Quebec Studies

Catholicism as Living Memory in a Montreal Spiritualist Congregation

Quebec Studies (2011), 52, (1), 69–86.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3828/qs.52.1.69
Language
English
Pages
18

Abstract

69 Catholicism as Living Memory in a Montreal Spiritualist Congregation Deirdre Meintel Université de Montréal Introduction Since 20001 have been observing a Spiritualist congregation in Montreal, the Spiritual Church of Healing (SCH).1 The present analysis concerns the en­ during presence of Catholic belief and practice in this group, most of whose members are French-speaking native-born Québécois. Most in this congre­ gation (its official membership is 275) were brought up Catholic. However, they do not see themselves as "converts" from Catholicism to Spiritualism. Moreover, most, even those who have been very active in the SCH for decades as healers and mediums, do not see their religious practice in terms of denominational belonging. A Spiritualist baptism for adults exists, in theory, but no one in the group, including Michel, the pastor, has experi­ enced or witnessed the ritual. Though Spiritualism is a denomination in historical, objectivist terms, it does not function as such for those who attend and contribute their services (as healers and mediums) to the SCH. Elsewhere (Meintel 2007b) I have tried to show that these individuals' aversion to seeing their religious practice in terms of a denominational identity does not exclude the fundamental "change of heart" (Heirich 1977) that lies at the core of conversion. Yet at the same time, the common Catho­ lic frame of reference these Spiritualists share continues to color the ritual activities of this congregation and is, in fact, positively reinforced in the ritual life of the SCH. Catholicism remains present in their lives — and in the SCH — in the form of beliefs, practices and vocabulary. Most retain some kind of identification with the Catholic Church and do not see this as in conflict with their participation in Spiritualist ritual events. The fact that there is no "conversion" to Spiritualism allows them to retain a Catholic identity, as most I have met at the SCH do, while finding new ways to expe­ rience the sacred in their lives. Examining the vitality of Catholic beliefs, devotion, and practices among these Spiritualists offers an occasion to reflect on the significance of religious identity as regards belief and practice. Furthermore, when seen in the light of our findings from a wider study on contemporary religious groups in Québec, our analysis contributes to deepening our understand­ ing of contemporary religious hybridity and of how the Catholic past shapes Quebec's religious landscape in the present. The research2 The study is based principally on participant observation, with occasional interviews with the pastor, "Michel," and interviews with 16 key infor­ mants (8 women, 8 men). Three initial interviews with Michel focused on his personal and religious trajectory and the history of the "Spiritual Québec Studies, Volume 52, Fall 201 I/Winter 2012

Access Token

FormatArticle

£25.00
ReferencesPDF

Aubrée, Marion et François Laplantine. La table, le livre et les esprits: naissance, évolution et actualité du mouvement social spirite entre France et Brésil. Paris: Éditions J. C. Lattès, 1990 La table, le livre et les esprits: naissance, évolution et actualité du mouvement social spirite entre France et Brésil Google Scholar

Barbanell, Sylvie. When your Animal Dies. London: Psychic Press, 1940 When your Animal Dies Google Scholar

Bibby, Reginald. "La religion à la Carte au Québec: Une Analyse de Tendances." Sociologie et sociétés 22.2 (1990): 133-44 La religion à la Carte au Québec: Une Analyse de Tendances Sociologie et sociétés 22 133 44 Google Scholar

Bibby, Reginald. Restless gods: the renaissance of religion in Canada. Toronto: Stoddart Publishing Co, 2002 Restless gods: the renaissance of religion in Canada Google Scholar

 Google Scholar

Braude, Ann D. Radical Spirits, Spiritualism and Women's Rights in 19th Century America. Boston: Beacon Press, 1989 Radical Spirits, Spiritualism and Women's Rights in 19th Century America Google Scholar

Campbell, Colin. "Cult." In Encyclopedia of Religion and Society. Eds. William H. Swatos and Peter Kvisto. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press, 1998. 122-23 In Encyclopedia of Religion and Society 122 23 Google Scholar

Caroux, Jacques and Pierre Rajotte. "Récits de Pèlerins Québécois à Saint-Jacquesde- Compostelle: Vers une Réconfiguration du Religieux?" Globe 10-11 [2.1] (2007-2008): 53-74 Récits de Pèlerins Québécois à Saint-Jacquesde- Compostelle: Vers une Réconfiguration du Religieux? Globe 10-11 53 74 Google Scholar

Cohen, Martine. "Les renouveaux catholique et juif en France. L'individu et ses émotions." In De l'émotion en religion. Renouveaux et traditions. Éds. François Champion et Danièle Hervieu-Léger. Paris: Éditions du Centurion, 1990. 121-67 De l'émotion en religion. Renouveaux et traditions 121 67 Google Scholar

Corneiller, Frédérique. Un Groupe Spirituel Shamanique. Research report. (A condensed version of this report will be published by the Groupe de recherche Diversité urbaine, Centre des études ethniques des universités montréalaises [CEETUM], Université de Montréal in 2010.) Google Scholar

Favret-Saada, Jeanne. Les mots, la mort, les sorts. Paris: Gallimard, 1977 Les mots, la mort, les sorts Google Scholar

Fonseca, Claudia. "La religion dans la vie quotidienne d'un groupe populaire brésilien." Archives de sciences sociales des religions 36.73 (1991):125-39 La religion dans la vie quotidienne d'un groupe populaire brésilien Archives de sciences sociales des religions 36 125 39 Google Scholar

Fuller, Robert C. Spiritual but not Religious. New York: Oxford, 2001 Spiritual but not Religious Google Scholar

