journal of religion and health volume 19 issue 3 1980 [doi 10.1007%2fbf00990139] robert g. fishman...

8/13/2019 Journal of Religion and Health Volume 19 Issue 3 1980 [Doi 10.1007%2Fbf00990139] Robert G. Fishman -- Transm

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J o u r n a l o f R e l i g i o n a n d H e a l t h , V o l . 19 , N o . 3, F a l l 1 9 8 0

T r a n s m i g r a t i o n L i m i n a l i t yand Sp ir i tua l i s t Hea l ingR O B E R T G . F I S H M A NABSTRACT O b s e r v a t i o n s m a d e i n a n u r b a n s p i r i t u a l i s t o r g a n i z a t io n i n w e s t e r n N e w Y o r k l edt o t h e f o l lo w i n g c o n c lu s i o n s . A s y m b o l i c e v e n t b a s i c t o t h i s t o t a l b e l i e f s y s t e m i s t h e c r e a t i o n o f al i m i n a l s t a t e t h a t a l lo w s c h u r c h m e m b e r s t o t r a n s c e n d t h e e a r t h p l a n e a n d e x p e r i e n c e a n a lt e r -n a t e r e a l i t y , t h e s p i r i t u a l w o r l d . T h e c r e a t i o n o f t h i s s y m b o l i c s u s p e n s i o n s e r v e s t o r e i n fo r c e t h eb a s i c b e l i e f s y s t e m a n d l e g i t i m i z e t h e h e a l i n g a n d m e s s a g e r i t u a l s . T h i s p a p e r w i l l e x p l o r e t h ec h u r c h s e r v i ce a s t h e s y m b o l ic e v e n t t h a t s e r v e s t o t a k e c h u r c h m e m b e r s i n t o t h e l i m i n a l s t a te .T h e t r a n s i t i o n o c c u r s a s a c o ll e c t iv e e x p e r i e n c e , c u l m i n a t i n g i n t h e h e a l i n g a n d m e s s a g e s e r v i c e s.

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I n hi s s t u d y o f N d e m b u R i t u a l , V i c to r T u r n e r f o u n d t h a t t h e r e a p p e a r e d t o b e~ a c l o se c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n s o c i a l c o n f li c t a n d r i t u a l , a n d ~ t h a t a m u l t i p l i c i t yo f c o n f li c t s i t u a t i o n s i s c o r r e l a t e d w i t h a h i g h f r e q u e n c y o f r i t u a l p e r fo r -m a n c e . ''1 M y r e s e a r c h i n a s p i r i t u a l c o m m u n i t y , t h e U n i t y S c i e n c e C h u r c h , 2 i nB u f f a lo , N e w Y o r k , s h o w s t h a t d u r i n g p e r i o d s o f a c u t e s t r e s s t h e r i t u a l e x p e r i-e n c e is in t e n s i f i e d f o r t h e i n d i v i d u a l , a n d t h e s t r e s s i s m a n i f e s t e d i n t h e s i c kr o le . S p i r i t u a l i s t r i t u a l a c t s a s a m e c h a n i s m f o r p r o m o t i n g t h e p h y s i c a l , s o ci a l,a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l w e l l - b e i n g o f t h e c h u r c h m e m b e r s . 3 M u c h o f t h i s i s a c co m -p l i s h e d t h r o u g h t h e c r e a t i o n o f a l i m i n a l s t a t e 4 t h a t a l l o w s b e l i e v e r s t o e x p e r i -e n c e t h e a l t e r n a t e r e a l i t y o f t h e s p i r i t u a l w o r l d , w h i c h f o r m s t h e b a s i s o ft h e i r b e l i e f s y s t e m . T h i s t r a n s m i g r a t i o n e x p e r i e n c e s se r v e s a s p r o o f t o c h u r chm e m b e r s t h a t t h e i r b e l i e f s y s t e m i s r e al . A s l o ng a s c h u r c h m e m b e r s c on -t i n u e t o e x p e r i e n c e t h i s t r a n s m i g r a t i o n , t h e y h a v e a m e c h a n i s m - - s p i r i t u a li n t e r v e n t i o n - - w h i c h o f fe r s t h e m a w a y t o d e a l w i t h t h e i r d a i l y p r o b le m s , i n-c l u d i n g t h o s e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h h e a l t h p r o b l e m s a n d t h e f u l f i l l m e n t o f s o c ia lr o le s . T h e c r e a t i o n o f a l i m i n a l s t a t e a n d a c c o m p a n y i n g t r a n s m i g r a t i o n e x -p e r i e nc e i s a c c o m p l i s h ed d u r i n g t h e c h u r c h s e r v ic e a n d c u l m i n a t e s w i t h t h eh e a l i n g a n d m e s s a g e s e r v ic e a t t h e e n d o f t h e r i t u a l .

