The Medium and Her Message: A Study of Spiritualism at Lily Dale, New York

A field study at Lily Dale, New York, leads to the conclusion that Spiritualism is a religious sect rather than a cult. It is not a Christian sect, although it reflects the pietistic values of nineteenth-century America. Spiritualists are still subject to legal discrimination and social stigma becau...

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Veröffentlicht in:Review of religious research 1980-12, Vol.22 (2), p.186-197
Hauptverfasser: Richard, Michel P., Adato, Albert
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:A field study at Lily Dale, New York, leads to the conclusion that Spiritualism is a religious sect rather than a cult. It is not a Christian sect, although it reflects the pietistic values of nineteenth-century America. Spiritualists are still subject to legal discrimination and social stigma because of their beliefs and practices. Recent evidence suggests, however, that psychic experiences are fairly common in the general population, although they are considered abnormal. If spirit communication can be associated with madness, it is also possible to view the medium as a mental health resource.
ISSN:0034-673X
DOI:10.2307/3510659