An Enterpetation of Spiritualism

Spiritualism is a religion, philosophy, and science, and is a complete program by which to live and fulfil the purpose of human life.
Spiritual growth is the aim of a Spiritualist and the Seven Principals are accepted as guidance. Although the wording is not that of the scriptural commandments, it is, nevertheless, upholding the christian ethic of being considerate, honest and truthful, patient, kind, and respectful of human life and any personal commitment to it.


THE RELIGION of Spiritualism is in its acceptance that human life begins at conception and that, from that time, until death, every individual is afforded experience for such spiritual growth as is necessary for transition into the next phase of existence. Spiritualists accept that the principles for good living are universal and no religious order or concept can make special claim that only their adherents are blanketed by them. It is considered that each individual has an unique level of intelligence which is all the equipment necessary for spiritual growth. The system put into action through this individual intelligence is often referred to as the Law of Cause and Effect and, as all things are considered to be of natural origin, is therefore in perfect order with universal intelligence.


THE PHILOSOPHY of Spiritualism is in that it offers that truth is in everything and is relative to the understanding of it in each individual.
Spiritualists accept God as an all-pervading, omnipresent element in all life throughout the universe. This element has no beginning or end but it is thought of as a supreme intelligence that supports creation. There is no right or wrong in its application as it does not animate or control human inclinations; it is an element which is dependent on the spiritual nature of all things.
It is considered to be the element which endows an individual with conscience, understanding and kindness and is not less or more by degree of personal intelligence, but is the direct result of personal experience, governed by genetic and environmental conditions.
This thinking allows the Spiritualist to be non-judgmental over areas of human behaviour that cannot be understood and to concentrate on improvement of personal attitudes and actions.
Spiritualism teaches that biblical records are actually a history of mediumship and an instruction on how to live life with more understanding of it.
Jesus of Nazareth is considered to be an exemplary medium and the biblical accounts of his mediumship are in accord with all that present-day mediumship offers, from transfiguration to clairvoyance.
His gift of oratory presented everyday problems in a form that was understandable to his listeners, to help them deal with their own in a more spiritual way. Although the anecdotes that Jesus used to illuminate a more spiritual pathway are not used today, the high standard of morality that he presented through parables is still valid and now given in ways that are pertinent to this generation of listeners.


SCIENCE has given Spiritualism its credence. To continue with the work that Jesus of Nazareth brought to world attention, the mediumship, such as he had demonstrated, was needed. After the death of Jesus where was this mediumship to be found? And in whom was it to manifest?
The answer was, of course, in the scriptures. That it was to be through the mediumship of human kind, equally and better than that of Jesus.
To the Spiritualist, the story of the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth is of greater importance than any other celebration as it is an account of how his physical death was not the end of his existence. The account of Jesus appearing to Mary of Magdala outside of the tomb, and to his disciples, later that day and a week after his death, shows that a human being has a spirit or etheric counterpart, which is able to be seen, felt and heard, after physical death, if given suitable conditions.
The resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, after his death, is accepted as fact by almost all mainline church adherents and supports the single, most important fact that he taught whilst still alive, that the human personality continues life in another dimension after the death of its physical body.
However, the hierarchy in mainline religions taught that any attempt to reproduce any form of mediumship that Jesus had demonstrated, was sacrilegious - until the early 1800’s.
At that time, for some unknown reason, mediumship began to develop, to a marvellous degree, in a few persons, all over the world. But the strong teaching of the mainline churches caused it to be viewed with distaste and suspicion. This universal attitude was the reason why careful investigation and analysis of any good mediumship was undertaken for years at a time, by reputable and educated persons. The records that were compiled at that time and substantiate the authenticity of the intercommunication between this world and the next, are like the biblical accounts of mediumship, now archival testimonies that support the basic belief of the Spiritualist, that life continues beyond the grave.

Spiritualism is supported by the science of objective investigation, analysis, and classification, of any manifestation of communication from the next phase of life. This has meant, and still means, that mediumship in any form purporting to channel communication from the spirit world, is put through every test to substantiate its claims.
Communication between this life and the next is through mediumship. This mediumship can be through a determined state, as demonstrated by human beings in special conditions, or an involuntary state, as is manifested now and again without the knowing support of a human being.

Mediumship from an involuntary source usually manifests in some form of activity. This can be as levitation or movement of physical objects, large and small. It is considered to be activity created through vibratory energy and, upon investigation, phenomenon of this kind is commonly found to manifest only when one or several young persons are present. This mediumship is not able to support the Spiritualist belief in continuing existence.
Mediumship through a determined state allows for the best form of investigation because it can be seen, as in automatic writing or electoplasmic formations, or heard, as in trance mediumship and the human delivery of clairvoyance. It is through this type of mediumship that survival evidence is given and perpetuates the reason for the Spiritualist platform.



ROCSC 1980/Revision of wording 2001
By Reverand Joy Lowe.
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