What is spiritism?

by Matt Slick

Spiritism is the belief in the existence of nonphysical beings, or spirits, that inhabit a spirit world.  In the belief of spiritism people often try and contact the spirits, which can include people who have died.  The contact is for various reasons: to learn about the future, to influence the outcome of future events, and to gain knowledge.  Mediums are used in such attempted contacts.  Often times a séance is used to contact the spirit world -- people gather in a circle in a dimly lit room while a medium guides the people in attempt to contact the spirit world.

Of course, the Bible teaches us that there is a spiritual world which is comprised of both angelic and demonic forces.  We are forbidden from Scripture to practiced spiritism because it opens up the individual to demonic oppression.

• Deut. 18:10-11,“There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead."