From Cursed to Blessed: the Impact of Spirituality on the Life Course of 10 Brazilian Spiritist Mediums.
Danilo Sanches Furlanetto, Marcelo Máximo Niel, Quirino Cordeiro Junior, Alisson Paulino Trevizol
Journal of Religion and Health June 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-020-01061-0 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 10 |
| Population | Brazilian spiritist mediums with anomalous experiences, non-clinical group |
| Keywords | Humans Spiritual therapies Life change events Spirituality Religion Brazil Public health |
| Key findings | The mediums described their initial anomalous experiences as frightening and anguishing, involving uncertainty and a feeling of being controlled. The authors argue that contact with Spiritism provided acceptance and support that promoted resilience, altruism, and self-knowledge, as well as an omnipotence status related to mediumship, concluding that harmful spiritual experiences may be positively transformed by religious reframing. |
Abstract
This qualitative study analyzed the life course of ten Brazilian spiritist mediums who presented anomalous experiences (AEs). A socio-demographic questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were carried out with a non-clinical group, focusing on spiritual background. The inicial AEs were frightening and anguishing, as mediums have related uncertainty and feeling of being controlled; however, after their contact to Spiritism a new positive context was provided, through acceptance and supportiveness, promoting resilience, altruism and self-knowledge, besides an omnipotence status related to mediumship. It was concluded that harmful spiritual experiences may be positively transformed by reframing processes driven by organized religious doctrines.