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122-448: Kardec coined the term spiritism in 1857 and defined it as "the doctrine founded on the existence, manifestations, and teachings of spirits". Kardec claimed that spiritism combines scientific, philosophical, and religious aspects of the tangible universe and what he described as the universe beyond transcendence. After observing table-turning , a kind of seance, he was intrigued that the tables seemed to move despite lacking muscles and that

244-407: A "perversion", as parapsychologists claim that science cannot be the only privileged field that is exempt from the explanations they defend. Animal magnetism (mesmerism) is also present in spiritist teachings, with constant references to mesmeric concepts such as magnetic fluids. According to this hypothesis, some people could perform healings through "fluids". However, the animal magnetism hypothesis

366-647: A "scientific" Spiritism and others supporting a "mystical" Spiritism, led to dissensions within the Society of Studies. Initially, in 1877, a group separated to establish the Congregação Espírita Anjo Ismael (Spiritist Congregation Angel Ismael) (20 May). The following year (1878), another group formed the Grupo Espírita Caridade (Charity Spiritist Group) (8 June). Both had short durations and had disappeared by 1879. In

488-547: A Spiritist, but rather a democrat. In the same period, the Jornal do Commercio , a traditional newspaper of the Brazilian capital at the time, in an article published on 23 September 1863 in the section "Chronicles of Paris," addressed the shows about spirits that were popular in the theaters of Paris and then went on to make comments about Spiritism. This article is mentioned in the " Revue Spirite " , where Kardec comments that

610-455: A campaign of personal insults against him, as he was considered a mystic who did not bother to reason. With Júlio César Leal's resignation from the presidency of FEB, after seven months in office due to a profound administrative, financial, and ideological crisis experienced by the institution, Bezerra de Menezes accepted to assume the position once again on 3 August 1895. In the exercise of his functions, he imparted an evangelical orientation to

732-551: A careful series of experiments. They claimed to have demonstrated that the movements of the table were due to a physical force emanating from the bodies of the sitters, for which they proposed the name ectenic force . Their conclusion rested on the supposed elimination of all known physical causes for the movements; but it is doubtful from the description of the experiments whether the precautions taken were sufficient to exclude unconscious muscular action (the ideomotor effect ) or even deliberate fraud. In England, table-turning became

854-672: A date that the Spiritists of that time wanted to preserve for posterity. As a result of the Spiritist Congress, on 3 October of the same year, the Centro da União Espírita do Brasil (Center of the Spiritist Union of Brazil) was founded within the "Academic Society," by Professor Afonso Angeli Torteroli . The new institution aimed to bring together and guide Spiritist societies at the national level. Among its members

976-411: A determined number of knocks to respond yes or no, as agreed upon, to a proposed question. Despite the belief that supposed spirits or geniuses were moving the tables, Michael Faraday 's scientific experiments published in 1853 showed that the movements were caused by the ideomotor effect and dismissed paranormal explanations for the phenomenon of table-turning. The ideomotor effect also causes

1098-445: A doctrinal body, is singular, making the use of the term Kardecist spiritism redundant. Thus, those who adhere to the teachings codified by Kardec in the basic works (with varying degrees of tolerance for concepts that are not strictly doctrinal, such as apometry ) simply identify themselves as spiritists , without the addition of Kardecist . The works themselves disapprove of the use of other expressions like Kardecist , stating that

1220-403: A fashionable diversion and was practised all over the country in the year 1853. John Elliotson and his followers attributed the phenomena to mesmerism . The general public were content to find the explanation of the movements in spirits, animal magnetism , Odic force , galvanism , electricity , or even the rotation of the earth. Some Evangelical clergymen alleged that the spirits who caused

1342-542: A mere convention, but on more solid foundations: the very laws of Nature. At the International Spiritist Congress held in Paris in 1925, there was a proposal to remove the religious aspect from Spiritism, but the important French Spiritist philosopher Léon Denis opposed it with tenacity, even in his already weak physical condition of health. According to Denis, Spiritism was not the "religion of

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1464-413: A method that involved a pin driven into the table and the use of a ring with a slot on the medium's finger. Once the pin entered the slot, the table could be lifted. Another example comes from Eusapia Palladino , who used custom-made boots with soles that extended beyond the boots' edges in order to lift tables. According to John Mulholland : The multiplicity of methods used to tip and raise tables in

1586-613: A movement of social assistance and philanthropy. The doctrine has had a strong influence on various other religious currents, such as Santería , Umbanda , and the New Age movements . The term spiritisme was created by the French educator Hippolyte Léon Denizard Rivail (known as Allan Kardec) to specifically name the body of ideas systematized by him in The Spirits' Book (1857). To designate new things, new terms are needed. This

1708-485: A new organization called the Grupo Espírita Fraternidade (Fraternity Spiritist Group) (1880). Still in this context, Antônio Luís Sayão, who unsuccessfully attempted to reconcile the "Academic Society God, Christ, and Charity" with the "Fraternity Spiritist Group," founded, together with Frederico Pereira Júnior , João Gonçalves do Nascimento, Francisco Leite de Bittencourt Sampaio , and others,

1830-444: A notable promotion of psychiatry and homeopathy . Dr. Adolfo Bezerra de Menezes, a spiritist and physician, wrote the classic book A Loucura sob Novo Prisma (Insanity from a New Perspective), seeking to relate the issue of mental disorders to Spiritism and promote the application of more effective treatment methods in the field of mental health. Currently, psychiatrist and parapsychologist Alexander Moreira-Almeida, coordinator of

1952-412: A philosophy, it encompasses all the moral consequences that emanate from these same relations." Some still contest the religious aspect of Spiritism; however, in the book published by its codifier, titled O Espiritismo na sua mais simples expressão (Spiritism in its simplest expression), he clearly asserts: "From a religious point of view, Spiritism is based on the fundamental truths of all religions: God,

