S04E02: Spiritualism (Part 1) - America’s Obsession with Speaking to the Dead

Dec 8, 2025
1h 13m

Episode Description

In this episode of The Chorus in the Chaos, Jack and Blake dive into one of America’s most unusual and influential cult movements: the rise of spiritualism in the 19th century. Beginning with a biblical narrative—the chilling account of Saul and the Witch of Endor—the episode moves through the dramatic story of the Fox Sisters, the national craze for seances, and the cultural wounds left open by the Civil War.

You’ll discover how spiritualism promised comfort in a time of uncertainty, why it grew so quickly, and even how magician Harry Houdini became its most vocal opponent. Blending historical storytelling, cultural analysis, and theological clarity, this episode shines a light on a movement that still shapes modern (evil) ideas about mediums, ghosts, and “communicating with the dead.”

 

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