spiritism
Speaking with dead
Spiritism is the belief that spirits of the dead can communicate with the living, typically through mediums.
The term often refers specifically to the doctrines codified by Allan Kardec in 19th-century France, which treat spirit communication as both religious practice and philosophical system.
In this sense it differs from spiritualism, though the words overlap considerably: Spiritism has millions of followers in Brazil.
Ritual to contact spirits
- channelingDirecting flow or energy
- mediumMiddle size or state
- psychicOne claiming supernatural perception
- tranceSemiconscious, unresponsive condition
clairvoyance · clairaudience · clairsentience · table-turning · ectoplasm · materialization · spiritist · mediumistic
Visible supernatural manifestation
- manifestationOutward display of something
- hauntingDisturbingly unforgettable
- poltergeistDisruptive supernatural entity
- levitationUnsupported aerial suspension
telekinesis · psychokinesis · ectoplasm · specter · phantasm · revenant · possession · rappings
Ceremonial set of actions
- invocationCalling upon higher authority
- prayerAddress to deity
- incantationSpoken magical formula
- altarSacred ritual table
offering · cleansing · candle · incense · circle · summoning · evocation · conjuring
Established body of teachings
- faithTrust without proof
- reincarnationSoul's rebirth after death
- karmaSpiritual cause and effect
- afterlifeExistence beyond mortality
soul · immortality · theosophy · metaphysics · transcendence · eschatology · cosmology · theology
Spirits inhabit all things
- shamanismMediation between worlds
- syncretismFusion of different beliefs
- vodouHaitian spiritual tradition
- indigenousOriginating in a region
seance
Ritual to contact spirits
- channelingDirecting flow or energy
- mediumMiddle size or state
- psychicOne claiming supernatural perception
trance · clairvoyance · clairaudience · clairsentience · table-turning · ectoplasm · materialization · spiritist · mediumistic · channeller
apparition
Visible supernatural manifestation
- manifestationOutward display of something
- hauntingDisturbingly unforgettable
- poltergeistDisruptive supernatural entity
levitation · telekinesis · psychokinesis · ectoplasm · specter · phantasm · revenant · possession · rappings · orbs
ritual
Ceremonial set of actions
- invocationCalling upon higher authority
- prayerAddress to deity
- incantationSpoken magical formula
altar · offering · cleansing · candle · incense · circle · summoning · evocation · conjuring · exorcism
doctrine
Established body of teachings
- faithTrust without proof
- reincarnationSoul's rebirth after death
- karmaSpiritual cause and effect
afterlife · soul · immortality · theosophy · metaphysics · transcendence · eschatology · cosmology · theology · creed
animism
Spirits inhabit all things
- shamanismMediation between worlds
- syncretismFusion of different beliefs
- vodouHaitian spiritual tradition
indigenous · esoteric · occultism · mysticism · neopaganism
- paranormalghosts, paranormal, haunting, poltergeist, apparition
- Biblical Supernaturalsorcery, witchcraft, magic, demons, exorcism
- pseudosciencehomeopathy, astrology, phrenology, numerology, palmistry
- spiritualismseance, mediumship, seances, medium, channeling
- forbidden actsblasphemy, idolatry, sacrilege, adultery, incest
- Idolatryidol worship, false gods, idol, graven image, graven images
spiritismmaterialism
Prioritizing goods over spirit
physicalism · naturalism · reductionism · secular humanism · atheism
spiritismscientific skepticism
Evidence-demanding epistemological stance
empiricism · rationalism · scientism · skeptical inquiry · critical thinking