2074-795: A physician, historian, and politician. Outside the Municipality of the Court, during this period, the founding of the Spiritist newspaper "A Cruz" (The Cross) in Recife stands out, established by Júlio César Leal on 6 July 1881, the first Spiritist periodical in the capital of Pernambuco. With the Proclamation of the Republic of Brazil (15 November 1889), on 22 December, the FEB congratulates

2196-677: A previous incarnation. He also dismisses other texts generally cited in support of reincarnation. The qualification of Spiritism itself as Christian has also generated controversy. Dr. Antônio Flávio Pierucci, professor at the Department of Sociology at the University of São Paulo (USP) and scholar of Brazilian religiosity, is one of those who affirm that Spiritism is "not a Christian religion." There are no historical Christian doctrines within Spiritism, present in its main branches, such as

2318-415: A result of his research, he published the first edition of The Spirits' Book (Paris, 1857), under the pseudonym " Allan Kardec ". The foundation of the Spiritist doctrine is contained in this book and four others published later: The Mediums' Book , 1861; The Gospel According to Spiritism , 1864; Heaven and Hell , 1865; The Genesis According to Spiritism , 1868. These combined books are called

2440-406: A séance is almost as great as the number of mediums performing the feat. One of the simplest was to slide the hands back until one or both of the medium's thumbs could catch hold of the table top. Another way was to exert no pressure on the table at all, and in the event that the sitter opposite the medium did press on the table, to permit the table to tip far enough away from him so that he could get

2562-639: A thousand people (1,500 or two thousand, according to sources). In 1887, Elias da Silva founded the Grupo Espírita Sete de Março (Seventh of March Spiritist Group), which remained active until 1890. During the tumultuous days that stretched from the Abolition of Slavery in Brazil (1888) to the proclamation of the Republic (1889), the following stand out: It was at this moment that the Center of

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2684-433: Is a spiritualist. However, it does not follow that they believe in the existence of Spirits or in their communications with the visible world. Instead of using the words spiritual, spiritualism, we employ, to indicate the belief we have just referred to, the terms Spiritist and Spiritism, whose form recalls the origin and the radical sense and which, for that reason, have the advantage of being perfectly intelligible, leaving to

2806-406: Is considered pseudoscientific, as scientists have known since the second half of the 18th century that the alleged healings were purely psychosomatic, achieved through hypnosis , without any involvement of "fluids" or animal magnetism. According to Joseph McCabe , citing the claims of Arthur Conan Doyle about scientists confirming the alleged spiritual phenomena for 30 years, the mediums deceived

2928-464: Is due to the triple aspect of Spiritism, which allows it to be classified as a doctrine that aligns "science-philosophy-religion". In the preamble of the book O Que É o Espiritismo? (What is Spiritism?), Kardec states that "Spiritism is, at the same time, a science of observation and a philosophical doctrine. As a practical science, it consists of the relations established between us and the Spirits; as

3050-512: Is profound, as evidenced by its presence in many spiritist books and the existence of the International Spiritist Medical Association, which brings together medical-spiritist associations from various countries. Spiritism constitutes a vast international movement of charity and healthcare institutions, as evidenced mainly by the existence of such associations, numerous hospitals and spiritist centers, and

3172-415: Is required by the clarity of language in order to avoid the confusion inherent in the variety of meanings of the same words. The words spiritual, spiritualist, spiritualism have a well-defined meaning. To give them another meaning, to apply them to the doctrine of Spirits, would be to multiply the already numerous causes of amphibology . (...) Whoever believes to have something within themselves beyond matter,

3294-548: Is stated that Spiritism is "the only truly Christian tradition." Spiritist writers such as José Reis Chaves and Severino Celestino da Silva also claim that reincarnation was part of early Christianity until it was condemned by the Second Council of Constantinople . This controversial thesis was popularized even earlier by Leslie Weatherhead but has also been questioned based on statements from the Church Fathers and

3416-579: Is the main form of Spiritualism in Brazil. Following the emergence of modern Spiritualist events in Hydesville, New York, United States, via the mediumship of the Fox sisters (1848), the phenomena quickly spread to Europe where, in France, the so-called " turning tables " became a popular fad. In France, this type of phenomenon, in 1855, caught the attention of the educator Hippolyte Léon Denizard Rivail . As

3538-480: Is very close to being an idiot. Let us be reverent before the possible, whose limits no one knows; let us be attentive and serious in the presence of the superhuman, from which we come and to which we are heading. Founded on April 18, 1857, with the publication of The Spirits' Book , Spiritism was structured based on alleged dialogues established with disembodied spirits that, by manifesting through mediums, expounded on scientific, religious, and philosophical topics from

3660-609: The Brazilian Spiritist Association was founded in Salvador, a continuation of the "Family Group of Spiritism," and the following year (1874), in the same city, some members of this association founded the "Santa Teresa de Jesus Group." In the city of Rio de Janeiro , then capital of the Empire of Brazil , the first Spiritist sessions were held by French individuals, many of whom were political exiles from

3782-508: The Revue Spirite , under the title " Spiritism in Brazil ", Kardec informed his readers that the newspaper " Diário da Bahia " in its editions of 26 and 27 September 1865, published two articles, a Portuguese translation of those that had been published six years earlier by Dr. Amédée Dechambre (1812–1886), coordinator of the publication of the " Dictionnaire encyclopédique des sciences médicales ". The articles were transcriptions from

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3904-464: The Sociedade de Estudos Espíritas Deus, Cristo e Caridade (Society of Spiritist Studies God, Christ, and Charity), under the direction of Francisco Leite de Bittencourt Sampaio . Its doctrinal program, in which the work codified by Allan Kardec was an essential part, included the study of The Four Gospels by Jean-Baptiste Roustaing . However, ideological disagreements between those advocating for

