In 1997 official figures showed 10,3mio adherents of "Spiritism" worldwide, but according to latest surveys this number seems to have increased to 20mio worldwide. Key aspects of Spiritism, or Spiritualism, are widely accepted in many countries beyond the bounds of those who are officially adherents of these movements. Spiritism tries to communicate with the death to receive information and help from them.
There are many phenomena related with Spiritism, To name a few which are materialization of spirits, hunted homes, apparitions, visions, telepathy, clairvoyance, levitation, mesmerism and many more.

Of you are interested in Spiritism, it is helpful to know the meaning of some words
"Materialization" = the appearance of a spirit in matter
"telepathy" = communication of ideas through other than physical means
"clairvoyance" = seeing through means other than the physical eye;
"clairaudience" = hearing through means other than physical ears;
"psychometry" = to foretell a person's future with the help of an object belonging to that person ... "spirit healings" = help to solve any kind of problem

Believe system of most spiritist movements

Most of the spiritualistic movements have codified their beliefs in "7 Principles":
1- The Fatherhood of God.
2- The Brotherhood of Man.
3- Continuous Existence.
4- Communion of Spirits and Ministry of Angels.
5- Personal Responsibility.
6- Compensation or Retribution Hereafter for Good or Evil Done on Earth.
7- A Path of Endless Progression.

God is the principle of everything. He created the universe that is constituted of spirit and matter, and therefore, of two worlds the visible and the invisible one. The spirits, who are immortal elements, were created imperfect, so that they could achieve perfection. In the search for perfection and following an evolutionary law, very much like the Hindu doctrine of karma, the spirits incarnate, disincarnate and reincarnate in the material world.

Because spirits follow an evolutionary law, there are higher spirits (spirits closer to the spiritual world) and there are the lower spirits (spirits that are still close to earthly concerns). Nevertheless all spirits can achieve perfection. Communication between the spirits and humankind is done through mediums.

Spiritists believe that there have been three major revelations to mankind. The first is the Old testament, the second is the new testament, and the third is the spiritists' law
The aim of spiritism is the search for spiritual and physical health, that can be achieved by practicing charity, studying books considered sacred or important by the movement, receiving and giving spiritual energy, communicating to the spirits.
In their meetings, they concentrate basically in the propagation of the doctrine, the teaching doctrine to the spirits that manifest themselves in the meetings, and in the physical and spiritual treatment of believers, as well as in answer to the believers' questions.
Most of these activities take place in the spiritist center. These centers are generally not very big. Sometimes they are in a home. One way or the other, they tend to be a sober place. Spiritists do not have ceremonies such as baptism, wedding, funeral, etc. The most that might happen will be prayers, but not a proper ritual.

History
Spiritism was developed by Hippolyte Leon Dénizard Rivail, a French man that adopted the name of a Celt poet -Allan Kardec. According to Allan Kardec, he elaborated his system based on a dialogue he had with "superior spirits". From this dialogue he wrote five books in which he presented his basic doctrines.
Spiritism was introduced into Brazil at the end of the nineteenth century. In Brazil, the rather scientific tendency gave room to a more religious understanding, despite the claim that spiritism is a philosophy, a science and a religion.
It is not possible to talk about one Spiritist institution. Despite the fact that there is a Brazilian Spiritist federation, and many other Spiritist federations, there is not one organ imposing rules. Each group is free to interpret the doctrine according to their understanding of the books that are written by spiritists, provided it is a serious reading.
Reading is a very important activity as it is one of the ways of overcoming ignorance. Reading is also a way of uniting all these groups.
The Spiritist movement is very much concerned with charity, education, and science. Because of this they own homes, nurseries, hospitals, press, cultural institutes, research laboratories, centers.
In Brazil, kardecism has sometimes, together with some afro-Brazilian cults given rise to a more popular version of "spiritism". It is often associated with Macumba, or Umbanda, and mostly called "baixo espiritismo" (lower spiritism). However, the lower spiritism is not recognized by spiritists as part of their religion.

Main approach of “worship” is via "Seance"
It’s a gathering of spiritualists to receive messages from the spirits, usually in small groups, but also in churches. It is the essence of spiritualism, talking with or receiving information from the death.
Most of the people who attend a séance do so for curiosity, or comfort, the desire to communicate with a loved one who died. The participants sit quietly in a circle, in dimly lit surroundings. Lights may appear, ghosts may materialize, a trumpet may convey the message of disembodied speech, objects may levitate...
The "Medium" is the center of the stage. He/she is a person on earth, who is sensitive to vibrations from the spirit world and is able to convey messages between that world and this one and to produce other spiritualist phenomena:
Or the Medium may be taken over by a "spirit control", who is a spirit that answers through the Medium all inquiries of those gathered.
A "spirit guide" is usually a departed human being who speaks through the Medium.

Symbols
Spiritists do not attach great importance to symbols, there is however, in the "Spirits' Book" -written by Allan Kardec a recommendation to use the vine-branch at the beginning of the book as an emblem of the work of God. According to this recommendation, in the vine-branch all the material elements that symbolizes the body and spirit are present.

Adherents
Because it allows a connection between the doctrine and science, it is a religion composed basically by middle class followers.