Spiritism itself came about as the result of the work of Allan Kardec, a French educator who codified Spiritism after studying a series of seemingly unexplained phenomena taking place in Paris during the 1850s. After some initial reluctance, Kardec investigated the famous “turning-tables” phenomena and concluded they were often brought about by the intelligences of those who lived before us and who wished to communicate with us.
“Every intelligent effect has an intelligent cause.”
It was with these intelligences, which Kardec called “spirits”, that he and other collaborators continued to communicate for years to come. As they pierced the veil between the world of the living and that of the spirits, they gained new information about God, divine justice, free-will, reincarnation, the spiritual world, the communicability of spirits (mediumship), and the nature of the moral laws that govern both our lives and the world around us. As a result of this collaboration between both planes of life, “The Spirits’ Book” was published in 1857 marking the birth of Spiritism, a spiritualist philosophy.
“Unshakeable faith is only that which can stand alongside reason in every era of history.”
In this revolutionary work, we find a new comprehensive approach to understanding our true nature and that of the world around us. It speaks to the constant need to investigate the world around us (science), to make sense of our findings (philosophy), and to apply them to our day-to-day living so as to improve ourselves and the world around us (religion). This approach is often referred to as the triple-aspect of Spiritism: the conjoining of Science, Philosophy, and Religion. Thus, “The Spirits’ Book” presents us with both the foundations of Spiritism as well as a great place from which to start or deepen our personal search for meaning and purpose.
“To be born, to die, to be reborn yet again, and to always progress – that is the natural law.”
Although Spiritism may have started with “The Spirits’ Book”, it has certainly not stopped there. Because our spiritual mentors and guides are interested in our continued progress, they continue to interact and collaborate with us so we may grow both in understanding and in the practice of Good. As a progressive body of knowledge, Spiritism too has continued to evolve and grow. Kardec himself would go on to edit and publish four other books through this cooperation with the invisible world before passing in 1869: “The Mediums’ Book” (1861), “The Gospel According to Spiritism” (1864), “Heaven and Hell” (1865), and “The Genesis” (1868). In the same manner, many others have continued to help generate more and more Spiritist content year after year.
Since the publication of “The Spirits’ Book”, Spiritism has grown into a global movement bridging science, philosophy, and religion into a new way of looking at life and the world around us – both visible and invisible. Its teachings continue to transform millions of lives throughout the globe and positively contribute to the making of a better world for all.