4026-562: The Trinity , the physical resurrection of Jesus , the inspiration of the Bible , and redemption . Due to these differences, many scholars consider it a form of neo-Christianity. However, Spiritist writers argue that Spiritism is Christian because it promotes the teaching of loving one's neighbor. According to followers and sympathizers of Spiritist doctrine, mediumistic phenomena is universal and has always existed, including abundant accounts in

4148-511: The " Gazette Médicale ", where the doctor made a semi-burlesque exposition of the subject, stating, for example, that the phenomenon of turning and speaking tables had already been mentioned by the Greek poet Theocritus (300–250 BC), from which he concluded that, since this phenomenon was not new, it had no basis in reality. "We regret that Mr. Déchambre's erudition" – commented Kardec – "did not allow him to go further, because he would have found

4270-546: The "Centro da União Espírita do Brasil," the "Grupo dos Humildes," the "Grupo Espírita Fraternidade," and the "Sociedade Acadêmica Deus, Cristo e Caridade." As a result of this understanding, the Federação Espírita Brasileira (Brazilian Spiritist Federation) was founded on 1 January 1884, considered as the "House of Ismael," with the aim of federating all groups through a "balanced or mixed program" and disseminating Spiritism through all means, especially

4392-423: The "Kardecist Pentateuch". In Brazil the ideas that gave rise to Spiritism date back to the early experiences with the so-called "vital fluid" (animal magnetism, mesmerism ) by practitioners of homeopathy, namely the physicians Benoît Jules Mure , a native of France, and João Vicente Martins , from Portugal, who arrived in the country in 1840 and applied it to their patients. Among the personalities interested in

4514-487: The "Section on Spirituality, Religiosity, and Psychiatry" of the World Psychiatric Association, is one of the leading figures in the scientific study of the relationship between health and spiritual experiences, especially mediumship. There is no consensus among Spiritists as to whether Spiritism is a religion or not, despite the doctrine being classified as a religion in demographic surveys. This

4636-470: The Academic Society. On the same day, a committee of Spiritists was received by Emperor Pedro II of Brazil , to whom they handed a document with a detailed exposition of the facts and a request for justice to be served. The Emperor, on that occasion, is also said to have stated: " I do not consent to persecution. " Two weeks later, on the 21st, the same committee returned to the palace to learn of

4758-569: The Bible. Among others, Spiritists cite biblical mediumistic examples, such as Moses' prohibition of "consulting the dead", which would be evidence of the Jewish belief in this possibility, since something unrealizable is not prohibited; the consultation of Saul , the first king of the ancient Kingdom of Israel, with the Witch of Endor , in 1 Samuel 28, who sees and hears the disembodied spirit of Samuel ,

4880-457: The Bishop of Rio de Janeiro, which prompted responses from the physician Antônio Pinheiro Guedes . It was Elias da Silva who, at the end of that year (27 December 1883), held a preparatory meeting for the reorganization of the movement in the Municipality of the Court at his own residence, given the apparent lack of understanding among the members of the various existing Spiritist entities there:

5002-650: The Board of the Academic Society expressed its jubilation " for the beginning of tolerance " towards that Society, " a clear sign that the persecutions initiated against Spiritism and Spiritists have ended ". This first police action against Spiritism resulted in the foundation, in Rio de Janeiro, in September or October 1881, of the Grupo Espírita Vinte e Oito de Agosto (Twenty-Eighth of August Spiritist Group),

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5124-623: The Confúcio Group launched the second Spiritist periodical in the country (the first in Rio de Janeiro), the Revista Espírita (Spiritist Review), edited by Antônio da Silva Neto . Prominent figures associated with this group include Joaquim Carlos Travassos , who in 1875 presented the first translation of "The Spirits' Book" into the Portuguese language to Bezerra de Menezes . The group dissolved in 1876, giving way to

5246-486: The Doctrine. On this occasion, the newspaper " O Renovador " (The Renewer) was also launched by Major Salustiano José Monteiro de Barros and Professor Afonso Angeli Torteroli. A few months later, the " Reformador " (The Reformer) would be published, under the direction of Augusto Elias da Silva (21 January 1883). The idea of publishing the latter was influenced by a Pastoral Letter opposing Spiritism, published in 1882 by

5368-459: The Fatherland") incorporating Spiritist elements; and sympathizers such as Castro Alves (1847–1871), who intended to write a Spiritist work as the final poem of "Os Escravos" (The Slaves); Augusto dos Anjos , who conducted Spiritist sessions and engaged in psychography in his hometown; Antônio Castro Lopes (1827–1901), a poet and philologist; and Alexandre José de Mello Moraes (1816–1882),

5490-486: The God of the Spiritists, is not a cruel and vengeful tyrant who punishes a moment of folly with eternal torments, but a good and merciful father who watches over his wayward children with constant solicitude, seeking to draw them to himself through a series of tests designed to cleanse them of all impurities. The first manifestations of table-turning observed by Kardec involved tables lifting and knocking, using one of their legs,

5612-707: The International Spiritist Council, spiritism is present in 36 countries, with over 13 million followers, being most widespread in Brazil , where it has approximately 3.8 million followers, according to the data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics , and over 30 million sympathizers, according to the Brazilian Spiritist Federation . Spiritists are also known for influencing and promoting

5734-656: The Opening Address of the Annual Commemorative Session of the Day of the Dead (Society of Paris, November 1, 1868), where he states: If that is the case, you may ask, is Spiritism a religion? Well, yes, undoubtedly, gentlemen! In the philosophical sense, Spiritism is a religion, and we take pride in it because it is the doctrine that establishes the bonds of fraternity and communion of thoughts, not on

