This article is about the "spiritual world" as related to Spiritualism. For other uses, see Spirit world (disambiguation).
The spirit world, according to Spiritualism, is the world or realm inhabited by spirits, both good or evil of various spiritual manifestations. Whereas religion regards an inner life, the spirit world is regarded as an external environment for spirits.[1] Although independent from the natural world, both the spirit world and the natural world are in constant interaction. Through mediumship, these worlds can consciously communicate with each other. The spirit world is sometimes described by mediums from the natural world in trance.[2][3]
According to the book Laws of Spirit World, the spirit world is divided into 7 realms, the lowest being Hell and the highest being heaven. Each soul progresses from lowest to higher realms based on the karmic lessons learnt.
History
By the mid-19th century most Spiritualist writers concurred that the spirit world was of "tangible substance" and a place consisting of "spheres" or "zones".[4][5] Although specific details differed, the construct suggested organization and centralization.[6] An 18th-century writer, Emanuel Swedenborg, influenced Spiritualist views of the spirit world. He described a series of concentric spheres each including a hierarchical organization of spirits in a setting more earth-like than theocentric.[7] The spheres become gradually more illuminated and celestial. Spiritualists added a concept of limitlessness, or infinity to these spheres.[8] Furthermore, it was defined that Laws initiated by God apply to earth as well as the spirit world.[9]
Another common Spiritualist conception was that the spirit world is inherently good and is related to truth-seeking as opposed to things that are bad residing in a "spiritual darkness".[10][11] This conception inferred as in the biblical parable Lazarus and Dives that there is considered a greater distance between good and bad spirits than between the dead and the living.[12] Also, the spirit world is "The Home of the Soul" as described by C. W. Leadbeater (Theosophist), suggesting that for a living human to experience the spirit world is a blissful, meaningful and life-changing experience.[13]
Yet, John Worth Edmonds stated in his 1853 work Spiritualism, "Man's relation spiritually with the spirit-world is no more wonderful than his connection with the natural world. The two parts of his nature respond to the same affinities in the natural and spiritual worlds."[14] He asserted, quoting Swedenborg through mediumship, that the relationship between man and the spirit world is reciprocal and thus could contain sorrow. Though ultimately, "wandering through the spheres" a path of goodness "is received at last by that Spirit whose thought is universal love forever."[15]
^Hill, J. Arthur (1918). Spiritualism - Its History, Phenomena, And Doctrine. London, New York, Toronto and Melbourne: Cassell and Company, Ltd. p. 211. ISBN1-4067-0162-9.
^Carrol, Bret E. (October 1, 1997). Spiritualism in Antebellum America (Religion in North America). Indiana University Press. p. 62. ISBN0-253-33315-6.
spirit, world, spiritualism, this, article, about, spiritual, world, related, spiritualism, other, uses, spirit, world, disambiguation, spirit, world, according, spiritualism, world, realm, inhabited, spirits, both, good, evil, various, spiritual, manifestatio. This article is about the spiritual world as related to Spiritualism For other uses see Spirit world disambiguation The spirit world according to Spiritualism is the world or realm inhabited by spirits both good or evil of various spiritual manifestations Whereas religion regards an inner life the spirit world is regarded as an external environment for spirits 1 Although independent from the natural world both the spirit world and the natural world are in constant interaction Through mediumship these worlds can consciously communicate with each other The spirit world is sometimes described by mediums from the natural world in trance 2 3 According to the book Laws of Spirit World the spirit world is divided into 7 realms the lowest being Hell and the highest being heaven Each soul progresses from lowest to higher realms based on the karmic lessons learnt History EditBy the mid 19th century most Spiritualist writers concurred that the spirit world was of tangible substance and a place consisting of spheres or zones 4 5 Although specific details differed the construct suggested organization and centralization 6 An 18th century writer Emanuel Swedenborg influenced Spiritualist views of the spirit world He described a series of concentric spheres each including a hierarchical organization of spirits in a setting more earth like than theocentric 7 The spheres become gradually more illuminated and celestial Spiritualists added a concept of limitlessness or infinity to these spheres 8 Furthermore it was defined that Laws initiated by God apply to earth as well as the spirit world 9 Another common Spiritualist conception was that the spirit world is inherently good and is related to truth seeking as opposed to things that are bad residing in a spiritual darkness 10 11 This conception inferred as in the biblical parable Lazarus and Dives that there is considered a greater distance between good and bad spirits than between the dead and the living 12 Also the spirit world is The Home of the Soul as described by C W Leadbeater Theosophist suggesting that for a living human to experience the spirit world is a blissful meaningful and life changing experience 13 Yet John Worth Edmonds stated in his 1853 work Spiritualism Man s relation spiritually with the spirit world is no more wonderful than his connection with the natural world The two parts of his nature respond to the same affinities in the natural and spiritual worlds 14 He asserted quoting Swedenborg through mediumship that the relationship between man and the spirit world is reciprocal and thus could contain sorrow Though ultimately wandering through the spheres a path of goodness is received at last by that Spirit whose thought is universal love forever 15 See also EditAfterlife Astral plane Celtic Otherworld Exorcism Ghost Hell Heaven List of death deities Paradise Shamanism Soul flight Spirit possession Spirit photography The Dreaming Underworld NetherworldReferences Edit Hill J Arthur 1918 Spiritualism Its History Phenomena And Doctrine London New York Toronto and Melbourne Cassell and Company Ltd p 211 ISBN 1 4067 0162 9 Hill p 44 Colville W J 1906 Universal Spiritualism Spirit Communion in All Ages Among All Nations R F Fenno amp Company p 42 ISBN 0 7661 9100 1 Edmonds John W Dexter George T 1853 Spiritualism New York Partridge amp Brittan Publishers p 262 Hill p 36 Carrol Bret E October 1 1997 Spiritualism in Antebellum America Religion in North America Indiana University Press p 62 ISBN 0 253 33315 6 Carrol p 17 Edmonds p 123 Edmonds p 136 Hill p 168 Edmonds p 143 Hill p 208 Colville pp 268 270 Edmonds p 104 Edmonds p 345 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spirit world Spiritualism amp oldid 1142448234, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
