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The Principles & Declarations of Spiritualism
Established by the National Spiritualist Association of Churches U.S.A.
Established by the National Spiritualist Association of Churches U.S.A.
We believe in Infinite Intelligence.
We believe that the phenomena of Nature, both physical and spiritual, are the
expression of Infinite Intelligence.
We affirm that a correct understanding of such expression and living in
accordance therewith, constitute true religion.
We affirm that the existence and personal identity of the individual continue after
the change called death.
We affirm that communication with the so-called dead is a fact, scientifically
proven by the phenomena of Spiritualism.
We believe that the highest morality is contained in the Golden Rule: "Do unto
others as you would have them do unto you."
We affirm the moral responsibility of individuals, and that we make our own
happiness or unhappiness as we obey or disobey Nature’s physical and spiritual
laws.
We affirm that the doorway to reformation is never closed against any soul here or
hereafter.
We affirm that the precepts of Prophecy and Healing are Divine attributes proven
through Mediumship.
Principles 1-6 adopted in Chicago, Illinois, 1899
Principles 7-8 adopted in Rochester, New York, 1909
Principle 9 adopted in St. Louis, Missouri, 1944
Principle 9 revised in Oklahoma City, 1983
Principle 9 revised in Westfield, New Jersey, 1998
Principle 8 revised in Rochester, New York, 2001
Principle 6 revised in Ronkonkorma, New York, 2004
SIMPLIFIED FORM
We believe in God.
We believe that God is expressed through all Nature.
True religion is living in obedience to Nature's Laws.
We never die.
Spiritualism proves that we can talk with people in the Spirit World.
Be kind, do good, and others will do likewise.
We bring unhappiness to ourselves by the errors we make and we will be happy if
we obey the laws of life.
Everyday is a new beginning.
Prophecy and healing are expressions of God.
INTERPRETATION
By
Joseph P. WhitweIl
3rd President
By this we express our belief in a supreme Impersonal Power, everywhere
present, manifesting as life, through all forms of organized matter, called by
some, God, by others, Spirit and by Spiritualists, Infinite Intelligence.
In this manner we express our belief in the immanence of Spirit and that all forms
of life are manifestations of Spirit or Infinite Intelligence, and thus that all men are
children of God.
A correct understanding of the laws of nature on the physical, mental and spiritual
planes of life and living in accordance therewith will unfold the highest aspirations
and attributes of the Soul, which is the correct function of True Religion.
"Life here and life hereafter is all one life whose continuity of consciousness is
unbroken by that mere change in form whose process we call death." Lilian
Whiting.
Spirit communication has been in evidence in all ages of the world and is amply
recorded in both sacred and profane literature of all ages. Orthodoxy has accepted
these manifestations and has interpreted them in dogma and creed in terms of
the supernatural. Spiritualism accepts and recognizes these manifestations and
interprets them in the understanding and light of Natural Law.
This precept we believe to be true. It points the way to harmony, peace and
happiness. Wherever tried it has proven successful and when fully understood
and practiced, will bring peace and happiness to man on earth.
Man himself is responsible for the welfare of the world in which he lives; for its
welfare or its misery, for its happiness or unhappiness and if he is to obtain
Heaven upon Earth, he must learn to make that heaven, for himself and for others.
Individually, man is responsible for his own spiritual growth and welfare. Sins and
wrong-doing must be outgrown and overcome. Virtue and love of good must take
their place. Spiritual growth and advancement must be attained by aspiration and
personal striving. Vicarious atonement has no place in the philosophy of
Spiritualism. Each one must carry his own cross to Calvary's Heights in the
overcoming of wrong-doing and replacing them with the right.
We discard entirely the terrible wrong and illogical teachings of eternal damnation
and in place thereof we accept and present for consideration of thinking people
the thought of the continuity of life beyond the change called death. A natural life,
where the opportunity for growth and progress to better, higher and more spiritual
conditions are open to all, even as they are here on the earth plane of life. We
accept no such teaching as a "Hell Fire," but we do teach that sin and wrong-
doing will necessarily bring remorse and suffering that would be difficult to
describe in words and which can only be relieved by the individual's own efforts if
not here, then in the hereafter. If we make our own lives better while here and that
of our neighbors happier we shall unfold that happiness or heaven on earth which
we shall carry with us into the Spirit World.
We thus affirm our belief in and acceptance of the truths and assertions that
Prophecy and Mediumship are not unique nor of recent occurrence alone, but they
are universal everlasting and have been witnessed and observed in all ages of
the world.