5856-659: The Penal Code, once again in vain, as the code's review committee did not meet their demands. Faced with external and internal difficulties, the Reformador ceased circulation in the last quarter of that year. The "Fraternity Spiritist Group," after changing its bylaws and renaming itself the "Psychological Fraternity Society," dissolved during the Revolt of the Navy , and on Christmas of that same year, Bezerra de Menezes concluded

5978-606: The Provisional Government for the advent of the new regime. However, since the country still did not have a Constitution, Decree No. 847, dated 11 October 1890, promulgated the Penal Code of the Republic. This decree, inspired by positivism , associated the practice of Spiritism with rituals of magic and charlatanism , as expressed in Article 157, which stated: Spiritists protested to Campos Sales , who

6100-603: The Society itself, was entitled "Celebration of Spiritism in Brazil" and extended until 3 September. Visitors had the opportunity to appreciate various mediumistic works, such as psychographic writings in normal characters, shorthand and telegraphy in foreign languages (including Oriental languages), psychopictography, copies of correspondence between the Academic Society and foreign Spiritist associations, Spiritist newspapers and magazines from Europe and America, various Spiritist works, portraits of notable figures of Spiritism from various countries, as well as books and newspapers opposing

6222-609: The Spiritist Union of Brazil, in its second phase, was reorganized and installed in the FEB's facilities, with Bezerra de Menezes as president and later Elias da Silva (1893). It was also Bezerra de Menezes who incorporated the "Grupo dos Humildes" (Group of the Humble), later renamed "Grupo Ismael" (Ismael Group), into FEB. After the proclamation of the Republic , the Grupo Espírita Fraternidade (Fraternity Spiritist Group) would also join FEB. Prominent figures in

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6344-569: The Spiritist philosopher Herculano Pires, "Spiritist Philosophy, as Kardec said, generically belongs to what we usually call Spiritualist Philosophy because its view of the Universe is not limited to Matter but extends to Spirit, which it considers as the cause of everything we perceive in the material plane. Embracing in its cosmological interpretation Spiritist Science and resulting in Spiritist Religion, Spiritist Philosophy encompasses

6466-620: The United States, unifying the information he interpreted in order to codify this type of practice and the teachings transmitted. Let us prove to them that, thanks to the teachings of those they call demons, we understand the sublime morality of the Gospel, which is summed up in the love of God and our fellow men, and in universal charity. Let us embrace all of humanity, without distinction of worship, race, origin, and, even more so, family, wealth, and social status. Let them know that our God,

6588-559: The activities of the "Academic Society God, Christ, and Charity" and its affiliated centers, making Spiritists who contradicted the police provisions subject to criminal sanctions. On the same day, the Society held an extraordinary session to take defensive measures if the news were confirmed. Still on the same day, the Board of the Academic Society appeared before the Minister of Justice, who received them warmly, stating that there must have been some misunderstanding and that he would not allow

6710-457: The arbitrariness of that measure. A committee, composed of Dr. Antônio Pinheiro Guedes , Carlos Joaquim de Lima e Cirne , and Dr. Joaquim Carlos Travassos , contacted the Chief of Police, who, despite receiving them amiably, resolved nothing, suggesting that the order came from a higher authority. In this context, on 6 September 1881, the first Spiritist Congress in Brazil took place, promoted by

6832-399: The author of the article did not delve into the study of Spiritism, of which he was ignorant of the theoretical aspects. However, Kardec praises his sensible behavior in the face of the facts, for which he did not raise reckless theories. " At least " – Kardec referred to – " he does not judge what he does not know. " And he adds: In this capital, the first Spiritist institution to be founded

6954-480: The believers of table-turning. Faraday's work was followed up a century later by clinical psychologist Kenneth Batcheldor who pioneered the use of infrared video recording to observe experimental subjects in complete darkness. Apart from the ideomotor effect, conscious fraudulent table tipping has also been uncovered. Professional magicians and skeptics have exposed many of the methods utilized by mediums to tip tables. The magician Chung Ling Soo described

7076-582: The canonical gospels from the perspective of Spiritist Doctrine, addressing the application of Christian moral principles and religious matters such as the practice of worship, prayer, and charity with special attention. The work Heaven and Hell , or Divine Justice According to Spiritism , was published in 1865 and consists of two parts: in the first part, Kardec critically examines philosophical contradictions and inconsistencies with scientific knowledge, which he believes can be overcome through Spiritist paradigm of reasoned faith. Topics covered include: causes of

7198-470: The case of " table-turning ". The supposed case of the Fox sisters in the United States stood out in the late 1840s. The true Spiritist is not the one who believes in the manifestations, but the one who benefits from the teachings given by the Spirits. Belief is of no use if it does not make one take a step forward on the path of progress and make one better towards their neighbor. Regarding his background, Kardec

7320-428: The codified teachings, in their essence, are not linked to the unique figure of a man, as is the case with Christianity or Buddhism , but rather to a collective of spirits whom they believe manifested themselves through various mediums at that historical moment and were expected to continue communicating, thus keeping the doctrinal body in a constant evolutionary process. However, another portion of followers considers

7442-534: The country by the newspaper " O Cearense " in 1853. In Salvador , the capital of Bahia, the Conservatório Dramático da Bahia was founded in August 1857, with the participation of personalities such as Rui Barbosa and Luís Olímpio Teles de Menezes . It was in this group that Teles de Menezes came into contact with the strange phenomena and corresponded with French Spiritists. In the pages of

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7564-482: The creation of the doctrine, aiding its understanding. The scientific investigation of the facts and causes of alleged mediumistic phenomena is the subject of intense study, mainly within the pseudoscience of parapsychology. Scientific investigations on mediumship and other "spiritual phenomena" advocated by Spiritism have taken place/take place even within the academic setting, but although many scientists, including renowned ones, have claimed to have provided evidence for