T h i s i s a n e x p e n d e d v e r s io n o f a p a p e r , ~ S p i r i tu a l L i m i n a l i t y : M e c h a n i s m s o f T r a n s m i g r a t i o n i nS p i r i t u a l R i t u a l , " r e a d a t t h e 7 7 t h A n n u a l M e e t i n g o f t h e A m e r i c a n A n t h r o p o l o g i c al A s s oc i at i on ,N o v e m b e r 1 4 - 1 9 , 1 9 7 8 .R o b e r t G . F i s h m a n , M . A. , is a n a d m i n i s t r a t i v e c o o r d i n a t o r a n d i n s t r u c t o r i n t h e D e p a r t m e n t o fA n t h r o p o l o g y a t G e o r g ia S t a t e U n i v e r s i ty . H e t h a n k s R o b e r t B l a k e ly , I n a J a n e W u n d r a m , a n dR o b e r t A . R u b i n s t e i n f o r t h e i r h e l p f u l c o m m e n t s a n d c r it i ci s m s .

0022-4197/80/1500-0217500.95 21 7 9 1980 Inst i tut es of Religion and He alth


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2 8 Jo u r n a l o f R e l i g i o n a n d ea l t h

T h e c h u r c hT h e m e m b e r s h i p i n t h e U n i t y S c ie n c e C h u r c h c o n s is t s o f c o m m u n i t y m e m b e r sf r o m d iv e r s e e t h n i c a n d r a c i a l b a c k g r o u n d s . E c o n o m i c a l l y , t h e b e l i e v e r s b e -l o n g to t h e l o w e r s o c i o e c o no m i c l e v e ls o f s o c i e ty . A t t h e t i m e o f t h i s s t u d y ,t h e r e w e r e t h i rt y - f iv e c h u r c h m e m b e r s , t h e m a j o r i t y o f w h o m w e r e w i d o w s a n dh o u s e w i v e s o v e r s i x ty y e a r s o f a g e. M o s t c h u rc h m e m b e r s s h a r e c o m m o n f ee l-i n g s o f d e s p a i r a n d a n o m i e a s a r e s u l t o f r a p i d c h a n g e i n th e s o c io p o l it ic a l a n de c o n o m i c s t r u c t u r e s o f t h e c i t y b r o u g h t a b o u t b y r a p i d u r b a n i z a t i o n , r e s u l t i n gi n a l i e n a t i o n f r o m f a m i l y , f ri e n d s , a n d p r e v i o u s g r o u p a f f il i a ti o n s . 6 M a n y o ft h e c h u r c h m e m b e r s w e r e u n a b l e t o p e r f o r m t h e i r s o c i a l r o l e s a t i s f a c t o r i ly o n ad a y - t o - d a y ba s i s. B y m e a n s o f t h e s p i r i t u a l i s t r i t u a l s , t h e c h u r c h p r o v i d e dp s y c h o l o g i c a l r e li e f, o f t e n a l t e r i n g a p e r s o n s b e h a v i o r , w h i c h a l l e v i a t e d s o m ep r o b l e m s , a n d i n s o m e c a s e s p r o v i d e d s y m p t o m a t i c r e l i e f f o r t h o s e e x p e r i e n c -i n g i l l n e s s e p i so d e s . 7 T h i s w a s e s p e c i a l l y a p p a r e n t w h e n t h e i l ln e s s w a s ar e s u l t o f p s y c h o s o m a t i c a n d s o c i o s o m a t i c c a u s e s , s O f t e n , c h a n g e i n a p e r s o n sc o n d i t io n c a m e a s a r e s u l t o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n g i v e n d u r i n g t h e m e s s a g e a n dh e a l i n g r i t u a l s a n d a s a r e s u l t o f a b e l i e f i n t h e r e a l i t y o f t h e s p i r i t u a l e x p e r i -e n c e .

el ie fsS p i r i t u a l i s m i s a ~ b e li e f i n, a n d p r a c t i c e o f, r e g u l a r c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h t h ed e a d . 9 A c c o r d i n g t o m e m b e r s o f t h e U n i t y S c i e n c e C h u r c h , i t is e x p r e s s e d a s ab e l i e f i n t h e a b i l i t y o f g i f te d i n d i v i d u a l s t o c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h s p i ri t , a m a j o rp u r p o s e o f w h i c h i s t o a i d i n h e a l i n g c l os e f ri e n d s a n d r e l a t i v e s w h o a r e s t il lr e s i d in g o n th e e a r t h p l a ne . T h e m e d i u m , t h e i n d i v i d u a l w h o e x h i b it s a na b i l i t y t o c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h t h e s p i r i t w o r l d a n d a c t s a s a l i a is o n b e t w e e n t h ee a r t h a n d s p i r i tu a l p l a n e s , m a k e s c o n t a c t w i t h a sp i r i tu a l e n t i t y th a t a s s u m e sa f o rm r e c o g n i z a b l e t o k i n a n d f r i e n d s , a n d i n th e p r o c e s s p e r s o n a l i z e s t h er e l a t i o n s h i p a n d r e a s o n f o r c o n c e rn .

