SPIRITIST OR SPIRITUALIST?

[bobjob]

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

I know a lot of Spiritists that believe in reincarnation ... but I don't know any "Spiritualists".

We complement each other.

Well now you know one Spiritualist at least and that's me.....

Spiritualism's approach is that there isn't any evidence that it occurs but neither is there any guidance to say it doesn't. My personal stance is that the deeper aspects of survival et al tell me that the option of choosing more than one incarnation makes sense. I'm deliberately avoiding saying "reincarnation" because of the baggage that word carries with it.

Spiritualism doesn't have the equivalent of Spiritism's influencer Kardec but Silver Birch's teachings reached many Spiritualists via his deep-trance medium, Maurice Barbanell and the weekly newspaper Barbanell published, Psychic News. I can't tell you what he said verbatim but SB replied to a question about reincarnation by saying among his peers were some who declared they had never met anyone who had reincarnated yet he himself had no doubts it happened.

Perhaps the major difference between those "isms" is that of reincarnation but that's of minor consequence to me.

[bobjob]

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

QUOTE 42 EXCERPT:
You were definitely the soul that I needed when I started to explore Spiritism.

It's nice to see you here.

Thank you for your kind words - I'm usually around somewhere. I feel privileged to have helped you a little.

[bobjob]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

Spiritualism has changed over the last 1 and 1/2 centuries so much that it hard to discern how it actually got started. It seems it played a major role in the Women's movement but neither parties seem to acknowledge that.

Then Spiritism came on the scene which muddled what Spiritualist used to believe.

Before Spiritism came on the scene, Henry Olcott contributed a lot to Spiritualism, especially his great book "People from the Other World" which was written on the cusp of him funding the purse for the newly formed Theosophical Society in which he was their first President. That society is instrumental for bringing forth Buddhism to the West which had/has an influence on Spiritualism.

Were you a Spiritualist or a Spiritist BJ I might take notice but all that history is largely irrelevant.

[bobjob]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

"The Poughkeepsie Seer" probably had a lot to do with the name Spiritualism. I suspect the answer might be buried in the The Great Harmonia.

You're a bookworm, BJ.

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by bobjob

Were you a Spiritualist or a Spiritist BJ I might take notice but all that history is largely irrelevant.

That might be one of the problems Spiritualists have...... they generally know very little about their history let alone realize how it has changed their 'beliefs'.

Originally, Spiritualists did not believe in reincarnation. During the last 1 and 1/2 centuries, beliefs have changed and in many cases, most people do not even realize that.

I find the area where modern day Spiritualism began to have been a volatile area where many other religions emerged from. Some of them have similarities with Modern day Spiritualism and vice versa.

[BigJohn]

It seems like most Spiritualists shy away from the history part of Spiritualism because of the Fox sisters but I personally believe they should be looked at. Much can be gleaned from studying the past.

[bobjob]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

It seems like most Spiritualists shy away from the history part of Spiritualism because of the Fox sisters but I personally believe they should be looked at. Much can be gleaned from studying the past.

BJ you're just trying to wind me up now.

I'll buy you a Bud in town next winter and teach you about Spiritualism then, eh?

[bobjob]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

That might be one of the problems Spiritualists have...... they generally know very little about their history let alone realize how it has changed their 'beliefs'.

Originally, Spiritualists did not believe in reincarnation. During the last 1 and 1/2 centuries, beliefs have changed and in many cases, most people do not even realize that.

I find the area where modern day Spiritualism began to have been a volatile area where many other religions emerged from. Some of them have similarities with Modern day Spiritualism and vice versa.

Like I said, when you know about this stuff I'll maybe listen.... In the meantime I'll stick with what I know about.

[Still_Waters]

QUOTE 77 EXCERPT:

Originally Posted by bobjob

Perhaps the major difference between those "isms" is that of reincarnation but that's of minor consequence to me.

Since I don't know anything about Spiritualism (but have attended Spiritist meetings), I will take your word (unless proven otherwise) that perhaps the most significant difference between the two is that of reincarnation and that is also of minor consequence to me as well.

[bobjob]

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

QUOTE 77 EXCERPT:
Since I don't know anything about Spiritualism (but have attended Spiritist meetings), I will take your word (unless proven otherwise) that perhaps the most significant difference between the two is that of reincarnation and that is also of minor consequence to me as well.

No need to take my word. Even those I've seen presenting the Spiritist position have shown little of importance - if anything - that I see as separating our 'isms'.

Survival and communication via mediumship are fundamental to both, reincarnation is fundamental to one but not discounted by the other. Churches and organisation of them is likely to be different but then it's different from one town to another here in the UK but the fundamentals never vary. ONLY Christian Spiritualism - as far as I'm seeing - is significantly different from plain, vanilla Spiritualism. I don't know if there's a 'Christian Spiritism'.