Christian Spiritualism

As I look at the many Spiritualist churches in the Montreal area, I have found that, maybe only one can really define what they believe Christian Spiritualism is. It is a subject that few people understand. Is there more to the definition of Christian-Spiritualism than reading a verse from the Bible, or other spiritual book, or saying the “Lord’s Prayer” during a service? What does the word Christian mean in relationship to Spiritualism? This is a good question.

I went onto the Internet and started to look for definitions of Christian-Spiritualism. There are Christian Spiritualist churches in Canada, the U.S., England, Australia and New Zealand. I found that there is one church in England that claims to be the oldest Christian-Spiritualist Church in the world, known, as the First Spiritual Temple. It is 124 year old.

The oldest Christian Spiritualist church says – Our Christian faith is rooted within the philosophy and science of Spiritualism. Our Spiritualism is both universal and ancient. We seek to understand the many varied aspects of Spiritualism, which have existed upon our planet from the moment we stepped into physical form.

The Rev. Ayer, the fonder of the First Spiritual Temple, gave an address on what he believed Christian Spiritualism is. He said, “ The faith of a Christian Spiritualist is moulded by the character of Christ – such faith is a preparation for the Life Eternal. Belief in spirit return and spirit communication is not new. It is very ancient. But such belief was put aside by the school of theology. We would not say that theology was prompted by evil influence, but it would seem that it was fostered in an atmosphere of misdirected power.

“Christian Spiritualism has a distinctly religious influence on human nature, and enables it to blend with the Divine. It has an inspiring influence, which calls for the best in man, and devotion to the highest ideals. Love is its Guardian Angel. Truth its ministering spirit.”

“Christian-Spiritualism is not an experimental religion, it is a faith based on morality and of God’s spiritual truth. But by some it is considered as a menace to the Church, such an idea is without foundation. It is not a stumbling block to any good works, on the contrary, it is the means to a good spiritual life, it has no quarrel with the orthodox, its’ followers simply claim the right to worship God according to their light and prompting of the heart. They place confidence in God, and trust to the guidance of God’s ministering angels, not to Church authority, which is largely the outcome of theological experiment.”

“The object of Christian-Spiritualism is to bring about a spirit of true friendship among God’s people, and a close communion between God and man. Its influence is being felt by thousands of souls desiring closer spiritual fellowship. Such desire is fed by Divine Grace which strengthens faith, supplies courage and enables every seeker to realize the beauty of God’s glory”.

Every Christian, no matter of what denomination, should recognize his own responsibility, and endeavor to carry out the high standard of Christ’s teachings: SERVICE TO OTHERS…”

Webster defines Christian as, “Following the teachings or manifesting the qualities of the spirit of Christ”. “Or a person who follows the teachings of Christ”.

The National Spiritual Association of Churches (NSAC) says, “Spiritualism is the science, philosophy and religion of continuous life, based upon the demonstrated fact of communication, by means of mediumship, with those who live in the Spirit world”.

Whether you accept the definition of Webster on the meaning of the word Christian, the definition of Spiritualism by the NSAC, or the words of Rev. Ayers, or perhaps your own idea of what Christian-Spiritualism is, Christian-Spiritualism combines and units Christianity and Spiritualism.

The Church of Spiritual Illumination takes the highest moral teachings of the sacred scriptures, the teachings of the masters of old and modern times, and combine them as a guide to how we are to live and relate to others. “We believe that the highest morality is contained in the Golden Rule: “Do unto other as you would have them do unto you”. We affirm the moral responsibility of individuals, and that we make our own happiness or unhappiness as we obey or disobey Nature’s physical and spiritual laws”.
The other five principles that the Church of Spiritual Illumination believes in are as follows:

1. The fatherhood of God - the source of all creation
2. The brotherhood of man
3. The immortality of the soul and of its personal characteristics
4. WE affirm that communication with the so called dead is a fact, scientifically proven by the phenomena of Spiritualism
5. Personal responsibility, with compensation and retribution for all the good and evil deeds done here
6. A path of eternal progress open to every soul

