The Seven Principles
Every successful individual knows that his or her achievement depends on a community of persons working together.
Acceptance of the Seven Principles is the requirement for Membership of a SNU church, although anyone is welcome to attend services and most events, whatever their religious belief.
The Principles which were adopted as the basis of the religion of Spiritualism in 1890 by the National Spiritualist Federation were formed from the philosophy that Robert Owen, the philanthropist and founder of the co-operative movement, from the world of spirit gave to Emma Hardinge-Britten (1823-99) in trance
Emma was not only the channel for the basis of the religion, she campaigned for a national body of Spiritualists, succeeding in 1890. The Seven Principles were taken as the basis of the religion when the Spiritualists’ National Union Ltd was formed in 1902.(Now the Spiritualists’ National Union, a charity)
The Seven Principles as listed below are not in the order we recite them in our services. Minister Barry Oates has kindly given me permission to make use of his booklet ‘21st Century View of the Seven Principles of Spiritualism’, obtainable from the SNU website. I have used his ideas that encourage acceptance of the Principles as an organic whole, quoted him extensively, and made use of his sub-headings for each Principle which tie together those that relate to life in the physical and those that relate to the afterlife.
All life is important in God’s universe and all life is equal, ‘from the humble amoeba to the brainiest academic‘ because God is the all-pervading source of life.
Because of the fatherhood of God, we are all brothers, all equal, and our attitude towards our brothers, should be what most religions advocate, ‘Love one another’. This of course is not always easy, but ‘Unity of Life is in accepting that, as you have a right to live in the best possible way, so it is with all life, animal and human’.
Taken personally, many people accept that we are responsible for every thought, word and deed and their consequences for spiritual development. Their consequences for others, positive or negative, are often not recognized. ‘We all play an important role in life-it is simply a matter of scale’. We can’t all be Prime Ministers. Our Obligation to Life is to do the best we can to promote order and harmony in family, friends and society.
‘The rewards (Compensation) are not of a monetary nature but in the satisfaction that you have done your best and could have set in motion a cycle of events that can and will benefit Life’
Judgement (Retribution) will come one day when the consequences of living a life which depended on using power for their own advantage will have to be faced by the individuals who have done so.
No one is barred from progress, ‘no matter who you are or what your physical life may have been, good, bad or indifferent, the opportunity to progress will present itself. The part we have to play is in recognising when that time arises, meeting the challenge and moving forward.
The goal is to be with our Creator, who has always been and always will be the reason for our existence.
‘Humanity from time immemorial has communicated with spirits in one form or another’. Hydesville (1848) and after have ‘proved beyond any doubt that certain individuals, given the right circumstances, could make contact with the spirit world.
‘Communication gives us the support and comfort that we need when we are low and have doubts about what we are doing’ (spiritually or in the physical world). ‘ We are never separated from the love of those in spirit. That love can lift you above the trammels of society because, ultimately, it comes from God.’
Reincarnation, as many Spiritualists believe, could be a step in the process of the Eternal Progress of the Human Soul refining the spirit to enable it to reach its’ final goal
Acceptance of the Seven Principles is the requirement for Membership of a SNU church, although anyone is welcome to attend services and most events, whatever their religious belief.
Community Members