Spiritualist traditions appear to be deeply rooted in shamanism and are per-haps are one of the oldest forms of religion. Mediumship seems to be a modern form of shamanism. Since prehistoric times shamans have been contacting the spirit world on behalf of the tribe.

    Many spiritualists deal with "spirit guides"—specific spirits who are relied upon for spiritual guidance.

     The two major Spiritualist organization in the U.S. are the National Spiritualist Association of Churches (NSAC), founded m 1893 at Lily Dale, NY,  and the United Spiritualist Church Association (USCA).

    Another group, ACSCOA, Associated Christian Spiritual Churches of Australia, created in 1987. It is a loose affiliation in which the majority seem to be traditionally Christian, but also including churches that celebrate the moons phases (almost Wiccan) to rational Spiritualist

     There are many independent churches with no national affiliation.

     Spiritualists often set March 31, 1848, as the beginning of their movement. On that date, Kate and Margaret Fox of Hydesville, New York reported that they had made contact with a spirit. The spirit was said to have communicated through rapping noises, audible to onlookers.

    This physical evidence of the senses ap-pealed to the practically-minded Americans, and the Fox sisters became a sensation; Amy and Isaac Post, Hicksite Quakers in Roch-ester, New York had long been acquainted with the Fox family, and took the two girls into their home in late spring of 1848.      

    Immediately convinced of the veracity of the sisters' communications, they became early converts and introduced the young mediums to their circle of radical Quaker friends.

Spiritualism in the Bible

           Saul calls up Samuel's Ghost   

         Samuel had died some time earlier. Saul, fearful of the Philistines, told his officers, “Find me a woman who can talk to the spirits of the dead. I’ll go to her and find out what’s going to happen.”

     His servants told him, “There’s a woman at Endor who can talk to spirits of the dead.”

   That night, Saul put on different clothing so nobody would recognize him. Then he and two of his men went to the woman, and asked, “Will you bring up the ghost of someone for us?” 

    “Who do you want me to bring up?” she asked.

     “Bring up the ghost of Samuel,” he answered.

   When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed.

    “Don’t be afraid,” Saul replied. “Just tell me what you see.”

     She answered, “I see a spirit rising up out of the ground.”

    “What does it look like?” 

      "It looks like an old man wearing a robe."

       Saul knew that it was Samuel, so he bowed down low.

     "Why are you bringing me up like  his?" Samuel asked.

      “I’m terribly worried,” Saul ans-wered. “The Philistines are about to attack me. God has turned his back on me and won’t answer any more by prophets or by dreams. What should I do?”

     Samuel said: " If the Lord has turned away from you and is now your enemy, don’t ask me what to do. I’ve already told you: The  Lord has sworn to take the kingdom from you and give it to David. And that’s just what he’s doing! Tomorrow the Lord will let the Philistines defeat Israel’s army, then you and your sons will join me here in the world of the dead."

     At once, Saul collapsed and lay stretched out on the floor, terrified at what Samuel had said.       - I Samuel 28:7-20

    Spiritualists often set March 31, 1848, as the beginning of their movement. On that date, Kate and Margaret Fox of Hydesville, New York reported that they had made contact with a spirit. The spirit was said to have communicated through rapping noises, audible to onlookers.  By 1853 the movement had reached San Francisco and London, and by 1860 was worldwide. The Fox family remained very active in Spiritualism for many years. Other notable Spiritualists of that era were Mercy Cadwallader, who became a sort of missionary for the movement, and Emma Hardinge Britten, who wrote for the first Spiritualist newspaper in Britain, The Yorkshire Spiritual Telegraph.
    Spiritism, a branch of spiritualism developed by Allan Kardec and today practiced mostly in Europe and Latin America. Spiritsism emphasizes reincarnation while, until recently Spiritualists did not accept it at all the idea of reincarnation.