1. The Fatherhood of God
God is the eternal creative life force. The Father of the human family, including all life. That which is seen has been created by that which is unseen. We as Spiritualists point to the existence of all life and the universe itself as proof evidence of God. God is, therefore, we are. God manifests himself directly and indirectly in all things. Acceptance of this Principle suggests acceptance that we are all children of God. The Fatherhood of God is a term of reference and not a definition. There is much more to Spiritualism than a definition of God. God has no gender. God is the creator, the prime mover. One example is to look at God as light from whom many sparks emanate. These sparks vary in brightness and areas different from one another as we are from each other. These sparks, of course, are us. We each contain the spark of God within us all. This is the soul. It is the soul's energy, which creates the auras that surround us. It is interesting to note that when Moses came out of the burning bush and down the mountain he said, when asked what he had seen, that he had seen the Light of God and that it burnt in each and every one of us.

2. The Brotherhood of Man
If God is our Father, then are we not therefore all brothers and sisters all members of the same divine family? As with all families, it is not always easy to get along with each other. We should recognize our individual obligation to love, care, and support one another. Essentially, we recognize our relationship to one another and therefore endeavor to respect that relationship and love the spark that is contained within our brother/sister. And even though we often fail, we know that our elder brothers and sisters in the Spirit World stand at our side, praying that we will do better. Try our best is all we can do...and not even the angels can do better than that!

3. The immortality of the soul and of its personal characteristics
Life truly is eternal. But also, you progress by your own efforts. The soul cannot be destroyed. As Albert Einstein proved, you cannot destroy anything only change its form. This too is true of the spirit. The goal of human life is not the grave! We continue to exist and progress. In this life you have to help yourself, no one will do it for you. God and the Spirit World will always help, but you have to do the legwork.

4. The proven fact of communication between departed human spirits and mortals.
After our transition to the Spirit World, we continue to express ourselves. Through the scientific demonstration of mediumship, it has been proven that communication between the Earth Plane and the Spirit World is a reality. Related Natural Law is: Law of Continuity.

5. We believe that the highest morality is contained in the Golden Rule “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Spiritualists clearly reveal their understanding and expression of ethics by the Golden Rule. Moral code has been formulated variously as the Rule of Iron, the Rule of Silver, and the Golden Rule. The Rule of Iron bids us render evil for evil. This rule was overthrown centuries ago by the great spiritual teachers of that time. The Silver Rule tells us to return good for good and is basically incorporated into the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule teaches us to return good for good and to return good for evil.

6. Personal Responsibility
Personal responsibility does not stop at death of the physical body. You are ultimately responsible for your thoughts, actions, and deeds. You need to gain as full an understanding of this Principle as possible. Recognize now that you have the power for change and that it is your responsibility. It begins now! Related Natural Laws are: The Law of Personal Responsibility. Law of Cause and effect. The Law of Freedom or the God given right “total freedom of choice”.

7. A path of Eternal Progress open to every soul
You must develop own individual spiritual qualities if you are to progress. This path is lined with failure, trials, and sacrifices usually far beyond what you ever imaged. The good student must be prepared as best they can be. They must be in control. As has been alluded to, the spiritual blessings are proportional to the sufferings. Stimulation too higher and ever-finer vibrations within the soul will raise you to the Divine. When we become a worker in the vineyard of God, we must make sacrifices. Our hearts will be broken but we don’t really mind because it is God. We know that when God opens our eyes and gives us glimpse of truth our broken hearts mended, made strong and better for and by the will of God.

The seven principles are a way of life. They are not something to be learned parrot fashion. They were given to us in 1854 through the trance Mediumship of Mrs. Emma Britten Hardinge, a great medium and early pioneer of the Spiritualist Movement. Known as the “Silver tongued Lecturer and the “Greatest Women Propagandist. (A person who disseminates messages calculated to assist some cause or some government).

The spiritual path is to achieve through even mindness and evenness in one’s physical energy, so as not to be on a roller coaster.