Spiritism is the secong religion (although some Spiritists claim it's a phylosophy, it's considered a religion in Brazil, being even included in this category by the national government agency responsible for the Census) with the largest number of followers in Brazil, after Roman Catholicism. Many Catholics here even believe in some of the Spiritist principles, like reincarnation, spiritual surgeries, channelling. Chico Xavier was the most famous spiritists in Brazil. He allegedly channelled hundreds of books from spirits, especially from Emmanuel, who was his supposed spiritual guide. Many people went to his house in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, to ask him to channel messages from deceased relatives to know if they were happy in the afterlife. The spiritist doctrine was systemized by French educator Hypolite Léon Denizard Rivail under the pseudonym Allan Kardec in five books: The Spirits' Book; The Book on Mediums; The Gospel According to Spiritism; Heaven and Hell; The Genesis According to Spiritism.
There's an article about this religion on Wikipedia. Although Spiritism is not very well known in the US, I've found a website of a Spiritist organization from Baltimore.
What do you guys think about all this?
Edited by Christiano, 26 July 2008 - 08:50 AM.