Religious Relics in Spiritualist Churches.

I can agree with that but when the apparently rotten fruit is given as the beginning of something I would say that this is something quite different.

There may still be parallels Pre-Dawn. The Fox Sisters, regarded as the founders of Modern spiritualism may have been table knockers..I neither know or care if I am honest..mac said personal belief was up to us as individuals as the final arbiter. I certainly see that cognitive bias rules the roost with me. I am at the beck and call of my perceptions.

But as I look across the pantheon of beliefs/sects/religions..Are they not all started by someone who was maligned as well as followed. Did not the rotten apple present first...e.g. Jesus the Heretic, Crowley (Golden Dawn Founder) pervert and Junkie. Buddha the vagrant. Its all down to how you see things.

My observations indicate to me (for example) that Spiritualism significantly Predates the Fox sisters.

the fox sisters had a very stressful adult life - a public life that they were not prepared for ---- did they pad their original mediumship with some not so mediumistic showmanship? probably
but the original incident knocks, the peddler whose remains were found in the basement, his name - that original evidence of mediumship could not have been faked...

Why don't they just stop interfering in the local churches and let them put whatever artifacs they would like to display?
As long as they are of religious intent and as long the churches are drawing in the crowds to celebrate the spiritualist religion,who cares?

Originally Posted by deepsea

Why don't they just stop interfering in the local churches and let them put whatever artifacs they would like to display?
As long as they are of religious intent and as long the churches are drawing in the crowds to celebrate the spiritualist religion,who cares?

I care....

A Spiritualist church teaches Spiritualist philosophy and Modern Spiritualism does not use religious symbols. I like the way it doesn't.

I'd be happy to learn there are crowds in our churches. I'd be happy to learn they are persuaded by what Spiritualism offers.

I'd be less happy to learn that folk turn up because symbols of other religions attract 'em. Having said that if they subsequently became persuaded by Spiritualism and what it offers, then I guess I could live with it....

I suppose I feel that Spiritualism is for all,Mac.
We are all going to 'live' in the spirit world sometime.

What did SB say? Something like 'there is only one god and that is the Great Spirit'.

When I talk about different religions being acknowledged in the spiritualist church,by some small effect being shown,how about something on the wall like a flag display of all those countries who do accept spiritualism?
Will that suit you?

Originally Posted by Neville

My observations indicate to me (for example) that Spiritualism significantly Predates the Fox sisters.

Psychic phenomena and Spiritualism did exist long before the Fox sisters, no one is denying this. However the Fox sisters Kate 12 and Margaretta 14,actually received communication from a person who happened to give evidence of his survival and that he was alive and well. Although if one believed the Catholic church as they did at that time, they were lying 'dead' in their graves.

Originally Posted by Neville

But as I look across the pantheon of beliefs/sects/religions..Are they not all started by someone who was maligned as well as followed. Did not the rotten apple present first...e.g. Jesus the Heretic, Crowley (Golden Dawn Founder) pervert and Junkie. Buddha the vagrant. Its all down to how you see things.

How can one compare people who are maligned by others for their new, maybe heretical beliefs, with self-confessed fraudsters?

Originally Posted by pre-dawn

How can one compare people who are maligned by others for their new, maybe heretical beliefs, with self-confessed fraudsters?

Good point, some fraudsters are not self confessed

Originally Posted by deepsea

I suppose I feel that Spiritualism is for all,Mac.
We are all going to 'live' in the spirit world sometime.

What did SB say? Something like 'there is only one god and that is the Great Spirit'.

When I talk about different religions being acknowledged in the spiritualist church,by some small effect being shown,how about something on the wall like a flag display of all those countries who do accept spiritualism?
Will that suit you?

Spiritualism doesn't suit everyone and will fully appeal only when the time is right.

Of course we all came from, and will return to, the etheric world, the so-called world of the spirit but knowing about Modern Spiritualism isn't necessary for it to happen.

It doesn't matter what Silver Birch taught about God, his words won't mean much to those not ready for them. And Silver Birch isn't Spiritualism, let's not forget....

As for church symbols, SNU president, David Bruton - interviewed for January 2012 edition of 'Two Worlds' - remarked that the SNU wrote to all churches last year to remind them about the requirement that churches should not display the trappings of other religions. As those churches receive support from the SNU they are expected to subscribe to its rules.

If church members are not willing to follow the SNU rules, then either they should leave that church or that church should leave the SNU if sufficient members feel strongly enough and will also provide the necessary support - no small task I suggest.

Although I'm not a church-goer I firmly support the role of the Spiritualist church. I am not a member of the SNU (and haven't been in 26 years a Spiritualist) but I fully support what the SNU expects in terms of 'religious trappings'.

I see no justification for displaying symbols - not even a flag as you've suggested.

Ok,ok, I stand corrected.

To me a church is a place of praying,a church whatever kind of church means religion where we pray and hope we have been taught something of value.

I often have wondered why the word 'Spiritualist' is followed by the word 'church'.
I would say the better word should be 'hall' or 'meeting place'.