Spiritualism
is a religious and spiritual belief, which blends ancient wisdom with contemporary
thought. References to Spiritualism have been found for centuries in religious,
literary and historic writings. The understanding that life continues after death
and that communication is possible between the Spirit World and the Earth World
is the foundation of present day Spiritualism. Spiritualists recognize
God as the Universal Source, the Infinite Spirit. We believe that each of us is
an integral part of the God Power. Our philosophy, drawn from this understanding,
teaches that the path to spiritual growth and positive living comes from taking
personal responsibility for ones own behavior. We do not believe that anyone needs
to atone for another's transgressions. With this firm underpinning
for our belief, we are able to dismiss the concepts of the reward of heaven and
the punishment of hell. We believe that following "death" of the physical body,
all souls progress onward into the Spirit World where teachings for spiritual
advancement continue. In believing that evil is human-made, we realize that souls
entering the Spirit World, who have lived negative lives, must cleanse their own
consciences before they can experience the peace and beauty of the spirit environment.
An integral part of the understanding of Spiritualism centers around
the repeated evidences of communication between our world and the Spirit World.
The means by which such intercommunication takes place is called mediumship. The
individuals who are able to make contact with the Spirit World are known as mediums.
The descriptive information, which the medium receives from Spirit, perhaps of
a relative, friend, teacher, neighbor or even an advanced spiritual guide, identifies
that the life force is intact, that the Spirit is still alive. Frequently the
communication is accompanied by a message of encouragement or direction. Such
knowledge of continuous life can bring needed support during periods of bereavement,
crisis or personal search. Healing is another very important dimension
of our belief. We accept the healing power of God as the ultimate healing force.
While we recognize the importance and value of medical treatment and other health
care services, we believe that the most effective healing benefits are derived
from combined spiritual and physical inputs. Spiritualism, as a
religious and spiritual belief, offers a realistic and dynamic path for positive
living. |