- #1
Reshma
- 749
- 6
Let me begin with the dictionary meaning of Spiritualism. There are two meanings which I was able to deduce.
First- A philosophy, doctrine, or religion emphasizing the spiritual aspect of being.
As everyone knows the book-stalls are flooded with books on spiritualism which supposedly claim to help you lead a better and more fulfilling life. Every other day some book on spiritualism tops the best-seller list with each author claiming to have the 'magic solution' to all the problems in our lives. I wonder how many of these books sincerely and realistically attempt to improve our lives(no offence to be taken here). There are billions of other commercial stuff like wind-chimes, magic gems, lucky stones etc. sold in the name of Spiritualism. Too many naive people get lured into buying these stuff. IMOH, these things are nothing but a money-making racket
Countless celebrities(too many to be named here)endorse the miracle effects of Yoga, Reiki, tantric healing etc. While the profound effects of Yoga, Reiki cannot be denied I wonder how many of these celebs are spiritual in the true sense of the word. Are they ever going to stop their vulgar dispaly of flamboyance and extravaganza?
There are millions of Spiritual healing centers across the world. Most of them have started becoming less spiritually oriented and more commercial and more like a holiday venue. In this context let me quote an example. In my city(Mumbai), a well-renowned businessman wanted to cut down the mangroves in the city coast and set up a Spiritual and Meditation center. While one cannot stress the importance of mangoves to the eco-system, is awfully sad how hypocritic the ideology of Spiritualism is in this context!
Going by the other definition of Spiritualism- A belief that it is possible to communicate with the spirits of the dead.
The Fox Sisters are considered to be the founders of the Modern Spiritualist movement. Leah, Margaretta and Kate Fox were three sisters from 19th-century New York who claimed to communicate with the spirits of dead people. They claimed to have communicated with the spirits of the dead. They endured plenty of criticism and and fell on hard times. By 1888 they renounced their claims of special powers; they admitted they'd fooled everyone by simply cracking their toes to mimic rapping sounds from the dead. Ultimately they were frauds who made a living out of pretending to talk to the spirits of the dead. Yet there are plenty of people who still believe their story and have hundreds of followers.
Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle was an early defender of Spiritualism. Magician Harry Houdini was a famous skeptic who fought the popularity of Spiritualism and exposed several frauds. Religious leader Ellen G. White did not dismiss the Fox sisters as frauds -- she claimed the communicating spirits were the work of Satan
SO, is Spirituality is one of the many unexplored sciences currently demanding our attention? Are we being truthful and factually correct, free from religious dogma and fictitious reality in our understanding of Spirituality?
This essay is entirely based on my opinion. Feel free to correct or criticize me in anyway
Reshma
First- A philosophy, doctrine, or religion emphasizing the spiritual aspect of being.
As everyone knows the book-stalls are flooded with books on spiritualism which supposedly claim to help you lead a better and more fulfilling life. Every other day some book on spiritualism tops the best-seller list with each author claiming to have the 'magic solution' to all the problems in our lives. I wonder how many of these books sincerely and realistically attempt to improve our lives(no offence to be taken here). There are billions of other commercial stuff like wind-chimes, magic gems, lucky stones etc. sold in the name of Spiritualism. Too many naive people get lured into buying these stuff. IMOH, these things are nothing but a money-making racket
Countless celebrities(too many to be named here)endorse the miracle effects of Yoga, Reiki, tantric healing etc. While the profound effects of Yoga, Reiki cannot be denied I wonder how many of these celebs are spiritual in the true sense of the word. Are they ever going to stop their vulgar dispaly of flamboyance and extravaganza?
There are millions of Spiritual healing centers across the world. Most of them have started becoming less spiritually oriented and more commercial and more like a holiday venue. In this context let me quote an example. In my city(Mumbai), a well-renowned businessman wanted to cut down the mangroves in the city coast and set up a Spiritual and Meditation center. While one cannot stress the importance of mangoves to the eco-system, is awfully sad how hypocritic the ideology of Spiritualism is in this context!
Going by the other definition of Spiritualism- A belief that it is possible to communicate with the spirits of the dead.
The Fox Sisters are considered to be the founders of the Modern Spiritualist movement. Leah, Margaretta and Kate Fox were three sisters from 19th-century New York who claimed to communicate with the spirits of dead people. They claimed to have communicated with the spirits of the dead. They endured plenty of criticism and and fell on hard times. By 1888 they renounced their claims of special powers; they admitted they'd fooled everyone by simply cracking their toes to mimic rapping sounds from the dead. Ultimately they were frauds who made a living out of pretending to talk to the spirits of the dead. Yet there are plenty of people who still believe their story and have hundreds of followers.
Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle was an early defender of Spiritualism. Magician Harry Houdini was a famous skeptic who fought the popularity of Spiritualism and exposed several frauds. Religious leader Ellen G. White did not dismiss the Fox sisters as frauds -- she claimed the communicating spirits were the work of Satan
SO, is Spirituality is one of the many unexplored sciences currently demanding our attention? Are we being truthful and factually correct, free from religious dogma and fictitious reality in our understanding of Spirituality?
This essay is entirely based on my opinion. Feel free to correct or criticize me in anyway
Reshma