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ASpiritist centre, also calledSpiritist society orSpiritist house, is the basic unit of organisation ofSpiritism, which is a distinct form ofSpiritualism.
In legal terms, Spiritist centres are ordinary non-profit associations, whose members are in charge of providing funds to run the centre itself and the various charity activities kept by it. Each centre is run by apresident or one or moredirectors elected for a term. Spiritist centres differ fromSpiritualist churches in that they are not formally organized as ecclesiastical bodies.[citation needed]
In addition to the legal and corporeal aspects of its existence, a Spiritist centre is also believed by its members to have an informal and incorporeal level of existence in thespirit world which comprises its patron and a series of protector spirits (which may be shared by other centres in the world).[citation needed]
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There are many types of Spiritist organisations, depending on their goals, formal organisation, size, etc.
Spiritist centres are complex to define because they are not, in the strictest sense, ordinary religious entities.[citation needed] The activities carried on by a Spiritist centres are of many types:
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Spiritist centre may be founded by anyone well-versed inSpiritist doctrine.
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Doctrinal classes have a twofold goal: 1) to share the knowledge available in the books and brought by the founders 2) to identify potentialmediums and workers.
Most Spiritist centres conduct the following courses:
The first three courses are almost universal.
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The only form of proselytism found in Spiritism is the disclosure of the doctrine (or aspects of it) to the general public. Divulgation of doctrine is carried on in many ways:
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Spiritists understand the termSpiritual assistance very literally, meaning "assistance to the spirit" of either a living person or a deceased one.
Spiritual assistance offered at Spiritist centres includesdisobsession,healing, andblessing (directed to the followers and occasional visitors) as well asmedium meetings in which several types ofspiritual assistance is directed to spirits of deceased people.
Spiritual assistance is intended to fight the four greatest foes of mankind --suicide,murder (which includesabortion),addiction andenvy (which is the cause of most other problems) -- thus reducing the suffering of mankind.
The ultimate goal of spiritual assistance is to help our planet to make it through its current stage of evolution, ceasing to be aworld of penance to become a happier one.
Spiritist centres also carry on social works directed to outsiders which are "in need of help". Material assistance is intended to provide relief to the immediate needs of the poor and the unhappy.[citation needed]
In Brazil, Spiritist centres characteristically maintain the following types of charities:[citation needed]
Bigger centres may keep clinics, schools, publishing houses, etc.[citation needed]
Spiritist centres offer a range of "spiritist complementary therapies" (SCT) to those seeking treatment for health problems.[1]