7686-598: The creation of the universe, the formation of worlds, the emergence of the spirit, and the nature of so-called miracles, according to the Spiritist paradigm of understanding reality. The book Sic Cogito wrote by B.P. Hașdeu and published in 1892 is one of the most important books about spiritism. The book What Is Spiritism? , published in 1859, serves as an introductory and didactic work on Spiritism. The periodical Revue Spirite (in Portuguese, Spiritist Review ), dedicated exclusively to Spiritism-related topics,

7808-482: The death of the body, and primarily in the possibility of communicating with them, either casually or deliberately, through evocations or spontaneously. The term Kardecism is repudiated by some followers of the doctrine who reserve the word spiritism solely for the doctrine as codified by Kardec, affirming that there are no different branches within spiritism , and they refer to believers of various currents as spiritualists . These followers believe that spiritism, as

7930-542: The entire doctrine." The Spiritist doctrine, in general, is based on the following points (principles): Additionally, secondary characteristics can be mentioned: Spiritism does not have an official symbol and prioritizes a denotative language. However, the vine branch depicted in The Spirits' Book – the only engraving used by Kardec in the Spiritist Codification – is considered by the doctrine as

8052-897: The existence of such phenomena in their research through the scientific method , the existence of spirits is neither established nor proven. Mediumship has been studied by scientists and scholars for more than a century. Many scientists and intellectuals have dedicated themselves to investigations of mediumship and its implications for the mind–body relationship , including: Kardec, Alfred Russel Wallace , B.P. Hașdeu , Alexandre Aksakof, Cesare Lombroso , Camille Flammarion , Carl Jung , Charles Richet , Gabriel Delanne , Frederic Myers , Hans Eysenck, Henri Bergson , Ian Stevenson , J. J. Thomson , J. B. Rhine , James H. Hyslop, Johann K. F. Zöllner , Lord Rayleigh , Marie Curie , Oliver Lodge , Pierre Curie , Pierre Janet , Théodore Flournoy , William Crookes , William James , and William McDougall. The relationship between Spiritism itself and medicine

8174-461: The expectation of the sitters, and could be stopped altogether by appropriate suggestion . Michel Eugène Chevreul explained that the purported magical movement was due to involuntary and unconscious muscular reactions. Michael Faraday devised a simple apparatus which conclusively demonstrated that the movements he investigated were due to unconscious muscular action. The apparatus consisted of two small boards, with glass rollers between them,

8296-594: The fear of death, why Spiritists do not fear death, heaven, the Christian hell imitated from the pagan one, limbo, purgatory, doctrine of eternal punishments, penal code of the afterlife, angels, the origin of the belief in demons. The second part contains dozens of dialogues that purportedly took place between Kardec and various spirits, in which they recount their impressions from the afterlife. The book The Genesis According to Spiritism , published in 1868, addresses various philosophical and scientific questions, such as

8418-619: The foundation, in the same year (1865), in Salvador , of the Family Group of Spiritism by Teles de Menezes. It was this same individual who guided, that year, the first recorded spiritist session in the annals of Spiritism in the country, on 17 September. The following year (1866), in the city of São Paulo , the Literary Typography published " Spiritism Reduced to Its Simplest Expression " by Kardec, without indicating

8540-629: The future founder of the Reformador and the Federação Espírita Brasileira (Brazilian Spiritist Federation), founded the União dos Espíritas do Brasil (Union of Brazilian Spiritists), of which he presided over. Regarding this turbulent period, researcher Pedro Richard stated: The following year (1881), as an offshoot of the "Fraternity Group," the Grupo Espírita Humildade e Fraternidade (Humility and Fraternity Spiritist Group)

8662-406: The future" but rather the "future of religions". Table-turning Table-turning (also known as table-tapping , table-tipping or table-tilting ) is a type of séance in which participants sit around a table , place their hands on it, and wait for rotations. The table was purportedly made to serve as a means of communicating with the spirits; the alphabet would be slowly spoken aloud and

8784-453: The imperfections of others, and forgiveness of offenses. The Spiritist doctrine aims to establish a dialogue between science, philosophy, and religion, with the goal of obtaining an original form that is both more comprehensive and profound, in order to better understand reality. Kardec synthesizes the concept with the famous phrase: "Unshakable faith is only the one that can confront reason face to face in all epochs of humanity." According to

8906-400: The institution's work and remained in office until his passing in 1900. During this time, on 28 August 1897, the "Center of Spiritist Union for Propagation in Brazil" held the "Permanent Spiritist Congress," paying tribute to the "Academic Society God, Christ, and Charity," which had been the target of an attempted persecution against spiritists in 1881. However, the "Center" disappeared during

9028-464: The island of Jersey (1851–1855), participated in numerous table-turning sessions with his friend Auguste Vacquerie and came to believe that he had made contact with deceased spirits, including his daughter Léopoldine (who had died by drowning) and great writers such as Shakespeare , Dante , Racine , and Molière . Faced with experiences with table-turning, Hugo converted to spiritualism, and in 1867 called for science to pay attention to and take seriously

9150-490: The lack of references to reincarnation during that Council. Agnostic scholar Bart D. Ehrman claims that evidence that early Christians believed in reincarnation is scant. Christian theologian Norman Geisler claims that there is no evidence of reincarnation in the Bible. According to him, the famous text in John 9:2–3 reflects the rabbinic belief in prenatal sins, according to which a fetus could commit sin before birth, but not in

9272-523: The last of the judges of Israel and the first of the prophets recorded in the history of his people; and the communication of Jesus with Moses and Elijah on Mount Tabor in the Transfiguration of Jesus ( 9 ). Ancient philosophy also provides examples: in Plato's Dialogues , he speaks about the daimon or genius that accompanied Socrates . Many Spiritists adopt March 31, 1848 (the beginning of

