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Spiritualism first appeared in the "Burned-over District" of upstate New York, where earlier religious movements such as Millerism and Mormonism had began during the Second Great Awakening. It was believed that direct communication with God or angels was possible, and that God would not behave harshly.
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Spiritualists began their movement in March of 1848, the same day many of these spiritualists shared their stories about the spiritual experiences they have had. The social reform movement with significant spiritualist involvement was the effort to improve conditions of Native Americans.
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At this time there were about three dozen monthly spiritualist periodicals published around the world. Each periodical had many differences and perspectives. Some of them were christian and conservative, openly rejecting the reform currents so strong within spiritualism. Others were non-Christian and supportive of socialism and reform efforts. Many spiritualist viewed the spiritualist phenomena from a scientific perspective.
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The Society for Psychical Research (SPR) was founded, where parapsychologists investigated spiritualist claims. There were also ongoing investigations on spiritualism that exposed many fraudulent mediums.
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The Seybert Commission was reported when investigators found that Spiritualist mediums were engaging in fraud. All systems of morals, religion, and philosophy that were assume to represent the truth of modern spiritualism were investigated.
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At this time spiritualism had more than eight million followers in the United States and Europe. These were all mostly middle and upper classes, which started the a movement amongst these classes.
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After the 1920 spiritualism evolved in three different directions of syncretism, spiritualist art, and spiritualist church.
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Formal education in spiritualist practice began with organizations like the William T. Stead Center in Chicago, Illinois.
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Diversity of belief among organized spiritualists has led to little divisions and between those who held the movement to be a religion, or its own with unique characteristics(sui generis), and a minority who held it to be a denomination within Christianity.
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Spiritualism and its belief system were affirmed as covered by the Employment Equality Regulations 2003. The practice of organized spiritualism today resembles that of any other religion, having discarded most showmanship, particularly those elements resembling the conjurer's art.