SpiritualismSpiritualism is the system of religious beliefs centered on the presumption that communication with the dead, or with spirits, is possible (Grolier '97). Spiritualism challenged the dominant cultural beliefs of the 19th century (Paul) and is still in practice today. The existence of spiritualism has been documented in ancient Egyptian and Indian cultures, but its modern form began in 1848. Margaret Fox and her younger sister Catie grew up in Hydesville, a small town in western New York, a part of America well known for her deviant behavior during this time period (Moore, p.5). These girls heard banging on their farm and developed a system of communicating with the spirit by clapping their hands. They learned that the ghost was Charles Rosa, who claimed that his throat had been slit by the house's former owner, John Bell, and that he had been buried in the cellar (Guiley). When they dug up the cellar floor, it contained teeth, hair and bones. Margaret and Catie's older sister Leah smelled a gold mine and opportunistically took her younger sisters on tour with plays. When their story reached Rochester, they quickly gained fame at the ages of fourteen and eleven, and the spiritualistic movement quickly spread across the United States. Many factors contributed to the rapid popularity spiritualism received. Two movements that preceded Spiritualism were Mesmerism and Swedenborgianism, named after the men who started them (Guiley). Mesmer's ideas demonstrated that doors could open to the spirit world and Swedenborgianism, a religion in Sweden, dealt with the immortal soul and combined religion and science (Washington, p.14). Spiritualism was accepted because these beliefs already existed. Spiritualism offered a... middle of paper ......d in the 1980s (Guiley). Spiritualism supported evidence of survival after death along with spirits performing fantastic paranormal activities. His business spread throughout America and developed deep roots in Great Britain as well. People then, as they are today, succumbed to the mystery and power that spiritualism had to offer. Works cited in the Grolier Encyclopedia. "Spiritualism." 1997. CD-ROMGuiley, Rosemary Ellen. Encyclopedia of mystical and paranormal experience. Harper Collins Publishing, New York City. 1991.Moore, R. Laurence. In search of the white crows. Oxford University Press, New York. 1977.Moore, R. Laurence. The occult in America. University of Illinois Press, Chicago, IL. 1983. Pages 135-161.Paul, Angus. The Chronicle of Higher Education. September 1, 1988. p.A9Washington, Peter. Madame Balvatsky's baboon. Schocken Books Inc., New York. 1993.