9394-635: The law. FEB itself was obliged to suspend the publication of its magazine, the "Reformador," at that time. However, it was in this context that Bezerra de Menezes founded the Spiritist Group Regeneration (18 February 1891), the "House of Benefits." In 1893, at the height of the second Revolt of the Navy , the Government further hardened the regime. Spiritists submitted a new protest to the National Congress against

9516-516: The mediumistic events at the residence of the Fox sisters in Hydesville, US) as the initial milestone of modern mediumistic manifestations, allegedly more ostensive and frequent than ever before, which led many researchers to delve into such phenomena. During the 19th century, there was a great wave of manifestations of mediumship in the United States and Europe. These manifestations consisted mainly of strange noises, knocks on furniture, and objects that moved or floated without any apparent cause, as in

9638-428: The movements observed in the so-called ouija board and the "cup game", in which participants involuntarily move markers over letters and numbers and also attribute the movements to supposed spirits or geniuses . Analyzing these phenomena, Kardec concluded that there was nothing convincing about this method for skeptics because they could believe it to be an effect of electricity, whose properties were little known to

9760-516: The movements were of a diabolic nature. In France, Allan Kardec studied the phenomenon and concluded in The Book on Mediums that some communications were caused by an outside intelligence, as the message contained information that was not known to the group. The Scottish surgeon James Braid , the English physiologist W. B. Carpenter and others pointed out that the phenomena could depend upon

9882-406: The new Penal Code. Concerned about possible pockets of resistance to the regime, the Government authorized the police to raid meetings and homes in search of opponents. As a result, in 1891, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, several spiritists were detained. Persecuted and prohibited from gathering, the few existing spiritist centers found themselves forced to close their doors to avoid the penalties of

10004-582: The newspaper published Dr. Déchambre's work because it believed that it provided an accurate assessment of Spiritist Doctrine. The refutation consisted of an extensive excerpt from the introduction of " The Spirits' Book ", which led Kardec to state: "The verbatim quotations from Spiritist works are, in fact, the best refutation of the distortions that certain critics impose on the Doctrine." (Op. cit., p. 336. Apud Zêus Vantuil and Francisco Thiesen. Allan Kardec – Bibliographic Research and Interpretation Essays . Rio de Janeiro: FEB.) This episode coincided with

10126-465: The perfect metaphorical image of the relationship between the spirit and the human body, due to this passage: You shall place at the head of the book the vine branch that we have drawn for you, for it is the emblem of the work of the Creator. All the material principles that can best represent the body and the spirit are contained in it. The body is the vine branch, the spirit is the liquor, the soul or

10248-470: The persecution of anyone. However, on 30 August, a Judicial Officer presented the Society with a copy of the summons from the 2nd Police Delegate of the Municipality of the Court, a summons that suspended and prohibited the meetings of the said Society, alleging that it was not legally constituted. Immediately, the Board of the Academic Society sent letters to the Chief of Police and the Minister of Justice, Counselor Manuel Pinto de Souza Dantas , demonstrating

10370-409: The perspective of Christian morality, that is, with the principle of love for one's neighbor, bringing to light new perspectives on various subjects of great philosophical and theological relevance. Thus, one of the basic precepts of Spiritism was established, which is the importance of charity, (Motto: Outside of charity, there is no salvation ), understood as benevolence towards all, indulgence towards

10492-400: The phenomena of table-turning: The table that turns or speaks has been greatly ridiculed. Let us speak plainly. This mockery is unjustifiable. To replace examination with contempt is convenient but unscientific. We believe that the elementary duty of Science is to verify all phenomena because if Science ignores them, it has no right to laugh at them. A wise person who laughs at what is possible

10614-513: The phenomenon in ancient Egypt and India." (Op. cit., v. VIII, p. 334-335). The Spiritists in Bahia immediately refuted these articles in the very "Diário da Bahia", in the edition of 28 September. The letter that preceded the refutation, addressed to the editorial office of the Bahian newspaper and signed by Teles de Menezes, José Álvarez do Amaral , and Joaquim Carneiro de Campos , suggests that

10736-486: The physician and historian Alexandre José de Mello Moraes , and included Pedro de Araújo Lima ( Marquis of Olinda ), Bernardo José da Gama ( Viscount of Goiana ), José Cesário de Miranda Ribeiro ( Viscount of Uberaba ), and other prominent figures of the Second Reign . A history of Spiritism in Brazil can be divided into three major stages: It is claimed that the history of Spiritism in Brazil dates back to

10858-482: The possibility of a muscular hypothesis (such as the ideomotor effect) being the cause of all the alleged movements and messages of the table-turning or other mechanical productions. The mysterious being who responded in this way, when questioned about its nature, declared that it was a spirit or genius , gave its name, and provided various information about itself. Eventually, the phenomenon decreased in popularity and became anecdotal. Victor Hugo , during his exile on

10980-539: The press and books. On 17 August 1885, in a room on Rua da Alfândega, FEB inaugurated a cycle of public conferences that became prominent, with speakers including Elias da Silva, Bittencourt Sampaio, and other pioneers of Spiritism in the country. The increase in the public's attendance led these lectures to be moved to Salão da Guarda Velha (in the street of the same name, currently Av. 13 de Maio), where, on 16 August 1886, Dr. Adolfo Bezerra de Menezes publicly proclaimed his Spiritist convictions before an audience of over

11102-475: The regime of Napoleon III of France (1852–1870), in the 1860s. Some of these pioneers were the journalist Adolphe Hubert , editor of the periodical Courrier do Brésil , the professor Casimir Lieutaud , and the psychographic medium, Madame Perret Collard . In 1860, Professor Casimir Lieutaud, founder and director of the French School in Rio de Janeiro, published the translation, in Portuguese , of

