Conference hydra::dejavu

    Re .0:
    
    That might be a bit tough.  The problem is that suppose you get
    some sort of "spirit manifestation."  It might be any one of the
    following:
    
    1) A coincidental incident (e.g., you hear a rapping sound, which
       might be caused by thermal expansion or some-such).
    
    2) A misinterpreted incident (e.g., a psychokinetically induced
       incident wrongfully ascribed to a spirit).
    
    3) A hallucination (if you're alone).
    
    4) A non-spirit (as in ghost) masquerading as one:
    
       a) a human (for hoaxing, either as a joke or for a racket)
       b) a demon
       c) an extraterrestrial.
    
    I'm sure people can think of other alternatives.  Point is, it might
    be possible to say, "there's something to this!" and another to
    pinning down just what that "something" might be.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    
    Re: .0
    
    Do you mean Spiritism or Spiritualism?  They are similar, but they
    are 2 different things.....  Also, it depends on what country you
    are in.  For example, if you are in Brazil, what they refer to as
    Spiritism is what Americans refer to as Spiritualism, and vice-versa...
    
    Linda

    Re .2
    
    What are the differences between "spiritism" and "spiritualism"?
    
    ESW

RE: .3 (ESW)
    
    "Spiritualism" refers to an essentially religious movement in the 19th
    and 20th centuries, mostly in Europe and the United States, which
    resulted in the formation of a loose affiliation of a number of
    individual "churches" (I'm using the term generically).  The basic
    tenant of Spiritualism is gaining knowledge and affirmation of the
    after-life and other spiritual issues through contact with the spirits
    of those who have already died, through the auspices of a trained and
    talanted "medium".
    
    "Spiritism" refers to a number of religions, mostly in South America
    and especially in Brazil, which also involves spirits.  There are many
    aspects shared with Spiritualism but there are many differences and the
    overall effect is *very* different.  Spirits in the Spiritist religions
    are much more an everyday thing, with virtually all aspects of life
    effected.  Everyday illness, neurosis, bad luck, good luck, etc. are
    all seen as active manifistations of spirits who need to be
    propitiated, attacked, etc. by proper charms, potients and contact from
    priests and priesteses.  Mostly the spirits are those of the dead, but
    sometimes they are non-human.  The overall effect is rather similar to
    Voudon (which draws on many of the same cultural and religious roots).
    
    Note that both of these are "proper names" and are capitalized.
    
    There is no clear distinction between spiritualism and spiritism (small
    "s"'s, but there is a tendency to use the term "spiritism" to refer to
    *any* belief in spirits with or without religious overtones, and
    "spiritualism" to refer specifically to religious belief in spirits.
    
    					Topher

    
    Re: .3, .4
    
    Another distinction between Spiritualism and Spiritism is that
    Spiritualists believe in Re-incarnation and Karma whereas Spiritists
    do not.
    
    Also, there is no affiliation between Spiritualist churches.  Each
    church is a separate entity.
    
    Linda
    
    Linda

    RE 5.
    
    There is indeed an affiliation between a number of Spriritualists
    churchs in the United States - loose as it is, compared to more
    traditional denominations.  I know, since I belonged to the one
    in Watertown, MA a few years ago.  
    
    Also, there was no clear cut pronouncement on reincarnation - although
    most of the members seemed to believe in it.  What they firmly believed
    in, however, was the continuation of life after physical death and
    the validity of communication with discarnate entities.....
    
    Now, whether any one medium was truly in touch with these entities
    is a matter of judgment.  I left the church ultimately because of
    the spiritual quality of some of these mediums even though my belief
    in this spiritual realm was strenghthened during my affiliation
    with the church.
    
    

    
    Re: .6
    
    There is NO affiliation between Spiritualists church.  Now, the
    Spiritualist church can have branches in different places, but
    there is NO affiliation between the church organizations.  For example,
    I belong to the Aquarian Foundation which has branches all over
    the US and all over the world.  The branches are most definitely
    connected to each other, as with the study groups that study the
    teachings of the Foundation.  Now, there is a Spiritualist church in 
    Brookline, and a Spiritualist church in Brockton, and I believe a 
    Spiritualist church in the Shrewsbury area.  I'm sure that there are 
    others in the area.  These churches are completely separate organizations.
    Now, they may have some similar beliefs, but they are NOT affiliated
    with each other.
    
    As to the difference in Spiritism and Spiritualism, especially regarding
    re-incarnations and karma:  It is my understanding that Spiritists are 
    mainly concerned with the fact that there exists dis-embodied entities 
    which come through mediums.  They do not take it beyond that.  
    Spiritualism goes beyond Spiritism.  If one believes that one lives,
    then dies, that's it, but that the being can come through a medium to
    help the being's friends and family deal with strictly temporal
    things, that person is a Spiritist. 
    
    Linda

    Sorry didn't mean to imply a more formal relationship than existed.
    I was trying to be brief, but should have written, perhaps, of loose
    network of *informal* "association" between the various churches, through
    shared members, personal contacts, common magazines, visits, as well
    as through some more formal arrangements.  It is quite possible that
    there are some churches which are completely outside this network, but
    generally there is a feeling communicated to us outsiders of shared
    goals and overall community even if details of belief and organization
    differ.
    
