THE SCIENCE
Spiritualism is based upon communicated knowledge from those in the Spirit world. Spiritualism accepts no theories which cannot be sustained by proven facts and corroborative testimony. Spiritualism recognises man’s incapacity to discover all Truth and,in consequence of this, it fetters nobody’s opinions; it teaches its philosophical knowledge and demonstrates survival of the human spirit but never enforces its belief upon anyone.
Each person has the right to form his own judgements.
The phenomena of Spiritualism, which when understood properly, can be seen to occur within God’s natural laws, open up endless areas of new research for science. It is in this context that Spiritualism shows the relationship between science and religion.
THE PHILOSOPHY
Within the philosophy of Spiritualism lies the key to an understanding of everything appertaining to the spiritual nature of man. It is a rational and progressive way of thought and application to life. it is based upon proven fact and an understanding of God.
This leads to a constant search for truth in all life. These two terms are associated in most Western eyes (and some Eastern too) with the idea of an omnipotent, Source of all things created, and the places in which reverence is paid to the Great Spirit; we find it convenient to continue to use the nouns ’God’ and ’Church’ in response to this almost universal acceptance.
Spiritualism rejects the idea that responsibility for our spoken and unspoken words and our deeds may, somehow, be shouldered by anyone else. Our starting point in the next phase of our life depends entirely upon our behaviour towards each other and our understanding of the values of relationships within our earthly life, upon our acceptance that we alone are responsible for all the good and evil we may do.
Spiritualist teachings demolish the man-made theological conception of heaven and hell, demonstrating that these are states of happiness and misery created within ourselves as the result of our outlook and our deeds and thoughts.
In doing so, it gives a better conception of the Creative Force, encourages us to act to our highest sense of duty and stimulates spiritual growth and purity of living, preparing us for the great adventure of our continued existence.
THE RELIGION
Within this religion proof can be found of man’s immortality and existence of that which is spirit within the universe.
The knowledge that man cannot die or be destroyed removes the fear of death; it releases mankind from the terror of eternal punishment and replaces it with an assurance that all people have the right to progress in ways which will enrich their eternal souls.
The idea of a personal devil is swept away, being replaced by an understanding in thought, word and deed. To this is added the knowledge that within each one of us is a part of that Divine Essence which is God.
A Spiritualist is one who knows that there is no death and life will continue in a place we call the spirit world.
A Spiritualist also knows that those in spirit not only can, but do, communicate when they wish to do so, and then only under the right conditions.
It can be seen that Spiritualism is a religion of love, reuniting friends and relatives who share memories, whom death has temporarily separated. It is a religion which brings comfort to the bereaved and lonely and within which can be found a place for all who seek the truth about God and life. Spiritualists have no creed or dogma. Those who are Spiritualists within the concepts of the Spiritualist’s National Union follow the Seven Principles, which are guidelines that were offered by spirit teachers as a basis for life.
REFER TO THE PAGE ’CHURCH’ TO FIND OUT THE ‘SEVEN PRINCIPLES’