T h e s p i r i t w o r ld i s c o n c e iv e d a s a n i n d e t e r m i n a t e n u m b e r o f s p i r i t u a l p l a n e sa r r a n g e d i n a h i e r a r c h y . M o v e m e n t w i t h i n t h e s p i ri t w o r l d i s u p w a r d , t h eh i g h e s t p l a n e s b e i n g u n a b l e t o c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h th e e a r t h p l a ne . C o n t a c t i sb e l i e v e d t o o c c u r b e t w e e n t h e e a r t h p l a n e a n d t h e l o w e r s p i r i t u a l p l a n e s . S p i r itg u i de s , o r th o s e m e m b e r s o f t h e s p i r i t w o r l d w h o s e r v e a s l i n k s b e t w e e n t h ee a r t h a n d s p i r i t u a l p l a n e s , f u n c t i o n i n a r o l e s i m i l a r t o t h e o n e p l a y e d b y t h em e d i u m , a n d a r e o f t e n r e p l a ce d b y o t h e r s p i ri t s a s t h e y m o v e o n to h i g h e rp l a n e s . T h i s p o t e n t i a l u p w a r d m o b i l i t y is a v a i l a b l e t o a ll s p i ri t e n t i t i e s r e g a r d -l e s s o f t h e p o s i t io n h e l d i n l if e. W i t h i n t h i s b e l i e f s y s t e m , c l a s s, m a t e r i a l i s m ,a n d o c c u p a t i o n a l s t a t u s h a v e l i t tl e i n f l u e n c e o n o n e s a b i l i t y t o e x p e r ie n c eu p w a r d m o b i l i t y i n t h e s p i r i t u a l p l a n e s .

T h e u n i q u e n e s s o f t h i s r e l i g i o u s a p p r o a c h l i e s i n t h e e x t e n t t o w h i c h ab e l i e v e r i s a c c o r d e d t h e p r i v i le g e o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d e x p e r i e n c i n g t h e s a c r e da s p e c t s o f h i s o r h e r b e l i e f s y s t e m , a n i n s i g h t u s u a l l y l i m i t e d t o r e l ig i o u s


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p r a c t i t i o n e r s . T h r o u g h t h e m e d i u m , b e l i e v e r s a r e a l lo w e d t o d e v e l o p p e r s o n a lr e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h s p i r i t u a l e n t i t ie s . T h r o u g h t h e c h u r c h r i t u a l , t h e m i n i s t r ys e r v e s t o b r i d g e t h e e a r t h l y p l a n e a n d s p i r i t u a l p l a n e , a l l o w i n g b e l i e v e r s ag l i m p s e a t a n a l t e r n a t e r e a l i t y . T h i s s e r v e s a s p r o o f t o t h e b e l i e v e r s t h a t t h e i rb e l i e f s y s t e m i s r e a l , a n d t h i s r e l i g i o u s e x p e r i e n c e v a l i d a t e s t w o o f t h e i r b a s i ca s s u m p t i o n s : 1) o n e m a y h e a l a n d t e a c h t h r o u g h d i v i n e p o w e r ; 2) l if e i s c o n-t i n u o u s, a n d u n d e r p r o p e r c o n d i ti o n s on e m a y c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h d e c e a s e dl o v e d o n e s .

T h u s , h e a l i n g i s d e p e n d e n t o n a c o n t i n u e d b e l i e f i n t h e s p i r i t u a l w o r l d i nw h i c h t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f d e v e l o p i n g a n d m a i n t a i n i n g a b e l i e f i n t h e a b i l i ty t ot r a n s c e n d t h e e a r t h p l a n e c a n n o t b e o v e r s t r e s s e d . I t is t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h er e l i g i o u s p r a c t i t i o n e r s t o m a i n t a i n t h e s e b e l ie f s , c o n s i s t e n t l y o f f e r i n g p r o o f o ft h e b e l i e f s y s t e m , b y a l l o w i n g c h u r c h m e m b e r s t o e x p e r ie n c e t h e s p i ri t w o r l df i r s t h a n d . O n c e t h e m e d i u m f a i ls to b r i d g e t h e p l a n e s , b e l i e v e r s w i l l t u r n f r o mt h e c h u r c h . T h i s , in p a r t , a c c o u n t s fo r a h ig h t u r n o v e r i n t h e m e m b e r s h i p o fs p i r i t u a l c h u r c h e s .

The l iminal s tateC o n s e q u e n t l y , a b e l i e f i n t r a n s m i g r a t i o n i s a n e c e s s a r y r e q u i r e m e n t f ors p i r i t u a l is t s . T h e r e c o g n i t i o n t h a t a s a c r e d p l a n e , a v a i l a b l e t o t h e b e l i e v e r , ise n c o u n t e r e d d u r i n g t h e c h u r c h r i t u a l i s p r o v i d e d a s a c o ll e c t iv e e x p e ri e n c e .T h i s i s a c c o m p l i s h e d b y t a k i n g a ll m e m b e r s o f t h e c h u r c h i n to a l i m i n a l s t a t ed u r i n g t h e c h u r c h s e r v i c e . T h e t e r m l iminal m e a n s t h a t t h e ~ c h a ra c t e ri s ti c s o ft h e r i t u a l s u b j e c t a r e a m b i g u o u s . ''1~ A b a s i c a t t r i b u t e o f t h o s e i n a l i m i n a l s t a t eis t h e f e e l i n g o f c o m m u n i t y t h a t r e s u l t s i n a c o ll e ct iv e a w a r e n e s s w h i c h s e r v e sa s p r o o f o f t h e b e l i e f s y s t e m . A l so b e l i e v e r s s h a r e a c o m m u n a l i t y o f s o rt s, a ne g a l i t a r i a n i s m n o t o f te n e x p e r i e n c e d i n t h e i r d a i l y l iv e s . T h i s f e e l i n g a s s u r e sb e l i e v e r s t h a t t h e i r c o n c e r n s a r e v a l i d a n d a s i m p o r t a n t a s a n y o n e e l s e' s. T h es p i r i t w o r k s i n a b e n e f i c ia l m a n n e r f o r a l l b e l ie v e r s , r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e i r s o c ia ls t a t u s .