We believe that the phenomena of Nature, both physical and spiritual, are the
expression of Infinite Intelligence.
We affirm that a correct understanding of such expression and living in
accordance therewith, constitute true religion.
We affirm that the existence and personal identity of the individual continue after
the change called death.
We affirm that communication with the so-called dead is a fact, scientifically
proven by the phenomena of Spiritualism.
We believe that the highest morality is contained in the Golden Rule: "Do unto
others as you would have them do unto you."
We affirm the moral responsibility of individuals, and that we make our own
happiness or unhappiness as we obey or disobey Nature’s physical and spiritual
laws.
We affirm that the doorway to reformation is never closed against any soul here or
hereafter.
We affirm that the precepts of Prophecy and Healing are Divine attributes proven
through Mediumship.
Principles 1-6 adopted in Chicago, Illinois, 1899
Principles 7-8 adopted in Rochester, New York, 1909
Principle 9 adopted in St. Louis, Missouri, 1944
Principle 9 revised in Oklahoma City, 1983
Principle 9 revised in Westfield, New Jersey, 1998
Principle 8 revised in Rochester, New York, 2001
Principle 6 revised in Ronkonkorma, New York, 2004
SIMPLIFIED FORM
We believe in God.
We believe that God is expressed through all Nature.
True religion is living in obedience to Nature's Laws.
We never die.
Spiritualism proves that we can talk with people in the Spirit World.
Be kind, do good, and others will do likewise.
We bring unhappiness to ourselves by the errors we make and we will be happy if
we obey the laws of life.
Everyday is a new beginning.
Prophecy and healing are expressions of God.
INTERPRETATION
By
Joseph P. WhitweIl
3rd President
By this we express our belief in a supreme Impersonal Power, everywhere
present, manifesting as life, through all forms of organized matter, called by
some, God, by others, Spirit and by Spiritualists, Infinite Intelligence.
In this manner we express our belief in the immanence of Spirit and that all forms
of life are manifestations of Spirit or Infinite Intelligence, and thus that all men are
children of God.
A correct understanding of the laws of nature on the physical, mental and spiritual
planes of life and living in accordance therewith will unfold the highest aspirations
and attributes of the Soul, which is the correct function of True Religion.
"Life here and life hereafter is all one life whose continuity of consciousness is
unbroken by that mere change in form whose process we call death." Lilian
Whiting.
Spirit communication has been in evidence in all ages of the world and is amply
recorded in both sacred and profane literature of all ages. Orthodoxy has accepted
these manifestations and has interpreted them in dogma and creed in terms of
the supernatural. Spiritualism accepts and recognizes these manifestations and
interprets them in the understanding and light of Natural Law.
This precept we believe to be true. It points the way to harmony, peace and
happiness. Wherever tried it has proven successful and when fully understood
and practiced, will bring peace and happiness to man on earth.
Man himself is responsible for the welfare of the world in which he lives; for its
welfare or its misery, for its happiness or unhappiness and if he is to obtain
Heaven upon Earth, he must learn to make that heaven, for himself and for others.
Individually, man is responsible for his own spiritual growth and welfare. Sins and
wrong-doing must be outgrown and overcome. Virtue and love of good must take
their place. Spiritual growth and advancement must be attained by aspiration and
personal striving. Vicarious atonement has no place in the philosophy of
Spiritualism. Each one must carry his own cross to Calvary's Heights in the
overcoming of wrong-doing and replacing them with the right.
We discard entirely the terrible wrong and illogical teachings of eternal damnation
and in place thereof we accept and present for consideration of thinking people
the thought of the continuity of life beyond the change called death. A natural life,
where the opportunity for growth and progress to better, higher and more spiritual
conditions are open to all, even as they are here on the earth plane of life. We
accept no such teaching as a "Hell Fire," but we do teach that sin and wrong-
doing will necessarily bring remorse and suffering that would be difficult to
describe in words and which can only be relieved by the individual's own efforts if
not here, then in the hereafter. If we make our own lives better while here and that
of our neighbors happier we shall unfold that happiness or heaven on earth which
we shall carry with us into the Spirit World.
We thus affirm our belief in and acceptance of the truths and assertions that
Prophecy and Mediumship are not unique nor of recent occurrence alone, but they
are universal everlasting and have been witnessed and observed in all ages of
the world.
