicating with the spirit world. While some believe this gift is innate, others argue that anyone can become a medium through dedicated study and practice.

Formal communication often occurs during a séance. A séance is a structured session where a medium attempts to receive information from the afterlife. While these sessions can be private, they have also been performed as public demonstrations. The movement lacks a single, central authority or a single canonical text. Instead, it achieved cohesion through various means. These included the publication of periodicals, organized tours by trance lecturers, and large camp meetings. The missionary activities of skilled mediums also helped spread the movement's ideas across different regions.

The origins of spiritualism are often traced to the 1840s in the "Burned-over District" of upstate New York. This region was a center for various religious movements during the Second Great Awakening. Several historical figures influenced the development of these ideas. Emanuel Swedenborg, a scientist and inventor, provided a framework for the structure of the spirit world. He proposed that there is not just one Heaven or Hell, but a series of higher and lower levels. He also suggested that spirits act as intermediates between God and humanity. Additionally, the techniques of Franz Mesmer, which later became known as hypnotism, provided methods for inducing trances.

Andrew Jackson Davis further synthesized these ideas into what he called "harmonial philosophy."

A pivotal moment for the movement occurred on March 31, 1848, in Hydesville, New York.

Two sisters, Kate and Margaret Fox, reported communicating with a spirit through audible rapping noises. This event made the Fox sisters the first celebrity mediums and sparked massive public interest. However, the movement faced challenges regarding its credibility. In 1888, the Fox sisters admitted the rappings were a hoax, though they later recanted this admission.

By the late 1880s, many mediums faced accusations of fraud, leading to the rise of formal spiritualist organizations. These organizations sought to establish order through documents like the "Declaration of Principles."

To create structure, different groups adopted specific sets of principles. In October 1899, the National Spiritualist Association (NSA) adopted a six-article Declaration of Principles in Chicago, Illinois. The NSA added two more principles in October 1909 during a convention in Rochester, New York. Later, in October 1944, a ninth principle was added by the National Spiritualist Association of Churches in St. Louis, Missouri. In the United Kingdom, the Spiritualists' National Union (SNU) represents the movement using a set of Seven Principles. These formal structures emerged as a response to the increasing need for organizational stability.

Spiritualism also shared deep connections with various social reform movements of the nineteenth century. Many prominent spiritualists were active in the fight for the abolition of slavery and the cause of women's suffrage. For example, the trance lecturer Achsa W. Sprague was an advocate for women's rights. Paschal Beverly Randolph was also involved in the abolitionist movement. Some practitioners even felt a responsibility to improve the conditions of Native Americans. This connection between spiritual belief and social activism was a defining characteristic for many participants. Today, spiritualism continues to be practiced primarily through denominational churches in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.