Spiritism (commonly designated as 'Spiritualism') stems from man's desire to communicate with the dead and the unseen world of spirits, as well as from a desire to obtain hidden information or knowledge of the future. The origin of Spiritism was in Babylon, and traces of its practices are found in every culture both ancient and modern ranging from Egypt to China.

In modern times, Spiritualism as an organized religion began in 1848 at Hydesville, New York, with the Fox sisters. Margaret and Kate Fox heard rappings in their home in Hydesville (and later in Rochester), and believing them to be sounds from the unseen spirit world they devised a method of communication. The spirit was to reply to their questions according to a definite pattern. News of this phenomenon spread rapidly; soon séances and interest in Spiritism became widespread in America, England and Europe. However, the Fox sisters who founded the movement had tragic lives. 'In time they became victims of the drink menace, nothing could satisfy their craving for alcohol, and they lost all sense of moral responsibility. Margaret, in the presence of her sister Kate at an anti Spiritualist meeting in 1888 declared, 'I am here tonight, as one of the founders of Spiritualism, to denounce it as absolute falsehood. . the most wicked blasphemy the world has ever known.'

Spiritualists today hold services in homes, halls, churches and at camps. Their services include hymns, prayers, lectures, healing, 'spirit messages' supposedly from the deceased, or other psychic phenomena. Some of the most well known names among Spiritualists of the past were such individuals as A. Conan Doyle (author of Sherlock Holmes), William E Gladstone - the British Prime Minister, Sir William Crookes and Sir Oliver Lodge both scientists, and Daniel Home - Scottish medium

Spiritualists are involved in many forms of occultism such as séances, communication with the dead, telepathy, astrology, clairvoyance, fortune telling, automatic writing, table rapping, use of the ouija board, pendulum, and so on, all of which are condemned by the Scriptures

The basic teachings of Spiritualism, similarly, are not in accord with the plain teaching of the Bible

Spiritualists deny the full inspiration, and the inerrancy of the Scriptures. The Bible says: 'All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness' ... (2 Tim. 3. 16). 'Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.' (2 Pet. 1. 20-2 1).

They claim that God is Impersonal, infinite Intelligence. But Jesus said we should call Him our Father. (Matt. 6:9).

Spiritualists deny that Jesus was virgin born or any more divine than any other man. Jesus is said to have been a Spiritist medium who used ESP and produced psychic phenomena. The Bible says 'This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. His mother Many was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.' (Matt. 1 18)'. . Christ Jesus, who being in very nature God . . . ' (Phil, 2. 5-6),

They reject the blood atonement as absurd. They teach that man must work out his own salvation, living by the Golden Rule 'Do to others as you would have them do to you'. The Bible says that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness, (Heb. 9.22) and that we cannot be saved by works; only by grace through faith. (Eph. 2:8-9),

Spiritualists do not believe in hell and eternal punishment, but claim that all men will ultimately be saved, that even the most wicked will finally be purged and progressively evolve unto perfection. For them the door to reformat on is never closed, since all men are children of God. But the Bible says, 'It is better for you to enter life maimed, than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out'. (Mark 9.43). 'They will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life (Matt 25 46),

They claim that communication with departed spirits (as well as the practice of other psychic and occult phenomena) is both desirable and necessary in order to prove life exists beyond the grave, and to give evidence of the reality of an unseen spiritual realm.

Spiritualists claim that departed spirits who have reached a higher spiritual plane can communicate teachings and knowledge to mankind, as well as heal the sick through the hand of the medium. Such spirits are designated as 'guides'. These so-called guides or discarnate spirits are actually seducing spirits (1 Tim, 4. 1) who deceive people by posing as their guardian angels, (Heb. 1. 13 14 with 2 Cor. 1 1: 14) or as spiritually advanced human spirits who have come to guide and help, or to fulfill some mission through the individual who submits to their deception. They often use this individual to deliver their 'message' of false teaching to others. (1 Tim. 4. 1-5). They impersonate different deceased individuals of various nationalities, with North American Indians frequently predominating.

Spiritualism's main teaching that the spirits of the dead survive as personalities and can communicate with mankind through a medium, contains only half-truth, i.e. the survival of the personality or soul of man after physical death. Many passages of Scripture clearly show, contrary to what Spiritualists teach, that attempts to communicate with the dead, as well as other forms of occultism, are forbidden by God and are detestable to Him. 'Let no one be found among you ... who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spirit or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, ' Deuteronomy 18. 10-12. (See also Lev 19:26,31, Lev 20:6, Jer. 27:9,1 Chron. 10:13, Zech 10:2, Mic 5:12, Acts 19:18.)

If you wish to know how to be set free from the influences of either past or present involvement in any of these occult practices, then write to CRO for a free copy of 'set Free' @ Reachout Trust, 24 Ormond Rd, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 6TH

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