    It is certainly *not* a general belief of Spiritualism that
    reincarnation exists.  Many churches explicitly deny this belief.
    
    If I had to say which goes "beyond" the other I would have to say
    Spiritism goes beyond Spiritualism, since it teaches the same general
    lessons about the after-life (i.e., its reality and its accessability)
    but makes it much more a part of every waking and sleeping minute.  But
    the concept of "beyond" is odious -- they are *different*, and exist
    within different societal contexts.  Spiritism is complex, and
    sophisticated, and is practiced by many highly educated, sophisticated
    people of high moral and spiritual development (to the extent we can
    talk of the latter in a cross-cultural context).
    
    					Topher

    
    
    Re: .7 Linda
    
    I have to disagree with you, Linda, on the issue of an organization
    of Spiritualist churches.  I understand what you are saying about
    the Foundation of which you are a member, and I am a member of the
    First Spiritual Temple in Brookline which is a stand-alone church,
    and I am sure there are many others like it.  However, there is
    a national organization of Spiritualist churches dating back many
    years.  Just recently, this organization dropped a number of the
    Massachusetts churches from membership because of differences of
    philosophy and practices.
    
    Carole

    RE:.8 Carole
    
    There is a national organization of Spiritualist churches. 
    The National Spiritual Alliance" of the United States of America, 
    (a religious organization incorporated in the State of Massachusetts).
    This is a fact as I am a Ordained Certified Minister of this organization.
    I serve my local church "The First Christain Alliance Church of Worcster
    County". Located in Shrewsbury Ma. which is charted thru The National
    Alliance. 
    
    I would like to if I may. Being an ordained certified minister
    of the First Chrisitain Spiritual Alliance Church of Massachusetts
    located in Shrewsbury Ma.

    
    
    RE: Last Several:
    
    From my understanding:  Just as there are many types of Christian
    churches, there are many different types of Spiritualist churches.
    Each type of Christian church may have churches (branches) around 
    the world that are affiliated with that specific type of Christian church,
    but they are only affiliated with that type of church, not all
    Christian churches.  There are many different types of religions
    that are Spiritualistic in nature, but they are not affiliated with
    each other.  I have checked out many Spiritualistic churches in
    this area and in New York City and each church was very different,
    and each church was a separate entity.  So, as all Christian churches
    have some things in common, all Spiritualist churches have things
    in common.  As all Christian churches have differences (to varying
    degrees), so do all Spiritualist churches.  Just as all Christian
    churches are NOT affiliated with each other, all Spiritualist churches
    are not affiliated with each other.
    
    So if one is inclined towards Spiritualistic ideals, check out
    different churches.  If you find one that you can relate to,
    support it fully.
    
    Linda

    Correction please!!!!
    
    I deleted the begining of the last paragraph by mistake. Being a
    typist is not one of my gifts. It should have read.
    
    I would like to share this information concerning "The national Spiritual
    Alliance" if I may. Being a O.C.M (Ordained Certified Minister) of the
    alliance am expected to serve the Lake Pleasant "Temple" or any of the
    other churchs in Massachusetts, charted under the "The National Spiritual
    Alliance"
     
                                      
    
                                   

    
    RE: Last Several in regards to difference between Spiritualism and
        Spiritism.
    
    In my exploration of Spiritism and Spiritualism, I have found that
    Spiritists are primarily concerned with the existence of a soul
    that does not die, and that can communicate through a sensitive
    person.  At least, that is what the Spiritists that I have known
    have believed in.  The Spiritualists that I have known (including
    myself...8^)...) take this one step further.  Spiritualists are
    not only concerned with this, but they are also concerned with
    soul unfoldment - what actually happens with the soul once it is
    detached from the physical body, and what are the "rules" governing
    this soul.  Over the last several decades there has always been vast
    confusion of the difference between Spiritists and Spiritualists,
    especially since some countries, like Brazil, call what Americans
    mean by Spiritists, Spiritualist, and vice-versa.  So....maybe
    what I call Spiritism other people call Spiritualism and maybe
    what I call Spiritualism other people call Spiritism.
    
    It would be interesting to get other people's views on
    this...especially Spiritists and Spiritualists.
    
    Linda

Does anyone reading this note know of, or had any contact with the community
of Casadaga, Florida.  It is a unique small town somewhat northeast of Orlando.

It is unique in that at least one member of every household living in the town
is a "sensitive" ( is that the right word, or should I say medium?) and the
State of Florida has recognized the entire town as religious property with a
100% tax abatement for the entire town.

They have one church in the town - where I once attended a Sunday service.  It
was not unlike many small protestant church services, except at what would have
been the end the service, a visiting medium was introduced who spoke briefly
and then delivered many messages from spirits and advice about current
situations...

As you drive into the town you feel washed with a profound feeling of the utmost
sense of calm, peace and tranquility.  I've never experienced anything like
it before or since - and I know of two other persons who visited and felt the
same.

I believe, but am not sure, that the town was founded by a group that moved
from a similiar community in New York state which I believe was also named
Casadaga (not sure of spelling?)

					Bill

    Interesting variation in views.
    
    try 764.5 and on for some comments on Cassdega.
    
    thanks
    
    dave pierson