(mailto:bunny@intrepid.net)

CHAPTER X

Occupations, Education, Religion

Occupations and Employment

Souls do not loaf in the spirit world; no one is idle. The two main occupations are helping others in the spirit world or on earth and developing the soul. Often spirits continue the occupations and interests they had on earth. If the work on earth was not right for them, then individuals can change what they do according to their real talents and interests. As Randall (1922) states, all work is a labor of love. It may be assigned to you, but it is still congenial and satisfactory.

Spiritual wealth can be attained by working for it, and that is by showing loving and unselfish conduct toward others (Randall (1922). Selfishness and the self is eliminated in a life of service. Spiritual life is developed by joining in worship and the praise of God. Spirits help themselves by helping those on earth. If individuals have reached a high enough state to go back to earth, they go to serve, not just to say they are happy. Spirits often go to earth to give courage to others to fulfill their duties, to inspire people with ideals, music, inventions, and ideas, and to impress those on earth in the ways of truth and wisdom (Peebles, 1902). They may also aid mediums in their work.

There are as many, or more, types of work in the spirit world as there are on earth. Some are involved with mothering infants and in the care, education, and training of children. Others instruct newcomers to the spirit life and some teach those in other spheres. There is work in mental hospitals where spirits are treated and developed, and physicians heal disfigured spirits, visit earth hospitals, and help the sick through mental healing (Longley, 1908). Those in the building trades help individuals build their homes and erect temples, laboratories, lecture halls, and other buildings. Gardeners breathe new life on plants and take care of the grounds. Musicians compose and build instruments, and artists can bring out pictures and sculpture by waving their hands and concentrating the will (Longley, 1908).

Scientists abound in many fields and have laboratories for their research. Some study extinct forms of life, while others concentrate on physics, chemistry, or mathematics. Psychical researchers compile volumes of material and do research on earth (DeKoven, 1920). Teachers, writers, thinkers, poets, and philosophers all have a place in the spirit world.

Helping earth bound spirits and those in the lower spheres is a major occupation, and involves travelling to other spheres to uplift and console despairing and lonely souls. . Other activities in the spirit world include contemplation and study. Libraries contain works from earth that are founded on truth as well as material written in spirit. Crowell (1879) describes activities such as study, walking, sailing, visiting, attending lectures and the theater, going to parties, reading, and riding horses. There is always something to do in the spirit world. Performing duties and tasks is balanced with attending to intellectual and spiritual needs. Travel is instantaneous, and there is no real need to eat or sleep. Rest is changing from one activity to another (Peebles, 1902).

Education

Studying and learning are major occupations in the spirit world. Everyone participates to progress both mentally and spiritually. Schools, universities, and lecture halls are everywhere, and for all ages and grades from kindergarten to advanced university levels. One never ceases to study. Large institutions of learning have many teachers, with master teachers for each specific subject. Teaching is mostly by means of representative objects. Although there are books on every conceivable subject, most instruction is orally presented.

Both earthly and spiritual sciences are taught, as is the meaning of the continuity of life. There are school of art, music, inventions, medicine, science, astronomy, and mathematics, to name a few. Herbine (1919) mentions that patience is taught in one school, virtue and charity in others. Schools exchange ideas and report to each other.

Teachers come from higher spheres to teach, then those on that plane teach in turn to those below (Hare, 1855). According to Lodge (1916), teachers from the seventh sphere teach others how to work with those on the earth plane. Even teachers have more to learn, so they also spend time in study and contemplation. A spirit learns more about truth in order to approach nearer to the divine in the fifth to seventh spheres (Lawton, 1932).

Thoughts are an essential part of education. Individuals can study what they wanted to but did not on earth, or they can progress further in their already chosen fields. It is possible to attend halls of learning in higher spheres in preparation for living there.

Religion and Prayer

Spiritualist writers agree that no one finds a hell or a heaven based on religious beliefs. God's love is everywhere, and is redemptive. One's own conscience is the only judge in the spirit world. Sometimes manifestations of the Divine Presence are given, but Lawton (1932) and Owen (vol. 1, 1920) agree that God is no more visibly present in the spirit world than on earth, and no one has seen God, even the archangels.

Prayer is very important in the spirit world, both by people on earth and those who have passed on. Prayer by those on earth helps especially those who have no desire to be better than they have been (Randall, 1922). Those in the spirit life pray for help when they want it, but they can not pray for an evil objective. They pray to benefit the spirits around them. Peebles (1902) advocates prayer to advertise what you want, and says one should pray to God rather than to spirits. If you ask for what you want, you have a better chance of getting it. Prayer attracts those who can help, and whatever is done is done by divine sanction. Prayer is a mental utterance of a desire, both in the spirit world and on earth.

Conclusion

The early Spiritualists agree on the aspects of occupation, employment, education and religion in the spirit world. Souls continually work on their spiritual development, primarily by helping others in the spirit world or on earth and by contemplation and study. There are many types of work, just as there are on earth. You can continue study in your field, or branch out into other areas. There are schools, universities, libraries, research laboratories, and lecture halls. One's religious beliefs on earth may have no bearing on what is found in the spirit world. Prayer is considered to be very important, both by those on earth and those who have passed on. The Spiritualist writers all agree in these basic concepts, and there is not the variety of detail that is found in other areas. This leads me to think, if nothing else, we can count on still learning and developing our spiritual selves.

Continue...

Top of Page