Something spooky was born on the American frontier in the mid-19th century: the idea that people’s personalities survive death and that some gifted individuals can communicate with them. It developed into a religion that some still practice today.
In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck dive into the fascinating world of the spiritualism movement that swept America in the mid-1800s. They explore how a perfect storm of frontier life, religious fervor, and emerging scientific discoveries created the ideal conditions for mediums, séances, and spirit communication to flourish as both genuine beliefs and elaborate money-making schemes. The hosts trace the movement's origins back to the famous Fox Sisters and examine how spiritualism became deeply embedded in American culture, influencing everything from ghost stories to the eventual birth of paranormal investigation.
No movies have been linked to this episode.
💬 Comments
Log in to leave a comment.