A s o r i g i n a l l y i n t r o d u c e d , t h e lim inal pha se 1~ w a s d e f i n e d a s t h e s e c o n dp h a s e b y w h i c h a l l ~ r it e s o f t r a n s i t i o n a r e m a r k e d . I f i t i s a n a l y z e d a s a ri t e o ft r a n s i t i o n , o n e c a n e a s i l y p la c e t h e r i t u a l s i n t o t h e t h r e e p h a s e s : s e p a r a t i o n ,m a r g i n , a n d a g g r e g a t i on . T h e s e p a r a t i o n o c c u rs w h e n b e l i e v e rs p h y s ic a l l ye n t e r t h e c h u r c h a n d s y m b o l i c a l l y b e c o m e p a r t o f t h e s p i r i t u a l c o m m u n i t y . T h em a r g i n , o r l i m i n a l p h a s e , i s t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t r i t u a l s t a t e f o r t h e b e l i e v e r t oe x p e r i e n c e . T h i s p h a s e o c c u r s t h r o u g h o u t t h e s e r v ic e , c o n t i n u a l l y i n t e n s i f y i n gs o t h a t t h e h e a l i n g c e r e m o n y a n d m e s s a g e s e r v i c e a r e t a k e n s e r io u s ly . T h et h i r d p h a s e , a g g r e g a t i o n , i s e x p e r i e n c e d a s a r e t u r n t o t h e o r i g i n a l s t a t e . Y e tt h e r e i s a n u n d e r l y i n g a s s u m p t i o n t h a t o n e 's c on d i ti o n w i ll be i m p r o v e d a n do n e 's a t t i t u d e m a d e m o r e o p t im i s t ic t h r o u g h p a r t i c ip a t i o n i n t h e r i t u a l s a n d a sa r e s u l t o f s p i r i t i n t e r v e n t i o n .I t is t h r o u g h t h e c h u r c h s e r v i c e t h a t t h e g r o u p i s c o l l e c t iv e l y t a k e n f r o m i t su s u a l c u l t u r a l c o n d i t i o n s i n to a s t a t e o f s y m b o l i c s u s p e n s i o n , a l i m i n a l s t a t e ,


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220 Journal of Religion and Health

duri ng which time the believers experience a merging of ear th and spir itualplanes. This alternate reality is explained by some informants as a kind ofwarm current that permeates the room when the transitional state has beenreached. Some informa nts say this feeling is a resu lt of spirits cong regatin g inthe chapel, a un ion of the living and spirit world in fellowship and prayer. It isat this time t hat the benefits of spiritualism are realized.

The ritualsTwo ritual s are basic to the cr eation of spiritu al l iminal ity. Belief in theserituals is dependent upon the church leaders mot ivating the congregation andupon the med ium's abil ity to create the symbolic suspension of the ear th andspiritu al planes. The church service contin uall y works in this direction, usinghymns and creating an intensi ty in the rituals tha t serves to bring the congre-gation to gethe r for the collective experience. Therefore, it is imp ort ant to lookat the service as the m echanism for creating the spiritual liminality.

The service opens informally one-half hour before the designated time,allowing church member s to discuss the week's happenings. Often, the infor-mation exchanged deals with spiritual and psychic experience and personalinformation about the believer's physical and mental conditions.

At the des ignated hou r (usually Sun day evenings at 7:30) the church pastor,the Reverend Mr. Williams, an experienced medium and healer, opens theservice with the singing of a hy mn chosen for its spiritua listic content. Thehymn often questions the congregation's desire to enter the liminal state.Consider ~'Higher Ground, tak en from the Church Service Hymns one ofPastor Williams's favorites, often used to open the service:

I'm pressing on the upward way,New Heights I'm gaining everyday;Still praying as I onward bound,Lord, plant my feet on higher ground:Lift me up and let me stand,By faith in heaven's tableland;A higher plane than I have found,Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

The h ym n is followed by the opening benediction presented by a church elderor visiting m ediu m or healer. The following is typical of the content of openingbenedictions, which further serve to intensify the service, inducing thespiritual liminality:

Thank you, Imrd for allowing each and everyone of us to meet here this week. Thankyou for all you have done for us during the previous week, and all you will do for us inthe future. We know spirit has been working for us on our behalf, and we welcome help.For those who could not be here with us this week, we pray tha t they are able to attendnext week, and the situation around them improves.


