Editing Spiritism

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin:0 0 1em 1em; width:320px;"
! colspan="2" | Spiritism
|-
! Family
| Modern spiritual movement
|-
! Origin region
| France and international communities
|-
! Founding period
| 19th century CE
|-
! Estimated adherents
| Significant communities especially in Brazil and Latin America; numbers vary.
|}

'''Spiritism''' is a belief system codified by Allan Kardec teaching communication with spirits, reincarnation, moral progress, and the existence of a spirit world.

== Overview ==
Spiritism was founded by Allan Kardec in the mid-19th century. Britannica describes it as based on the idea that a spirit world exists alongside physical reality and can be accessed through mediums.<ref>{{cite web |title=Spiritism |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Spiritism |work=Encyclopaedia Britannica |access-date=2026-05-22}}</ref>

== Key beliefs ==

* Spirits survive bodily death
* Reincarnation supports moral and intellectual progress
* Mediumship can provide communication with spirits
* Moral improvement and charity are central
* Spiritist teachings often seek harmony with science, philosophy, and religion

== Practices ==

* Mediumistic meetings
* Study groups
* Prayer and moral instruction
* Charitable service
* Spiritual healing in some communities

== Places of worship ==

* Spiritist centers
* Homes
* Study halls
* Charitable institutions

== Sacred texts ==

* The Spirits' Book
* The Mediums' Book
* The Gospel According to Spiritism
* Allan Kardec's writings

== Holidays and observances ==

* Allan Kardec commemorations
* Local Spiritist congress dates
* Charitable and study events

== Branches and related traditions ==

* [[Spiritualism]] - Spiritism is related to but distinct from Anglophone Spiritualism.
* [[Christianity]] - Some Spiritist communities interpret Jesus as a moral model.
* [[New Religious Movements]] - Spiritism is a modern spiritual movement.

== See also ==

* [[Religion]]
* [[Theology]]
* [[Philosophy of religion]]
* [[New Religious Movements]]

== References ==

<references />

[[Category:Religions]]
[[Category:New Religious Movements]]
[[Category:Modern / Global]]