11224-582: The religious movement, due to the existing proximity between certain concepts and practices of it and Kardec's spiritism. Alexander Moreira de Almeida still attempts this legitimation, even calling Kardec's approach "revolutionary." However, the current scientific consensus considers parapsychology a pseudoscience , disregarding the alleged paranormal phenomena that underpin spiritism, such as mediumship, reincarnation, obsession , table-turning , séances , automatic writing , spiritualist art , and typology . Critics of pseudoscience even define parapsychology as

11346-412: The republican movement, such as Joaquim Saldanha Marinho (1816–1895) and Quintino Bocaiuva (1836–1912), sympathized with the Spiritist doctrine. In the literary field, noteworthy individuals include Machado de Assis (1839–1908) as a critic; Spiritist Manuel de Araújo Porto-Alegre (1806–1879), who held psychographic sessions in Paris and wrote a play (" Os Voluntários da Pátria " – "The Volunteers of

11468-459: The researchers. He considers that these deceptions led to the arrogant language of spiritualist literature. An article published in the British skeptical magazine The Skeptic also criticizes Spiritism for its association with ufology , parapsychology, animal magnetism, and other pseudosciences. Kardec taught that "the teaching of the Spirits is eminently Christian." In Posthumous Works , it

11590-606: The response to the considerations expressed in the exposition delivered to the Emperor. He stated that he had sent the papers to the Minister of the Empire to resolve the case and once again affirmed, with a touch of humor, " No one will persecute them. But... they shouldn't try to be martyrs now. " Although the police order was never officially revoked, it also did not proceed. Finally, in an official letter dated 10 January 1882, addressed to H.M. D. Pedro de Alcântara, Emperor of Brazil,

11712-477: The same year, the Society of Studies gave way to the Sociedade Acadêmica Deus, Cristo e Caridade (Academic Society God, Christ, and Charity) (3 October 1879), following the orientation of the "scientific" group, which opposed the religious character of the Doctrine. Consequently, a final group, under the leadership of medium João Gonçalves do Nascimento , inspired by the spirit Ismael , formed

11834-441: The science of that time. Methods were then used to obtain more elaborate responses through the letters of the alphabet: the table knocking a certain number of times would correspond to the sequential number of each letter, thus forming words and sentences in response to the proposed questions. Kardec concluded that the precision of the answers and their correlation with the questions could not be attributed to chance. He also questioned

11956-429: The series "Philosophical Studies" he had been publishing in O Paiz newspaper. The following year (1894), with the easing of the political situation, Augusto Elias, together with Fernandes Figueira and Alfredo Pereira, launched a fundraising campaign to support FEB's projects. The Reformador resumed circulation. Historians of the movement record that at the time, there was an ideological and doctrinal division between

12078-413: The so-called " Grupo dos Humildes " (Group of the Humble), popularly known as the "Sayão Group" (15 July 1880). This group, in its first phase, which lasted about a year, held productive meetings. Later, the group came to be called the "Ismael Group" and integrated into the Federação Espírita Brasileira (Brazilian Spiritist Federation), where it exists to this day. Also in 1880, Augusto Elias da Silva ,

12200-616: The so-called "lay" or "scientific" individuals, represented by Prof. Angeli Torteroli, who advocated the scientific aspect of Spiritism, and the "mystics," led by Dr. Bezerra de Menezes, who advocated the religious aspect. Thus, on 4 April 1894, the "Center of Spiritist Union" changed its name to the Center of Spiritist Union for Propagation in Brazil , under the direction of Prof. Angeli Torteroli, located at 9 Silva Jardim Street. Its board of directors included names such as Júlio César Leal and Bezerra de Menezes, who resigned from it in 1896 due to

12322-401: The so-called complementary works, such as What is Spiritism? , Spiritist Review , and Posthumous Works . Its followers consider spiritism a doctrine focused on the moral improvement of humanity and believe in the existence of a single God, the possibility of useful communication with spirits through mediums, and reincarnation as a process of spiritual growth and divine justice. According to

12444-404: The soul, immortality, rewards and punishments in the afterlife, but it is independent of any particular cult. Its goal is to prove to those who deny or doubt that the soul exists, that it survives the body, and that it experiences, after death, the consequences of the good and evil deeds committed during corporeal life: the goal of all religions." Kardec also clarifies that Spiritism is a religion in

12566-465: The spirit linked to matter is the grape. Man refines the spirit through work, and you know that it is only through the work of the body that the Spirit acquires knowledge. Below are some of the main works published by Allan Kardec: The work The Spirits' Book was published in 1857 and contains the fundamental principles of Spiritist Doctrine. The Mediums' Book , or Guide for Mediums and Invokers ,

12688-440: The spirits was for several persons to sit round a table, with their hands resting on it, and wait for the table to move. If the experiment was successful, the table would rotate with considerable rapidity and would occasionally rise in the air, or perform other movements. Whilst most spiritualists ascribed the table movements to the agency of spirits, two investigators, Count de Gasparin and Professor Thury of Geneva conducted

12810-402: The study of the "vital fluid" were José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva , the patriarch of Independence, also a cultivator of homeopathy, and Mariano José Pereira da Fonseca ( Marquis of Maricá ), who published a work with spiritualist teachings in 1844. The oldest group of these scholars and practitioners was formed in Rio de Janeiro, then the capital of the Empire of Brazil, around the figure of

12932-402: The table would tilt at the appropriate letter, thus spelling out words and sentences. The process is similar to that of a Ouija board. Scientists and skeptics consider table-turning to be the result of the ideomotor effect , or of conscious trickery. When the movement of spiritualism first reached Europe from America in the winter of 1852–1853, the most popular method of consulting

