Spirits and Friends Beyond (The Seas): Spiritualism and the Creation of Universalism During the First World War and Its Aftermath
Humanities September 30, 2025 David Nash
During World War One and its aftermath, most Spiritualist activity supported the war effort or comforted grieving families. However, a distinct strand of Spiritualism promoted universalism over nationalism, aiming to heal past and present conflicts and create a harmonious post-war world. This article examines the careers of Edward Bligh Bond, William Packenham-Walsh, and Margaret Murray, showing how they used Spiritualist contact with Tudor-era figures to rewrite Reformation history and reunite England culturally with its dead. Their work advocated collective reconciliation and a shared psychological, anthropological, and cultural heritage to overcome the rationalist nightmare of the war years and bring Europeans together.