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R o b e r t G F i s h r n a n 22

A f t e r t h e h y m n c o m e s t h e r e c i t a t io n o f t h e L o r d 's P r a y e r , f o ll ow e d b y t h er e a d i n g o f t h e c h u r c h 's s e v e n f u n d a m e n t a l b e l ie f s , w h i c h e m p h a s i z e c o m m u n i -c a t i o n w i t h t h e s p i r i t w o r l d a n d t h e a b i l i t y to h e a l t h r o u g h s p i ri t. T h i s i sf o ll o w e d b y a n o t h e r h y m n , w h i c h f u r t h e r r e i n fo r c e s t h e b e l i e f s y s t e m . T h i sh y m n i s u s u a l l y c h o s e n f o r i t s o p t im i s t i c c o n t e n t a n d i s f o l lo w e d b y t h e r e s p o n -s i v e r e a d i n g , w h i c h o n c e a g a i n r e i t e r a t e s t h e b e l i ef s .

T h e n e x t p h a s e o f t h e s e r v i c e i s t h e w e e k l y s e r m o n . T h i s l e c t u r e c o n t i n u e s t os t r e s s t h e s p i r i t u a l i s t ic b e l i e f s y s t e m a n d i s o f t e n b a s e d o n a n a s p e c t o f t h es c r i p t u r e s t h a t d e a l s w i t h s p i r i t, r e i n f o r c i n g t h e c h u r c h m e m b e r ' s b e l i e f i n t h ea b i l i t y t o m a k e c o n t a c t w i t h t h e s p i r i t w o r l d .

P a s t o r W i l li a m s ' s s e r m o n i s v i t a l i n p ro m o t i n g t h e n e c e s s a r y t r a n s i t i o n a ls t a t e , i n t e n s i f y i n g t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n ' s l i m i n a l e x p e r i e n c e . H e s a y s t h a t h e i s as p i r i tu a l p r o p h e t o r t r a n s l e c t u r e r , h i s s e r m o n s c o m i n g f ro m t h e s p i r i t u a lp l a n e . P a s t o r W i l l i a m s b e l i e v e s h e is a n i n s t r u m e n t o f s p i ri t , s a y in g , I a mt a k e n i n to a l e v el o f c o n s c i o us n e s s t h a t a l l ow s t h e e n t i t y o f m y t e a c h e r a n dg u i d e t o b r i n g w h a t e v e r m e s s a g e t h e y h a v e , i n a t r a n c e l i k e s t a t e . T h u s , h eh i m s e l f e x p e ri e n c e s a n a l t e r n a t e r e a l i ty , p o s s e s si o n.

P a s t o r W i l l ia m s d o e s n o t r e m e m b e r t h e s e r m o n s h e g i v e s a n d m u s t b e to lda b o u t t h e m a f t e r t h e s e r vi c e. T o c r e a t e f u r t h e r t h e n e c e s s a r y c o n d it i on s t h a ta l l o w t h e t r a n s i t i o n s t o t a k e p l a c e, P a s t o r W i l l i a m s b l i n d l y s t a r e s i n t o t h ec o n g r e g a t i o n . H e s a y s t h a t h i s v o c a l c o r d s a r e t a k e n o v e r f or u s e b y h i s s p i r i tg u i d e o r te a c h e r . T h e s t r u c t u r e o f h i s s e r m o n i s v e r y d i s c o n n e c t e d , h i s v o ic es o m e t i m e s i n a u d i b l e , a n d t h e m e s s a g e d i s c o n n e c te d . T h e s e r m o n s f ol lo w ar e g u l a r p a t t e r n , t h e m e s s a g e o f f e r i n g a m o r e p r a c t i c a l r e li g i o u s a p p r o a c h t ol if e t h r o u g h s p i r i t in t e r v e n t i o n . A s s u r a n c e i s g i v e n t h a t t h e r e a r e s p i r i ts w i ll -i n g t o c r o s s t h e b a r r i e r f r o m t h e s p i r i t u a l t o t h e e a r t h l y p l a n e w h e n h e l p i sn e e d e d . T h i s r e a s s u r e s a l l c o n g r e g a t i o n a l m e m b e r s o f t h e s p i r i t' s a b i l i t y t om a k e t h e t r a n s i t i o n .

