One might think many Christian Churches would be here witnessing to these falsely led people, but only one church has come to this town that is widely known as the “House of the Devil”. Sadly, many Christians have alienated themselves from the Spiritualists of Cassadaga through ignorance or fear of their history, religion, and career choice while ignoring the dangers of what appears to be innocent fun.
Typtology is a type of spirit communication in which a spirit lifts and tilts a table to produce rapping sounds usually occurring during a séance. This way of conversing with spirits became widely known during the late 1840s with Margaretta (Maggie) and Kate Fox. These two sisters became two of the first and most famous Americans to communicate with a spirit through typtology (Church of Living Truth). Maggie, Kate, and their sister Leah first heard the rapping in 1848. A few weeks later, Kate came up with a way to communicate with the spirit in the wall: two knocks for yes and silence for no. Through conversations with the spirit, the sisters learned that he was a peddler named Charles Haynes. Haynes had been killed and buried in the earth floor of the cellar in the Fox home. That summer, Mr. Fox and a neighbor found the remnants of a human body about five feet below the cellar floor. Maggie and Kate soon became famous and remained well-known throughout their lifetimes. In 1888, Maggie Fox sold a confession to the New York World saying the sisters had created the rapping noise by popping their big toes. The following year, Maggie recanted her confession saying the sisters had confessed for money. Both sisters died before the 20th century. Somewhere in the Fox sisters’ story is truth, but no one is quite sure what that truth is (Blum 16-17, 150, 155). “From these humble beginnings [the Fox sisters], what came to be known as the Spiritualism movement took root and grew to international proportions” (Church of Living Truth).
The Spiritualism movement moved to Florida in the 1870s with George Colby. Colby had been told, while attending a séance, he would be a part of founding a community for Spiritualists in the South. In 1875, Colby was led by his spirit guide, Seneca, from his New York home to Cassadaga, Florida. He homesteaded and, in 1895, deeded thirty-five acres to the Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp Meeting Association, not long after the Association had been incorporated. Volusia County purchased one hundred and ten acres of the land surrounding the Spiritualist Camp in an attempt to preserve the environment and protect the historic site of Cassadaga (A Brief History).
This historic community is still dominated by people who believe and practice Spiritualism. According to Random House Webster’s College Dictionary Spiritualism is “the belief that the spirits of the dead communicate with the living esp. through a person (a medium) susceptible to their influence; the practices or phenomena associated with this belief; the belief that all reality is spiritual.” The American Heritage Dictionary also defines Spiritualism as the belief that the dead can communicate with the living through a medium. Spiritualism is a religion that influences people to have their own individual experience with God. Spiritualists recognize all prophets but do not set one above the others. They practice mediumship, which brings back loved ones in evidential form who have died (What is Spiritualism…). Spiritualism is most closely associated to communication with the dead through a medium.
Because Spiritualists communicate with the dead, it is obvious they believe in some type of life after death. They believe one’s personality survives death, meaning a person will still think of himself the same way when he dies as when that person was alive (What is Spiritualism…). Spiritualists do not believe a dead person will go to Heaven or Hell. They believe Heaven and Hell are states of consciousness and can be experienced while a person is still alive. The Spiritualists believe in God and Jesus. They refer to God as Infinite Intelligence and believe He is in and of all things and governs all things by unchangeable natural law. The Spiritualists see Jesus as one of the world’s greatest teachers and spiritual leaders. They do not, however, see Him as the perfect Son of God. They also believe the Bible holds God’s truth, but they infer that other books may also hold God’s truth (Frequently Asked Questions).
Many people, particularly Christians, think Spiritualists worship the devil. This is true and untrue. It is true because anyone who does not follow Jesus is actually following the devil, but it is also untrue because Spiritualists do not believe there even is a devil. “Our religion is not based on a Savior-God philosophy. Our theology does not embrace “falling from grace” or “sinning”. Therefore we do not believe in a devil. We believe we alone are responsible for the benefits or consequences of our actions.” (Frequently Asked Questions). It is commonly thought that witchcraft and black magic go along with and are a part of Spiritualism. This is very wrong. Spiritualists do not follow or practice any type of witchcraft or black magic (Frequently Asked Questions).
Spiritualists are not witches, warlocks, or wizards. The Cassadaga Spiritualists do not use tarot cards or crystal balls, and they do not read palms (Frequently Asked Questions). New Age people live across the street from the Spiritualist Camp in Cassadaga. These New Agers read palms and use other “psychic science tools” (Frequently Asked Questions).
