What is Spiritism?

Text below was compiled by the International Spiritist Council. See: I.S.C. Get to Know Spiritism

Images are from the Explore Spiritism website and belong to the Leon Denis Spiritist Group.

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WHAT IS SPIRITISM ?     »Spiritism is a lesson of love and everlasting life, in a continued pursuit of self-improvement, and harmony, with all the creation throughout multiple existences.   »It is the collection of principles and laws, as revealed by the Superior Spirits, contained in the works of Allan Kardec, which constitute the Codification of Spiritism: The Spirits' Book, The Mediums' Book, The Gospel According to Spiritism, Heaven and Hell, and Genesis.

»It is the promised Consoler which came, at the appointed time, to compliment and remind us of what Jesus taught, "reestablishing all things in their true meaning", so bringing to Humanity the true basis for spiritualization.

WHAT DOES SPIRITISM REVEAL ?

»It reveals new and more profound concepts with respect to God, the universe, mankind, the spirits and the laws which govern life. »Even more, it reveals what we are, from where we have originated, to where we shall go, and the cause of our pains and sufferings.

»Spiritism touches on all areas of human knowledge, of all activities and the behavior of Human Beings.

WHAT DOES SPIRITISM TEACH ?

On God, the Universe, and the Laws of Nature

» God is the supreme intelligence and primary cause of all things. God is eternal, immutable, unique, omnipotent, supremely just and good. » The universe is a creation of God. It encompasses all beings, whether they be rational or irrational, animate or inanimate, material or immaterial. » All the laws of nature are divine laws because God is their author. They cover both the physics and moral laws.

 On Spirits, the Material World, and the Spirit Realm

» Beyond the physical world, which is the habitation of incarnate spirits (mankind), there exists the spiritual world which is the habitation of discarnate spirits. » Spirits are the intelligent beings of creation. They constitute the world of the spirits, which pre-exists and survives everything. » Man is an incarnate spirit in a material body. The perispirit is a semi-material body which unites the spirit to the material body. » The relationship of spirits with man is constant and has always existed. The good spirits do their best to lead us towards goodness and uphold us during our trials, helping us to face them with courage and resignation, whereas the imperfect spirits try to incite us towards evil.

On Reincarnation

» All spirits are created simple and ignorant. They gradually evolve intellectually and morally, so passing from an inferior order to more advanced levels, until they finally reach perfection, where they will enjoy constant happiness. » All spirits preserve their individuality before, during, and after each incarnation. » Spirits reincarnate as many times as necessary to achieve their own perfection. » The different corporeal existences of the spirit are always progressive and never regressive. The rapidity of their progress, both intellectual and moral, depends upon the degree of effort made towards improvement.

 » Spirits belong to various orders, according to the degree of perfection they have attained at any one time: Pure spirits, who have attained maximum perfection; good spirits, whose desire towards goodness predominates; Imperfect Spirits, who are characterized by ignorance, by their tendencies towards evil and by their inferior passions.

On Jesus

» Jesus is the guide and model for all humanity. His teachings and examples are the most pure expression of God's laws. » The morality of Jesus, contained in the Bible, is the indisputable guide line towards progress for all mankind, and its practice is the solution for all human problems.

On Free Will

» Man has free-will to act, but is also responsible the consequences of his actions. » The future life reserves compensations in accordance with the degree to which man's behavior, while incarnate, was respectful of natural law.

On Prayer

» Prayer is an act of adoration towards God. It is contained within natural law, being the result of an innate sentiment of man, just as the idea of the existence of a creator is also innate in man. » Prayer helps man to become better. Those who pray with conviction and faith in God find themselves to be stronger against the temptations of evil, and God sends them good spirits to assist them. This is help that is never denied to those who ask with true sincerity.

PRACTICING SPIRITISM

» Spiritism can and should be studied, analyzed and put into practice in all fundamental aspects of life, such as: science, philosophy, religion, ethics, morality, education and social life. » All practical Spiritism (mediumship, dissemination, fraternal assistance) is free of any charge, which follows the Gospel principle that we must "give for free what we receive for free." » Spiritism is practiced without rites or rituals, adhering to the Christian principle that God should be adored in spirit and truth. » There is no ministry within Spiritism, neither does it adopt or use in its meetings or in its practices any of the following: vestments, alcoholic beverages, incense, tobacco, altars, banners, candles, processions, talismans, amulets, sacraments, the making of promises and the paying of penances, horoscopes, fortune telling with cards or sea shells, pyramids, crystals, or any other form of cultism. » Spiritism does not impose its principles. It invites all those who are interested in exploring its teachings to submit them to the test of reason before accepting them. » Mediumship, which permits the communication of the spirits with man, is a gift anyone can have, regardless of the belief system they may choose to follow. » Spiritist mediumship is only that which is practiced based upon the principles of Spiritism and within Christian morality. » Spiritism respects all religions, values all efforts towards the practice of goodness and recognizes that "a true person of goodness is one who fulfils the laws of justice, love and charity in their purest forms."