Page 4 - Demo

Spiritualism is a religious system whose followers believe that spirits of the dead exist and can communicate with the living. They also hold that the afterlife is a place where spirits continue to evolve, advancing beyond humans. Believers do not adhere to a specific singular dogma, as in other religions, but are open to a wide variety of philosophies and points of view. In fact, many Spiritualists also attend mainstream churches. Spiritualism has both enthusiastic devotees and vehement skeptics. However, by looking beyond its truth or falsity, Spiritualism reveals a fascinating history peopled by unique individuals.In the early 19th century, upstate New York was a hotbed of religious fervor that became known as the Second Great Awakening. Through passionate preaching and emotional revivals, the religious climate of the times became radically altered as ordinary people were encouraged to make a personal connection with God. Because the area was so heavily evangelized, it became known as the burned-over district, with no fuel (unconverted population) left to burn (convert).It was an era when not only Methodists and Baptists gained new followers, but entirely new religions came into being, including Mormonism and Adventism, among others. While some of the new faiths faded away, others grew and prospered. This heavily energized religious environment was where Spiritualism emerged in the 1840s.Yet in reality, Spiritualism%u2019s earliest roots go back even further%u2014to a hundred years before its actual founding. At that time, Emanuel Swedenborg had a series of intense mystical experiences, dreams, and visions in which he felt that God was calling on him to reform Christianity. He said he learned from the Almighty that there were several levels of heavens and hells. He also claimed he could communicate with the spirits of the dead, although he discouraged others from doing so. While Swedenborg died several decades before the Second Great Awakening, his beliefs resonated with early Spiritualists.Another influence was Franz Mesmer who also died before the beginnings of Spiritualism. It was his Mesmerism (later known as hypnosis), which could induce trances and cause some subjects to report contact with supernatural beings, that later interested early supporters of Spiritualism.Another personality, Andrew Jackson Davis, had an even a more direct impact on the establishment of Spiritualism. Known as the Poughkeepsie Seer, he claimed remarkable clairvoyant powers, which he discussed in nearly 30 books. Of particular note was his widely read The Principles of Nature. While praised by some, others found it offensive, and one critic commented that it had