Spiritism, Spiritism

In its narrower sense, it is any movement that believes that spirit entities exist and that human beings can engage in spirit communication and mediumship. Therefore, Spiritism is Spiritualist. Spiritualist Churches, however, differ from Spiritist groups or Churches (see below) in that Spiritualism as a religious denomination doesn't stress Reincarnation as a basic tenet of belief (some Spiritualists believe in Reincarnation and some don't, whereas Spiritists believe in Reincarnation as a basic tenet of their belief system) Kardec reaffirmed that on the cover of his "The Spirit's Book". Another author in the Spiritualist movement, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle included a chapter DOYLE, Arthur Conan.

As consequence, many Spiritualist works are widely accepted in Spiritism, particularly the works of scientists Sir William Crookes, CROOKES, William.

Spiritist philosophical inquiry is concerned with the study of moral aspects in the context of an eternal life in spiritual evolution through reincarnation, a process believers hold as revealed by Spirits. Sympathetic research on Spiritism by scientists can be found in the works of Sir William Crookes, Ernesto Bozzano, the Society for Psychical Research, William James, the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine winner Charles Richet, Prof. Ian Stevenson's group at University of Virginia http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/personalitystudies/ , and Prof. G. Schwartz at University of Arizona.

The Gospels are reinterpreted in Spiritism; some of the words of Christ or his actions are clarified in the light of the spiritual phenomena (presented as law of nature, and not as something "miraculous"). It's only because of our own imperfection that we can't achieve similar things; as we evolve, we will not only understand better, but we will be able to do similar things, for all spirits are created equal, and are destined for the same end.

It should be noted, though, that there's no acceptance to Spiritism in mainstream science and that its belief system is largely coherent with the notion of religion (that doesn't include regular frequency, membership, formal adoration or declared opposition to science).

Regional and national organizations are called "federations", as the Federao Esprita Brasileira FEB - Federao Esprita Brasileira - 2 and the Federacin Esprita Espaola Federacin Esprita Espaola - Espiritismo , while international organizations are termed "unions", such as the Union Spirite Franaise et Francophone Redirection en htm.

Source: Wikipedia > Spiritism