B y t h is t i m e b e l i e v e r s s a y t h e y a r e e x p e r i e n c i n g a g r o w i n g u n i t y a m o n gt h e m s e l v e s a n d b e t w e e n t h e t w o p la n e s . T h i s f e e l in g o f s o l i d a ri t y a n d s h a r e da l t e r n a t e r e a l i t y o p e n s t h e w a y f or t h e t w o b a s i c sy m b o l i c e v e n t s t h a t s e r v e a sp r o o f t o c h u r c h m e m b e r s o f t h e v a l i d i ty o f t h e i r b e l i e f s y s t e m , t h e h e a l i n gs e r v i c e a n d t h e m e s s a g e s e r v i c e .A s t h i s f e e l i n g o f g r o u p s o l i d a r i t y a n d a l t e r n a t e r e a l i t y , e x p e r i e n c e d a s au n i f y i n g c u r r e n t , s e t t l e s o n t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n , o n e o f t h e h e a l e r s r i s e s , w a l k so v e r t o t h e p o d i u m , a n d a n n o u n c e s t h a t i t i s t i m e f o r t h e h e a l i n g s e r v ic e . At o t a l s i l e n c e fa l l s o v e r th e c o n g r e g a t i o n a s m e m b e r s h o l d b o t h h a n d s o u t ,p a l m s u p , a n d c l o se t h e i r e y e s . I t i s b e l i e v e d t h a t t h i s a l l o w s c h u r c h m e m b e r st o o f f e r o r r e c e i v e h e a l i n g e n e r g y , d e p e n d i n g o n t h e i r i n d i v i d u a l n e e d s . ~ A na g g r e g a t e e n e r g y i s b e l i e v e d to b e c r e a t e d t h r o u g h t h e t r a n s f e r o f p e r s on a l ,p h y s ic a l , a n d s p i r i t u a l e n e r g y f r o m t h e h e a l e r a n d p a r t i c i p a n t s o f t h e h e a l i n gc e r e m o n y , t o t h e b o d i e s o f i n d i v i d u a l s n e e d i n g h e a l i n g . ''12 T h i s e n e r g y i s e x-p l a i n e d a s m e n t a l e n e r g y t h a t i s r e l e a s e d t h r o u g h t h e p o w e r o f p r a y e r a n dr e d i r e c t e d , a s s p i r i t s e e s f it , t o th o s e i n n e e d o f h e a l i n g . T h e m i n i s t e r c a l ls u p o nt h e ~ C h r i st P r i n c ip l e o f H e a l i n g : I n th e n a m e o f C h r i st , w e a s k t h a t w e b eg i v e n t h e p o w e r t o a s s i s t i n h e a l i n g t h e s e p e r s o n s ' c o n d it i o n s. T h i s i s f o l lo w e d


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222 J o u r n a l o f R e l i gi o n a n d e a l t h

by a min ute of silence durin g which church membe rs believe they are givingand receiving energy.This is i mmed iate ly followed by the singing of the only hym n th at is consis-tently sung week after week as a prelude to the message service. The hymn,

~In the Garden, is said to be very dear to spirits and tends to read y bothspirit and church members for the upcoming message service. Consider thewords:

I come to the garden alone,While the dew is still on the roses;And the voice I hear falling on my ear,The Son of God, discloses.And He walks with me,And He talks with me,And He tells me I am his own,And the joy we share as we tar ry there,None other has ever known.The hymn, taken quite literally, reinforces the belief in the ability to transcendthe ea rth plane, experience the a lterna te real ity of the spiritual planes, andcommunic ate directly with spirit forms. The s inging of this h ym n creates aheightened emotional state amon g believers who are now anxiously awaitingcontact with t heir deceased loved ones dur ing th e message service.

At this time, mediums who will give messages to congregational membersare readying themselves for this task. This is accomplished in a number ofways. The medium gazes out into the congregation while breathi ng un usua llyheavily. Many mediums turn their heads toward their shoulder while mum-bling a couple of words, as thou gh contact has alrea dy been made and the spiritis standing behind them. Some mediums close their eyes and wait for themessage to become available.

The methods used by mediums to attune themselves with the spirit worldare varied and personal. While some go through elaborate and dramatic ritu-als, others remain calm in order to show how natural the contact is. Thisfurther cultivates the already existing feeling of liminali ty and is followed byanother me chanism tha t serves as proof tha t the transiti on has ta ken place.It is cust omary for each medi um to try and bring a test to the indiv idual to

w h o m he is bringin g a message. The tes t is believed to be scientific proof th atthe m edi um is actuall y in contact with the spirit world. The test comes in oneof three way s tha t are not mu tual ly exclusive. The medium ma y bring thenam e of the deceased to the living relative or friend, the gender, or the m an ne rin which the deceased died. The dramati c me diu m may even take on the symp-toms tha t th e deceased person had before death. ~I have a terrible pa in in m ychest; can anyo ne place this spirit? It is a man who has been in the spirit worldfor around ten years. The medium may dem and tha t someone accept the spiritin order to rid him self of the symptoms he sa ys he is experiencing. This kin d ofproof is usual ly sufficient to bring about a positive response from a believer onthe real ity of the message a nd reason enoug h for following the advice given.


