Dear Editor,
Matthew Claxton’s engaging piece [Teen sisters sparked age of spirits, April 24 Painful Truth, Langley Advance] is interesting, but incorrect as it applies to the spiritualist faith.
The New England sisters were not the source of the belief of those who believe we are souls occupying a body to enhance our knowledge and frequently must return to the earth plane to seek advancement.
(I do admit, however that their antics certainly kindled interest in the phenomena, and unfortunately produced many tricksters.)
The belief that we are eternal spirits is older than religious faiths.
Unfortunately, many religions have been spawned by the belief, and have been written into laws that will make its believers subservient to the dictates of those in charge. One has only to examine the record of differing religious faiths to see the carnage, torture, and death that has resulted.
Other religions have similar beliefs in reincarnation as a learning process.
Intelligent believers in spiritualism have included brilliant scientists, politicians, and luminaries.
I’d be delighted to introduce people far more intelligent than me, including scientists, nurses, and other intellectuals who attend the Lighthouse Spiritualist church in Cloverdale. Those folks can relate tales of having communicated with loved ones who have died bodily but are very much alive in spirit.
Mike Harvey, Langley