Spiritualism means many things to many people to some it is a philosophy, to some a religion, to some the science behind mediumship and evidence of life after death along with the natural laws of cause and effect, to some it is the life long study and attainment of spiritual wisdom.
Whatever Spiritualism may come to mean or be defined as by any individual, it is fundamentally a journey of unfolding one’s own spirituality with the aim of bringing about a transformation of the individual’s spiritual qualities, morals and ethics for the betterment of self and to the benefit of all in this life.
The Nature of Spiritualist Philosophy…
It is through personal interpretation and understanding of any spiritual philosophy and how it is expressed by living it that shapes the individual spiritually and guides their decisions in how they choose to interact with everyone and everything of the material and non-material worlds.
Spiritualism helps to provide a personal philosophy for every Spiritualist, each continuously progressing and growing in their understanding and interpretation resulting in the consideration of many diverse views. However, in essence the underpinning ideas come from the same source of universal understanding, and within the National Spiritualist Federation it is based on the 7 Principles of Spiritualism.
It is the acceptance of this diversity that makes Spiritualism free from creed or dogma as a religious philosophy.
It is by applying personal philosophy in all compartments of day to day living and by progressing and learning through life’s experiences that Spiritualism becomes a living personal philosophy.
The Nature of Spiritualism as a religion…
Spiritualism is a religion that embodies the main ideas of all religions, that there is a life after death, immortality and the existence of a God.
“The aim of Spiritualism is to effect an at-one-ment and unison of Humanity with God until every action and thought of Humanity is in perfect harmony with the Divine Will.”
(Adapted from the Spiritualists’ Lyceum Manual)
One difference between Spiritualism and other religions is the acceptance of the ability, through mediumship, to offer evidence of spirit communication to a recipient and in doing so demonstrate that people survive physical death. The individual may decide if they have received sufficient evidence to give them personal proof that people survive death as individuals in Spirit. Where personally proven it provides conclusive evidence of the 4th Principle, ‘The Continuous Existence of the Human Soul’.
Mediumship and the evidence is just the key to a door to encourage further study and understanding, the message is not the goal of Spiritualism. It is what an individual chooses to do with that key once they have it, once they accept that we survive death and continue on in the unbroken cycle of eternal life of spirit that forms the purpose of Spiritualism.
Spiritualism becomes the study of this earthly life’s purpose as Spirit here and now and as such empowers anyone to take charge of the development of their own Spirituality, continually aiming to progress and live life with a fuller understanding and a greater learning experience for the Spirit.
Spiritualism is a universal religion, one focus of which is embodied in our 5th Principle, ‘Personal Responsibility’. It is by our own free will we may choose to live a better life here and now reflected by how we live. It is by our own will and choices in how we act react and interact with everyone and everything that we must each be solely responsible and accountable. In understanding and accepting this, we accept our 6th Principle of ‘Compensation and Retribution’ encompassing the universal and natural law of cause and effect.
It is through personal experience and expression by the study, consideration and application of the many aspects of the religion, philosophy and science of Spiritualism that the Spiritualist gains understanding and Spiritual growth. No one person has all the answers and Spiritualism becomes a continual personal religion to be lived, to nurture and enlighten the Spirit within us, here and now.