Spiritism, the overview of a religion
For the list of all articles, click here. Spiritism is a spiritualist religion within the new religious movements. It originated in France in the 19th century with the studies of Hippolyte Léon Denizard Rivail under the pen name of Allan Kardec. History The 19th century was a moment that oscillated between experimentation with the occult and positivistic rationalism. Upper middle class families would meet in salons ( salon de la bonne societe ) and play parlour games as a form of entertainment. Some of the most popular games were to put a top hat on a table and see it move and shake, reportedly moved by spirits. A second game would be for the participants to put their fingers around the table and see it move and levitate supposedly with the power of the spirits. This turning tables game ( des table tournantes , in French) attracted the curiosity of Hippolyte Léon Denizard Rivail who decided to investigate the phenomenon a little further. Most participated in the turning tables as...