13054-674: The tables seemed to provide answers without having a brain, the spiritualist claims being "It is not the table that thinks! It is us, the souls of the men who have lived on Earth." Kardec also focused his attention on a variety of other paranormal claims such as "incorporation" and mediumship. Kardecist doctrine is based on five basic works, known as the Spiritist Codification , published between 1857 and 1868. The codification consists of The Spirits' Book , The Mediums' Book , The Gospel According to Spiritism , Heaven and Hell , and The Genesis . Additionally, there are

13176-535: The toe of one foot under the table leg. He would then immediately put pressure on his side, and, holding the table between his hands and his toe, move it about at will. By this method a small table can be made to float two feet off the floor... Another method was to catch the under side of the table top with the knee; and still another was merely to kick the table into the air. History of spiritism in Brazil#Apometry Kardecist spiritism

13298-693: The translator. It was also in Bahia that the reaction of the Catholic Church began, through the pastoral letter "Against the Pernicious Errors of Spiritism", authored by the then Archbishop of the Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia , Manuel Joaquim da Silveira (16 June 1867). In July 1869, in Salvador, the publication of the magazine " O Écho d'Alêm-Tumulo " began under the direction of Teles de Menezes. Later, in November 1873,

13420-451: The use of the term Kardecism appropriate. These expressions emerged from the need of some to distinguish spiritism (as originally defined by Kardec) from Afro-Brazilian religions such as Umbanda . The latter, discriminated against and persecuted at various times in Brazilian history, began to identify themselves as spiritists (at one point with the support of the Brazilian Spiritist Federation ), in an effort to legitimize and consolidate

13542-478: The whole fastened together by india-rubber bands in such a manner that the upper board could slide under lateral pressure to a limited extent over the lower one. The occurrence of such lateral movement was at once indicated by means of an upright haystalk fastened to the apparatus. When by this means it was made clear to the experimenters that it was the fingers which moved the table, the phenomena generally ceased. After this experimental approach, Faraday criticized

13664-410: The word spiritualism its own meaning. However, the use of the term, whose root is common to various Western nations of Latin origin or Anglo-Saxon, quickly led to its incorporation into everyday usage to designate everything related to the alleged communication with spirits. Thus, today the term spiritism refers to various religious and philosophical doctrines that assert the survival of spirits after

13786-580: The works " The Times Are Coming " (" Les Temps sont arrivés" ) and " Spiritism in Its Simplest Expression " (" Le Spiritisme à sa plus simple expression "). The first newspaper to publish translated excerpts from Allan Kardec's works was the " Verdadeira Medicina Física e Espiritual associada a Cirurgia: jornal cientifico sobre as ciências ocultas e especialmente de propaganda magnetotherapia " , published from January to April 1861 by Dr. Eduardo Monteggia , not because he considered himself

13908-475: The year 1845 when, in the district of Mata de São João , in the then Province of Bahia , the first manifestations were said to have been registered. According to Divaldo Pereira Franco , the year would have been 1849, characterized by a confrontation between elements of the Catholic Church and spiritists, with the intervention of police forces. The phenomenon of turning tables was first reported in

14030-498: Was a disciple of Pestalozzi and a member of various academic societies. His main intention as a Spiritist was to provide some support to human spirituality at a time when science was advancing rapidly and religions were losing more and more followers. Kardec believed he had found a new way of thinking about reality that would bring together, in a balanced way, the rising science and the declining religion. He analyzed accounts of numerous mediumistic occurrences spread throughout Europe and

14152-533: Was founded by Kardec and directed by him until his death in 1869. It has had the participation of several prominent figures in the doctrine and is currently published quarterly. The work Posthumous Works , published posthumously in January 1890 by the directors of the Parisian Society of Spiritist Studies, is a compilation of unpublished writings by Kardec, with annotations about the behind-the-scenes of

14274-402: Was founded, with the support of Francisco Raimundo Ewerton Quadros , who would later become one of the founders of the FEB and its first president (7 June). However, the year was marked by the beginning of official persecution of Spiritism (28 August). The Rio de Janeiro newspapers O Cruzeiro and Jornal do Commercio announced in their pages, in an exclusive report, the police order that banned

14396-414: Was promoting the translation of Kardec's basic works into the Portuguese language . The reaction in the press of the time is expressed, for example, in a comment published in the pages of the Jornal do Commercio , accusing Spiritism of creating "madmen" and calling for police intervention, concluding: " It is an epidemic more dangerous than yellow fever... " (Jornal do Commercio, 13 December 1874) In 1875,

14518-448: Was published in 1861 and discusses the experimental and investigative nature of Spiritism, seen as a theoretical and methodological tool to understand a "new order of phenomena" that had never been considered by scientific knowledge: the so-called spiritist or mediumistic phenomena, which were believed to be caused by the intervention of spirits in physical reality. The book The Gospel According to Spiritism , published in 1864, evaluates

14640-405: Was the Sociedade de Estudos Espiríticos - Grupo Confúcio (Society of Spiritist Studies – Confucius Group), in 1873. As stated in its bylaws, it was to follow the principles and formalities set forth in The Spirits' Book and The Mediums' Book , by Allan Kardec . Its activities also included free homeopathic prescriptions and the application of passes to those in need. However, its greatest virtue

14762-440: Was the name of Lima e Cirne. This Society launched a magazine in January 1881, the second Spiritist periodical in Rio de Janeiro, with Major Ewerton Castro as one of its contributors. To mark the first anniversary of the news about the repression of Spiritists, the I Espírita Exposition of Brazil was opened on 28 August 1882, at the headquarters of the Academic Society, at 120 Rua da Alfândega. The commemorative program, organized by

14884-472: Was then the Minister of Justice, but without success. The rapporteur of the Penal Code, João Batista Pinheiro , limited himself to stating that the text referred to the practice of so-called "low Spiritism." On 22 December 1890, Bezerra de Menezes, as the president of the "Center of the Spiritist Union of Brazil," sent an official letter to the President of the Republic, Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca , regarding

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