What is the difference between Mormonism and spiritualism?

Answer 1

To let you know there is a "Big" difference between Spiritualism and Jehovah Witness. First let's get the definition for the word Spiritualism or Spiritism: Belief that a spirit part of humans survives death of the physical body and can communicate with the living, usually through a person who serves as a medium. Some people believe that every material object and all natural phenomena have indwelling spirits. Sorcery is the use of power that is acknowledged to be from evil spirits. All forms of spiritism are strongly condemned in The Bible. Please read in your bible these very verse to help you to get God view on Spiritism. Jehovah God has always encourage his people to avoid this harmful practices: let's read this together in your personal copy of the bible. Deuteronomy 18:9-12 read "When you have entered into the land that Jehovah your God is giving you, you must not learn to imitate the detestable practices of those nations. There should not be found in you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, anyone who employs divination, anyone who practicing magic, anyone who looks for omens, a sorcerer. Anyone blinding others with a spell, anyone who consult a spirit medium or a fortune-teller, or anyone who inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to Jehovah, and on account of these detestable practices Jehovah your God is driving them away from before Jehovah has promise something very wonderful for people who want to serve him according to his will and purpose. What is God's purpose for mankind? God's purpose is for the earth is really wonderful. Jehovah wants the earth to filled with happy, healthy people. The bible says that " God planted a garden in Eden" and that he "made to grow...every tree desirable to one's sight and good for food." After God created the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, He put them in that lovely home and told them: " Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it." (Genesis 1:28; 2:8,9.15) So it was God's purpose that humans have children, extend the boundaries of that garden home earth wide, and take care of the animals. Question: Do you think that Jehovah God's purpose for people to live in an earthly paradise will ever be realized? What will life on earth be like in the future? From a study of the bible look for those treasure and you will be glad, like many other whom had come to examine "What the bible really teach? in more than 230 land and 233 languages. jw.org

Answer 2

If by spiritualism, you mean the belief that spirits of the dead can be contacted, there is a 180 degree difference between this belief and what Jehovah's Witnesses believe.

It should be noted first, that this answer is not to disrespect anybody else's personal beliefs - the question asks what the difference is between these two beliefs. Whether it is right or wrong is for each person to weigh up themselves and decide. Anything beyond this should be part of answering another question on this site.

I cannot speak for those who believe in spiritualism, but I can share what Jehovah's Witnesses believe and why.

The Bible indicates that the dead are neither suffering in a hell, nor trapped in a purgatory, nor does it show that the good people will go to heaven, as is commonly believed.

(Ecclesiastes 9:5-6, 10) "5 For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, neither do they anymore have wages, because the remembrance of them has been forgotten. 6 Also, their love and their hate and their jealousy have already perished, and they have no portion anymore to time indefinite in anything that has to be done under the sun.10 . . .All that your hand finds to do, do with your very power, for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in She′ol, the place to which you are going."

(She′ol is the Hebrew equivalent for the Greek word Hades. It simple means pit, or grave.)

On two occasions, Jesus likened death to sleep. A person does not view the world nor suffer nor exert any power when they sleep.

(John 11:11-14) . . .He said these things, and after this he said to them: "Laz′a·rus our friend has gone to rest, but I am journeying there to awaken him from sleep." 12 Therefore the disciples said to him: "Lord, if he has gone to rest, he will get well." 13 Jesus had spoken, however, about his death. But they imagined he was speaking about taking rest in sleep. 14 At that time, therefore, Jesus said to them outspokenly: "Laz′a·rus has died,

The point of these scriptures is to show that the dead do not exist in some other place after death, nor can they harm anyone, nor can they be spoken to: "they have no portion anymore to time indefinite in anything that has to be done under the sun."

The Witnesses do not believe though that a human is lost forever - the Bible speaks of a resurrection, and this was equally solid in the Hebrew, as well as Greek scriptures. One beautiful example of this hope was expressed by Job:

(Job 14:13-15) "O that in She′ol you would conceal me, That you would keep me secret until your anger turns back, That you would set a time limit for me and remember me! 14 If an able-bodied man dies can he live again? All the days of my compulsory service I shall wait, Until my relief comes. 15 You will call, and I myself shall answer you. For the work of your hands you will have a yearning."

What then, of communicating with the dead?

Regardless of one's beliefs, most will agree that too many grief-stricken people have been swindled by scamsters claiming to be able to open some type of communication with their dead loved ones. It is upsetting that people who need comfort are rather tricked by opportunists like this.

However, some proxies are very certain they are communicating with something. Jehovah's Witnesses do not deny that there sometimes evidently is some power behind it, and the Bible confirms this is so. But the source of it is not from dead spirits. As seen, the dead... are dead.

(Revelation 12:9) ". . .the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth. . ."

By means of a snake, a rebel son of God tricked the first human pair. They were clearly told if they ate of a tree that did not belong to them: "...in the day you eat from it you will positively die." (Genesis 2:17)

Satan rather told them: "YOU positively will not die. 5 For God knows that in the very day of YOUR eating from it YOUR eyes are bound to be opened and YOU are bound to be like God, KNOWING good and bad." (Genesis 3:4, 5)

What eventually befell them?

They in fact, died.

But the lie continued on: They did not die, they went somewhere else. To another world.

God warned the Israelites against involving themselves in any kind of spiritism:

(Leviticus 19:31) 31 "'Do not turn yourselves to the spirit mediums, and do not consult professional foretellers of events, so as to become unclean by them. I am Jehovah YOUR God.

This is why Jehovah's Witnesses believe communication with the dead to be hazardous and damaging to one's relationship with God. It originates, not with God, but with Satan the Devil. Those who previously did it have taken decisive steps to put distance between themselves and this practice, and they have enjoyed freedom from fear and an unhindered relationship with Jehovah God, who has the real power to reunite loved ones parted by death.

More information is always available on the official website of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Answer 3

There is quite a difference between Mormonism and Spiritualism.

Mormonism is a Restorationist Christian movement that is largely made up of the 15 million member Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Spiritualism is a belief that can be found among many religious movements, as well as those who are not religious but still believe in an afterlife.

Spiritualism is the belief that we can communicate with the dead, generally through mediums. Most members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other groups within the Mormonism movement do believe that the deceased can communicate with the living in some cases, however it is a personal communication motivated by love (such as a deceased family member providing comfort or strength in a troubled time) and not through a medium. Mormons also believe that angels who come to deliver messages from heaven are those who have lived (or will live) on earth, and thus (generally) are deceased persons communicating with the living. However, Mormons reject the use of spiritual mediums, Ouija Boards, seances, Tarot Cards, and other such Spiritualist practices. Most Mormons also believe that we should not seek to speak with the deceased, only that they can be sent as ambassadors of heaven.