When we are first exposed to the religion of Modern Spiritualism, immediately we are encouraged to question, to explore, and to define this faith. We are taught to regard Modern Spiritualism as a religion, a philosophy, and a science. It is this scientific aspect that is unique to our belief system. We as believers are encouraged to study and research the phenomena given to us through spirit communication.

In order to understand our present interaction with our religion, it is first important to have a grasp of the basic ideology and background that is associated with the occurrence of phenomena.

One of the basic tenets referred to in the study is, of course, Telepathy. Briefly, this term, coined by F.W.H. Myers, is used to describe a "coincidence between two persons' thoughts which require a casual explanation". Telepathy can take place in the waking, dreaming or hypnotic states of consciousness. Crisis telepathy has been found to be the most commonly recorded type of telepathy. Dream state telepathy was studied at Duke University during the 1930's by Dr. J.B. and Louisa Rhine. While this "mind to mind" contact is accepted as fact it does not, however, prove the "continuation of life" that is the foundation of our religion.

The next aspect of our religious investigation will center upon the gift of clairvoyance. The definition of this term is "clear seeing"; the ability to see beyond the natural sense of seeing, and an "awareness or perception of spirit personalities". Clairvoyance is actually broken down into two categories: subjective and objective. Subjective clairvoyance is when spirit manipulates the medium's nerve center of sight and impresses upon the brain images not seen with the aid of the physical eye. Objective clairvoyance is where the medium has been enabled through the "spiritual sensorium" to see spirit beings and objects through the use of his/her optical centers.

In addition to the aforementioned definitions, other forms of clairvoyance are:

Cataleptic Clairvoyance - occurs during a trance state; either self-induced or through a discarnate spirit.

X-Ray Clairvoyance - this form of the gift enables the medium to see through physical matter and observe internal matter.

Trance Control Clairvoyance - this occurs during the time that the consciousness of a medium is temporarily subdued.

Telepathic Clairvoyance - this is the subjective perception in the form of an image or picture of a thought that has been transmitted over a measurable distance.

Subsequently, we shall now examine the gift of clairaudience. This concept is defined as "clear hearing" and "extra sensory information received as sound". This is a rare quality for a medium to possess. Peggy Barnes Jefts states: "Conditions that are essential for developing clairaudience are freedom from all material thought, absolute quiet, and a passive mind in order that one may listen with the spiritual ear for the higher vibrations of sound coming from spirit". Ms. Jefts, in addition, does state that "not everyone can develop clairaudience although each person may have a [particular] phase of mediumship awaiting development."

The significance of this essay is to understand that while telepathy may be a repeatable aspect of psychic phenomena, it does not prove the precept of the religion of Modern Spiritualism which is spirit continuation. Clairvoyance and clairaudience has been proven to provide us with the evidence of life after death. It is the proof we who follow this religion must seek.