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A t t h i s p o i n t e a c h m e d i u m w i ll t a k e a t u r n a t t h e p o d i um , a n d e a c h c o n gr e -g a t i o n a l m e m b e r w i ll r e c e iv e a m e s s a g e t h a t o f fe r s p r a c t ic a l a d v i c e on m a t t e r st h a t r e l a t e t o th e w e l l - b e i n g o f c h u r c h m e m b e r s . M a n y o f t h e m e s s a g e s d e a ls p e c i f ic a l l y w i t h m a t t e r s p e r t a i n i n g t o h e a l t h a n d i n c l u d e s u c h a d v ic e a s: ~ Y o us h o u ld e a t m o r e g r e e n v e g e ta b l e s . T h e c h u r c h e n c o u r a g e s m e m b e r s t o t a k eg o o d c a r e o f t h e m s e l v e s . M e s s a g e s q u e s t i o n t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s s p i r i t u a l a n dp s y c h o l o g i c a l c o n d i ti o n . I t is b e l i e v e d t h a t n e g a t i v e t h o u g h t s l e a d t o n e g a t i v ec o n d i ti o n s . M e s s a g e s a d v i s e t h e i n d i v i d u a l o n h o w t o r e l e a s e t h e n e g a t i v et h o u g h t s t h a t a r e b e l i e v e d t o c r e a t e t h e n e g a t i v e c o n d i t i on s , a n d i n t u r n b e g i nt h e h e a l i n g p r o c e s s .T h e m e s s a g e s e r vi c e , t h o u g h g e a r e d p r i m a r i l y t o w a r d c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e -t w e e n t h e p h y s i c a l a n d s p i r i t u a l p l a n e s , a c ts a s a m a i n t e n a n c e p r o g r a m f orc o n t i n u e d h e a l t h a m o n g c h u r c h m e m b e r s . O n a v e r y p r a c t i c a l l ev e l , s p i r i t a si n t e r p r e t e d b y th e m e d i u m c o n s i s t e n t ly g i v e s a d v ic e o n h o w to l iv e , w h a t t oe a t , w h e n t o c o n s u l t a m e d i c a l p h y s i c i a n , a n d h o w t o w a r d o f f i ll n e ss . T h em e d i u m g i v e s r e a s o n s f o r t h e c o n d i t i o n s a n d a d v i c e fo r d e a l i n g w i t h t h e m .S p i r i t m a y b e r e c o g n i z e d a s t h e c a u s e o f t h e d i s o rd e r , f o r e x a m p l e , s p i r i t p os -s e s s io n , o r a s t h e s o l u t i o n . I n m a n y c a s e s t h e i n d i v i d u a l i s t o ld t h a t s p i r it i sh e l p i n g , ~ l i ft in g s o m e o f t h e b u r d e n s f r o m y o u r s h o u l d e r s . C o n c e i v i n g o f t h i sa s a n a c t u a l w e i g h t , m a n y b e l i e v e r s s a y t h e y c a n a n d d o e x p e r ie n c e t h e w e i g h tl e a v i n g t h e i r b o d ie s , l e a v i n g t h e m f e e l i n g l i g h t e r a n d m o r e r e l a x e d . A b e l i e v e rw h o t h i n k s h e is r e c e i v i n g s p i r i t u a l h e l p i n d e a l i n g w i t h h i s p r o b l e m s e x p e r i -e n c e s l e s s a n x i e t y a n d s t r e s s . H e i s n o l o n g e r f a c i n g t h e p r o b l e m s a l o n e , be -c a u s e s p ir i t is s h a r i n g t h e b u r d e n . T h i s i m m e d i a t e l y i m p r o v e s t h e s u r r o u n d i n gc o n d i t i o n s i n t h e m i n d s o f t h e b e l i e v e r s .

A t t h e s a m e t i m e , a d v i ce c a n a l t e r a n i n d i v i d u a l ' s b e h a v i o r p a t t e r n s , a n dt h i s i n i t s e l f c a n c a u s e i m p r o v e m e n t i n a r e a s o f p h y s i c a l , p s y c ho l o g i c al , a n ds o c i a l w e l l - b e i n g . 13 T h e m e s s a g e s e r v i c e i s f o l l o w e d b y t h e c l o s i n g b e n e d i c t i o na n d a c o f f ee h o u r , w h e r e s o m e o f t h e s e m a t t e r s m a y b e m o r e f u l l y e x p lo r e d .

A n a l y s i sC o n s i s t e n t l y , t h r o u g h o u t t h e s e r v i c e , t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n a n d c h u r c h o f f i c i a l sc o l l e c t iv e l y a f fi r m a n d r e a f f i r m t h e b a s i c b e l i e f s o f t h e i r r e l i g i o u s a p p r o a c h .H e a l i n g i s t h e d o m i n a n t t h e m e , a n d t h e g r o u p c o n s t a n t ly r e a s s e r t s t h a ts p i r i t u a l h e a l i n g a n d t h e a b i l i ty to c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h t h e s p i r i t w o r l d a r e t h eb a s i c f o u n d a t i o n s o f t h e i r r e l i g io u s a p p r o a c h .

A s t h e s e r v i c e p r o g r e s s e s , t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f c r e a t i n g a c o l le c t i v e c o n s c io u s -n e s s b e c o m e s a p p a r e n t , t h e f e e li n g o f c o m m u n i t y b e i n g a n e c e s s a r y p r e r e q u i -s i te fo r t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t r i t u a l s , t h e h e a l i n g a n d m e s s a g e s e r v ic e s . T h i sf e e l i n g o f c o l l e c ti v e a w a r e n e s s g r o w s a s t h e s e r v i c e in t e n s i f ie s . T h e b e l i e v e r sb e c o m e e m o t i o n a l l y c h a r g e d a n d b e g i n t o e x p e ri e n c e w h a t t h e y b e l i e v e is a na l t e r n a t e r e a l i t y , t h e s p i r i t w o r ld . A p ro c e s s o f t r a n s m i g r a t i o n , i n w h i c h t h ee a r t h a n d s p i r i t u a l p l a n e s a r e m e r g e d t o g e t h e r i n a s p i r i t u a l l i m i n a l i t y t h a ta l lo w s c h u r c h m e m b e r s a g l i m p s e a t a n a l t e r n a t e r e a l it y , s e r v e s t o s t r e n g t h e n


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2 2 4 Journal of Religion and Health

the belief system, offering proof of the beliefs associated with this church.Furthermo re, as a collective experience, there is more validity to the encoun-ters. One becomes part of a real and symbolic community of spiritual believersin which the needs of all church members are tak en into consideration. This intu rn legitimates the advice offered by the individual on the human condition.In most cases, the mediums in terp ret spirit as being interested in the well-being of the believers. Spirit is said to be working always for the benefit ofcongregational members, with or without t heir knowledge. The implication isthat there are greate r powers working in one s behalf; thus the worry of day-to-day living is in the hands of sacred entities. The solutions to these problemswill be brought from the spirit world to the medium, who will act as themessenger, offering practical solutions.