Spiritualists are not witches, but they are psychics. Spiritualists believe everyone is a psychic. They say it is one’s sixth sense. This sense is used to make use of thought vibrations and obtain information. Psychics do not talk to the dead, but mediums do (Frequently Asked Questions).
A medium is a person with “… natural vibratory energies capable of merging with spiritual energy enabling information and assistance of a higher quality to come through.” (Frequently Asked Questions). Spiritualists believe that mediums obtain this information through a spirit and from God. Certified mediums conduct readings, which are otherwise known as spiritual counseling, to deliver any information from the spirits. To perform a reading, a medium uses his or her mind to obtain, process, and distribute any messages from the Higher Spirit Plane. Readings are a part of mental mediumship and appeal to people who want to know their future (Frequently Asked Questions).
The desire to know the future has probably appealed to everyone at one time or another. Many people are searching for someone to tell them what is going to happen in the future. Spiritualists offer an answer. People are also searching for something that is real. Some try church, others try Spiritualism, and many try both. In one instance people “had been to church in the morning and were going to a séance in the afternoon.” (qtd. in Butcher, 77). Spiritualism looks good. It appeals to one’s desire for unconditional love and acceptance (Butcher, 77). “This punishment and damnation stuff is awful,” … “We [Spiritualists] believe in a loving God, not one that will send us to hell-that makes no sense.” (qtd. in Butcher, 77). From the outside Spiritualism looks harmless, but the deeper one goes, the harder it is to get out.
Some mediums collect information or throw out vague statements, but some have a real power. These mediums are communicating with familiar spirits, not dead loved ones. These spirits gradually draw one, not revealing their true identity. They are demonic (Butcher, 98). “A familiar spirit can give you some really true information about your life because they are following your life. If people are not biblically grounded they can easily be seduced.” (qtd. in Butcher, 98).
Some people try Spiritualism once or twice and never think about it again. Others try it once, then twice, then three times, and suddenly they are hooked. In his book This Present Darkness, Frank Peretti writes about a young lady who became so trapped in the demonic world she committed suicide. This teen became convinced by a demon that he was her friend and the only way to join him was to die. The demon told the girl what she wanted to hear until she had given him her will (313-315). Even though this illustration is fiction, it gives a good example of what can happen to those who keep going deeper and deeper.
Trying Spiritualism is like playing with fire. Someone is going to get burned, but that does not mean Christians should ignore it and stay away from it. One should warn those in harms way to move, but when warning someone, one should never speak ignorantly about their background. “If someone is going to witness to me about Christianity and what they say is all wrong, I won’t listen to them. They won’t win me, they will just alienate me.” (qtd. in Butcher, 78). One of the commonly known lies about Cassadaga is its meaning. “Actually, … “Cassadaga” means “water running over rocks” and is rooted in the American Indian name for the local spring-fed lake.” (Butcher, 78).
Works Cited
Blum, Deborah. Ghost Hunters. New York: The Penguin Press, 2006.
“A Brief History.” Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp. 2 July 2007.
Butcher, Andy. “Invading the Dark Side.” Charisma October 2006: 75-78, 98.
“The Fox Sisters and the Spiritualism Movement.” Church of Living Truth. 1999. 2 July 2007.
“Frequently Asked Questions.” Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp. 2 July 2007.
Peretti, Frank E. This Present Darkness. Illinois: Crossway Books, 1986.
“What is Spiritualism…” Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp. 2 July 2007.
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Below is a link to a YouTube video about Cassadaga [Cassadaga Seance with Weird US]. They claim to attend an actual Seance. You will want to pray first before watching the video. Only observe if the Lord Jesus directs you. Especially note the comments about Spirit Lake. SPIRIT LAKE HAS BEEN DRIED UP FOR MONTHS AND THE NAME HAS BEEN TAKEN DOWN! Tropical Storm Fay's recent deposit of rain has brought back "Spirit Lake". Let's see if the residents put the name back! To view, copy and then paste in your browser address window.
Below is a comparison of what the Bible says about some of the stated beliefs by Spiritualists. Please note the Spiritualist beliefs are attained from their own resources. One must also realize that true Christianity is based completely on the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, which IS the Word of God in its entirety. Recorded in the Gospel of John chapter 14 verse 6, Jesus stated that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and NO ONE comes to the Heavenly Father, but by Him. Therefore, Christianity's Founder and Lord declares He is the ONLY WAY to a relationship to Father God.
