Spiritualism facts for kids

By 1853, when the popular song Spirit Rappings was published, Spiritualism was an object of intense curiosity.

Spiritualism is a belief that people can talk with the spirits of those who have died. It was very popular in the 1800s and early 1900s, especially in America and Europe. In places like the Caribbean and South America, it is often called Spiritism.

Spiritualism did not have one main holy book. Instead, it used pamphlets, meetings, and people called mediums. A medium is a person, often a woman, who acts like a bridge between the living and the dead. At its most popular, many people followed Spiritualism and even formed Spiritualist churches.

What is Spiritualism?

Spiritualism is a belief system that grew popular in the 1800s. Its main idea is that people can communicate with spirits. These spirits are believed to be the souls of people who have passed away. Followers of Spiritualism believe that life continues after death. They also think that spirits can share wisdom and guidance with the living.

How Did Spiritualism Start?

Spiritualism became widely known in the United States in the mid-1800s. It started with events like the "Rochester Rappings" in 1848. Two young sisters, Kate and Margaret Fox, claimed they could hear mysterious rapping sounds. They believed these sounds were messages from a spirit. News of their abilities spread quickly. Soon, many people became interested in talking to spirits.

What is a Medium?

A medium is a central figure in Spiritualism. This person is believed to have special abilities to connect with spirits. Mediums might receive messages from spirits in different ways. They might hear voices, see visions, or feel sensations. Sometimes, they would go into a trance. During a trance, a spirit might speak through them. People would visit mediums hoping to get advice or comfort from their deceased loved ones.

Types of Mediumship

There were different ways mediums would communicate.

• Physical Mediumship: This involved spirits making physical things happen. This could be knocking sounds, objects moving, or even spirits appearing.
• Mental Mediumship: This was about spirits communicating through thoughts or words. Mediums might write messages automatically. They might also speak messages they heard from spirits.

Séances and Gatherings

Spiritualists often held meetings called séances. During a séance, a group of people would sit together, often in a circle. A medium would lead the session. The goal was to contact spirits. Sometimes, these meetings were held in dim light. People hoped to see or hear signs from the spirit world. These gatherings were a big part of the Spiritualist movement.

Why Was Spiritualism Popular?

Spiritualism became very popular for several reasons.

• Comfort and Hope: Many people had lost loved ones, especially after wars or illnesses. Spiritualism offered comfort. It gave them hope that their loved ones were still "there" and could communicate.
• New Ideas: In the 1800s, new ideas about science and religion were emerging. Spiritualism offered a different way to think about life and death.
• Social Change: The movement also attracted people interested in social changes. Some Spiritualists supported women's rights and the end of slavery.

Famous People and Spiritualism

Many well-known people were interested in Spiritualism.

• Arthur Conan Doyle, who created the famous detective Sherlock Holmes, was a strong believer. He wrote books supporting Spiritualism.
• Even some scientists, like William Crookes, studied mediums. They wanted to see if the claims were real.
• However, not everyone believed. The famous magician Harry Houdini spent a lot of time exposing fake mediums. He showed how some "spiritual" effects were just tricks.

Decline and Legacy

Spiritualism's popularity began to fade in the early 1900s. Many mediums were exposed as fakes. People like Houdini showed how their tricks worked. Also, new scientific discoveries changed how people viewed the world.

Even though its peak passed, Spiritualism left a mark. It influenced new religious movements. It also made people think more about life after death and the nature of consciousness. Today, some Spiritualist churches and groups still exist around the world.

Images for kids

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  Spiritualism was seen by some Christians as similar to witchcraft. This 1865 poster from the United States even blamed it for the American Civil War.

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  The Fox sisters

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  Cora L. V. Scott

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  Paschal Beverly Randolph

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  Harry Houdini showed how "mediums" used tricks.

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  Middle-class women in Chicago discussing spiritualism (1906).

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  Emma Hardinge Britten

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  Helen Duncan

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  Gerald Massey

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  Arthur Conan Doyle, who created Sherlock Holmes.

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  Franz Mesmer

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  Andrew Jackson Davis, around 1860.

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  Frank Podmore, about 1895.

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  William Crookes. Photo published 1904.

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  Harry Price, 1922.