Within the community, an intricate communication system develops inwhich the medium plays a crucial role. Information is exchanged betweenchurch members and practitioners prior to the service and upon conclusion ofthe service during the coffee hour. Thus, information is interpreted by themedium and given back to the church members during the message service, inprivate heali ng ceremonies14 and circle groups, 15 in the form of practica l adviceon how to handle the situation.In conclusion, spir itua lism functions to alleviate the physical, psychological,and social disorders of church members. This is accomplished through a beliefsystem that stresses the accessibility of spiritual healing and spiritual contactto all members. The creation of a liminal state, in which the believer experi-ences an alte rnate reality, is basic to the beli ef system. This state occurs as aresult of ritual intensification and a feeling of transmig ration during whichtime the earth and spiritual planes are merged. It is achieved each weekduring the service, and at the same time the problems of church members aredeal t wi th on a personal level. Advice coming from sacred origins is believed tobe given to the medium, who acts as the ins tru men t of spirit giving the infor-mation back to the believer.If the church member no longer believes he is experiencing an alternatereality, then the advice and messages expressed by the medium have littlevalidity. Thus, the belief system is depend ent on the creation of a liminal state,within which problems of health, interpersonal relationships, and the day-to-day issues of living can be effectively dealt with thro ugh sacred intervention.

eferences1 . T u r n e r , V . W . , The Ritual Process. C h i c a g o , A l d i n e P u b l i s h i n g C o . , 1 9 6 9 .2 . P s e u d o n y m s h a v e b e e n u s e d t h r o u g h o u t t h i s p a p e r t o p r o te c t t h e p r iv a c y o f t h e c h u r c h a n dc h u r c h m e m b e r s .3 . F i s h m a n , R . G . , ' ~ S p i r it u a l is m i n W e s t e r n N e w Y o r k : A S t u d y i n R i t u a l H e a l i n g , MedicalAnthropology W i n t e r , 1 9 7 9 , 3 , 1 - 2 2 .4 . F o r a d i s c u s s i o n o f l i m i n a l i t y s e e G e n n e p , A . V . , The Ri tes of Passage. L o n d o n , R o u t l e d g e a n d

K e g a n P a u l , 1 9 6 0 .5 . W i t h i n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h i s p a p e r, t r a n s m i g r a t i o n m e a n s t h e p r o c e ss o f m i g r a t i n g f r o m t h ee a r t h p l a n e t o a p o i n t w i t h i n w h i c h o n e c a n p e r s o n a l l y e x p e r i en c e t h e s p i r i t u a l p l a n e s w i t h o u tp a s s i n g o v e r b y d e a t h .


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R o b e r t G . F i s h m a n 2 2 5

6 . K e a r n e y , M ., O r a l P e r f o r m a n c e b y M e x i c a n S p i r i t u a l i s t in P o s s e s s i o n T r a v e l , a p a p e r d e l i v -e r e d a t t h e 7 5 t h A n n u a l M e e t i n g o f t h e A m e r i c a n A n t h r o p o l o g i ca l A s s oc i a ti o n , N o v e m b e r ,1 9 7 6 .7 . F i s h m a n , op. cir.8 . F o r a d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e u s e o f ~ ' s o c i o so m a t i c ' s e e S k u l t a n s , V . , I n t i m a c y a n d R i t u a l: A S t u d y o fS p i r i tu a l i s m M e d i u m s a n d G r o u p s. L o n d o n , R o u t l e d g e a n d K e g a n P a u l , 1 9 7 4, p. 2 9 .9 . N e l s o n , G . K . , S p i r i t u a l i s m a n d S o c i e t y . N e w Y o r k , S c h o c k e n B o o k s , 1 9 6 9 , p . 3 .1 0 . T u r n e r , op. cit . p. 94 .1 1 . G e n n e p , op. cit .1 2 . F i s h m a n , op . c i r p p . 1 2 - 1 3 .13. Ib id .1 4. P r i v a t e h e a l i n g c e r e m o n i e s a r e s e t u p b e t w e e n t h e l e a d e r a n d p a t i e n t a n d o f t e n o cc u r im -m e d i a t e l y f o l l o w i n g t h e s e r v ic e .1 5 . A c i r c le g r o u p i s a m e s s a g e s e r v i c e t h a t o c c u r s w i t h o u t b e n e f i t o f t h e r e l i g i o u s s e r v i c e i n t h eh o m e o f a m e d i u m .

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