WHAT DO SPIRITUALIST BELIEVE AND DISBELIEVE
DO SPIRITUALISTS BELIEVE IN GOD?
They refer to God as Infinite Intelligence.
BUT GOD’S WORD THE BIBLE SAYS -
Numbers 23:19 (KJV)
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Psalm 7:10-11 (NIV)
My shield is God Most High,
who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge,
a God who expresses his wrath every day.
Romans 1:9 (KJV)
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
1 Cor. 1:25 (KJV)
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1 Cor. 10:13 (KJV)
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1 Cor. 14:33 (KJV)
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Ephes. 2:4 (KJV)
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Philip. 2:13 (KJV)
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Hebrews 10:31 (KJV)
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 12:29 (KJV)
For our God is a consuming fire.
James 1:5 (KJV)
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
1 John 1:5 (KJV)
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1 John 4:16 (KJV)
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
DO SPIRITUALIST BELIEVE IN JESUS?They consider Him one of the greatest teachers and spiritual leaders that the world has ever known, one who knew and applied the Spiritual Natural Law to a greater extent than any human soul who has ever lived.
BUT GOD’S WORD THE BIBLE SAYS - 1 Tim. 2:5 (KJV)
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1 John 1:7 (KJV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 Cor. 6:14 (KJV) And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
1 Cor. 15:14 (KJV)
And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
John 14:6 (KJV)
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 10:30 (KJV)
I and my Father are one.
John 5:18 (KJV)
Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
Philip. 2:6 (KJV)
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
John 20:28 (KJV)
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
DO SPIRITUALIST BELIEVE IN THE BIBLE?
They say they do. BUT, they believe that God’s truth has been revealed to man over the years through books OTHER THAN THE BIBLE as well.
BUT GOD’S WORD THE BIBLE SAYS -
2 Tim. 3:16 (NLT)
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.
John 17:20 (KJV) Jesus said,
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
DO SPIRITUALIST BELIEVE IN THE DEVIL?
Nope, they do not! Just as they do not believe in grace and sin, neither do they believe in the need for a "Savior-God" or the devil. They claim to believe they are their own source of good or evil.
BUT GOD’S WORD THE BIBLE SAYS -
James 2:19 (NIV)
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.
John 8:44 (KJV)
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
2 Cor. 4:1-4 (KJV)
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Luke 10:18 (KJV)
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Luke 13:16 (KJV)
And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
Luke 22:3 (KJV)
Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
Revelation 20:10 (KJV)
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
DO SPIRITUALIST YOU BELIEVE IN HEAVEN AND HELL?
They say they do, but not in the Scriptural sense. They say, "Heaven and hell can literally be experienced right here on earth."
BUT GOD’S WORD THE BIBLE SAYS -
Rev. 20:11 (KJV)
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev. 21:1-3 (KJV)
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
2 Peter 2:4 (KJV)
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
Matthew 10:28 (KJV)
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Rev. 20:13-14 (KJV)
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
IS WITCHCRAFT OR BLACK MAGIC PART OF SPIRITUALISM?
They say,Absolutely not. Hmm?
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PSYCHIC AND A MEDIUM?
They claim everyone to be a psychic having a sixth sense, but they say a Medium "has natural vibratory energies capable of merging with spiritual energy enabling information and assistance of a higher quality to come through. This information does not come from mind or mental energy but from God through Spirit."
WHAT IS A READING?
They also call readings, spiritual counseling. They claim it must be done by a "certified medium." The Spiritualist claim their belief combines religion, philosophy and science combining this world with "transition" to the next. The Medium claims to be able to "receive, process and deliver messages from the Highter Spirit Plane." True Mediums will not use "tools" such as palm reading, tarot cards, or any other object to do a reading.
Although Christians are not instructed to bring wrath upon those who do not abide by Biblical teachings, the Scripture passages below do show the Lord's abhorance for the practices of Psychics and Mediums -
Leviticus 20:27 (KJV)
A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.
Deut. 18:9-22 (KJV) When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord : and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God. 14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.
15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 16 According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. 20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. 21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? 22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord , if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
If you should have any questions and/or comments about this page please email dunamis@cassadagaflorida.com
