Spiritualism

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈspɪɹɪtjuəlɪzəm/

Definitions

1. The doctrine which posits that communication with departed souls is possible through intermediaries is central to this belief system
2. This philosophical approach prioritizes spiritual experiences and the significance of the soul over physical existence
3. A belief system asserting that it is possible to interact with the souls of the deceased through certain individuals ; a viewpoint valuing inner spiritual experiences above the physical world

Etymology: Spiritualism is a case where the -ism suffix does the heavy lifting, and the most interesting part is a distinction made in a French book. In 1857 Allan Kardec published "Le Livre des Esprits" (The Spirits Book), and in it he drew a line between "spiritism", his own system of belief in communication with spirits, and "spiritualism", a broader term for the belief in a spiritual realm distinct from matter. The English word was built from "spiritual" plus the suffix "-ism", meaning a doctrine or system, so the word names a belief system rather than any single practice. The base word goes back through Old French "spirituel" and Late Latin "spīrituālis" to Latin "spīritus", meaning breath, wind, or spirit, from "spīrō", to breathe. The idea of a spirit as a breath of life runs underneath the whole family of words.

Synonyms: metaphysics, mysticism, esotericism, occultism, animism

Antonyms: materialism, physicalism