Haywood, Carol Lois. "The Authority and Empowerment of Women among Spiritualist Groups." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 22. 2 (1983): 157-66 The Authority and Empowerment of Women among Spiritualist Groups Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 22 157 66 Google Scholar

Heirich, Max. "A Change of Heart: A Test of some Widely Held Theories about Religious Conversion." American Journal of Sociology 83.3: 653-80 A Change of Heart: A Test of some Widely Held Theories about Religious Conversion American Journal of Sociology 83 653 80 Google Scholar

Hervieu-Léger, Danièle. "Crise de l'universel et planétarisation culturelle: les paradoxes de la mondialisation religieuse." In La globalisation du religieux. Éds. J. P. Bastian, F. Champion, et K. Rousselet. Paris: L'Harmattan, 2001. 87-96 La globalisation du religieux 87 96 Google Scholar

Laurent Sédillot, Catherine. Le Centre bouddhiste Kankala de Montréal. Groupe de recherche Diversité urbaine, Université de Montréal, 2009 Le Centre bouddhiste Kankala de Montréal Google Scholar

Lemieux, Raymond. "Histoires de vie et postmodernité religieuse." In R. Lemieux and Micheline Milot. Les croyances des Québécois. Esquisses pour une Approche Empirique. Les Cahiers de recherches en sciences de la religion 11 (Université Laval) (1992): 187-234 Google Scholar

Lemieux, Raymond. "Le catholicisme québécois: une question de culture." Sociologie et sociétés 22. 2 (1990): 145-64 Le catholicisme québécois: une question de culture Sociologie et sociétés 22 145 64 Google Scholar

 Google Scholar

Lemieux, Raymond. "Penser la Religion au Québec." Globe 10-11 [2.1] (2007-2008): 225-36 Penser la Religion au Québec Globe 10-11 225 36 Google Scholar

Lemieux, Raymond et Micheline Milot, dirs. Les croyances des Québécois: esquisses pour une approche empirique. Groupe de recherches en sciences de la religion, Université Laval, 1992 Les croyances des Québécois: esquisses pour une approche empirique Google Scholar

Linteau, Paul-André, René Durocher, Jean-Claude Robert, et François Ricard. Histoire du Québec contemporain, Tome I: Le Québec depuis 1930. Montreal: Éditions Boréal, 1989 Histoire du Québec contemporain, Tome I: Le Québec depuis 1930 Google Scholar

Marryat, Florence. There is No Death. London: William Rider and Son, Ltd., 1920 There is No Death Google Scholar

McClenon, James. "Transcendentalism." In Encyclopedia of Religion and Society. Eds. William H. Swatos and Peter Kvisto. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press, 1998. Electronic edition http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/Transcendentalism.htm, accessed 26 August 2006 http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/Transcendentalism.htm Encyclopedia of Religion and Society Google Scholar

McGuire, Meredith. Lived Religions: Faith and Practice in Everyday Life. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2008 Lived Religions: Faith and Practice in Everyday Life Google Scholar

Meintel, Deirdre. "La stabilité dans le flou: Parcours religieux et identités de spiritualistes." Anthropologie et sociétés 27.1 (2003): 35-64 La stabilité dans le flou: Parcours religieux et identités de spiritualistes Anthropologie et sociétés 27 35 64 Google Scholar

Meintel, Deirdre. "Les croyances et le croire chez des spiritualistes." Théologiques 13.1 (2005): 129-56 Les croyances et le croire chez des spiritualistes Théologiques 13 129 56 Google Scholar

Meintel, Deirdre. "Événements et non-événements: Une recherche en milieu spiritualiste." In L'évenément en anthropologie: Concepts et terrains. Éds. Jean-Ignace Olazabal et Joseph Lévy. Sainte-Foy: P U Laval (2006). 245-67 L'évenément en anthropologie: Concepts et terrains 245 67 Google Scholar

Meintel, Deirdre. "When the Extraordinary Hits Home." In Extraordinary Anthropology: Transformative Moments in the Field. Eds. Jean-Guy Goulet and B. Miller. Lincoln: U Nebraska P, 2007a. 124-57 Extraordinary Anthropology: Transformative Moments in the Field 124 57 Google Scholar

Meintel, Deirdre. "When There is No Conversion: Spiritualists and Personal Religious Change." Anthropologica 49 (2007b): 149-62 When There is No Conversion: Spiritualists and Personal Religious Change Anthropologica 49 149 62 Google Scholar

Nelson, Geoffrey K. Spiritualism and Society. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1969a Spiritualism and Society Google Scholar

Nelson, Geoffrey K. "The Spiritualist Movement and the Need for a Redefinition of Cult." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 8 (1969b): 152-60 The Spiritualist Movement and the Need for a Redefinition of Cult Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 8 152 60 Google Scholar

Nelson, Geoffrey K. "Cults, New Religions and Religious Creativity." London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1987 Cults, New Religions and Religious Creativity Google Scholar

Normandin, Améllie. Le Néo-chamanisme à Montréal. La Fondation des Études Chamaniques. Groupe de recherche Diversité urbaine, Université de Montréal, 2010 Le Néo-chamanisme à Montréal. La Fondation des Études Chamaniques Google Scholar

Pew Research Center. U. S. Religious Landscape Survey. Washington, D. C.: Pew Research Center, 2008 Google Scholar

Stark, Rodney and, William Sims Bainbridge. Religion, Deviance and Social Control. New York: Routledge, 1996 Religion, Deviance and Social Control Google Scholar

Swatos, William H. and Gissurarson, Loftur Reimar. Icelandic Spiritualism: Mediumship and Modernity in Iceland. New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers, 1997 Icelandic Spiritualism: Mediumship and Modernity in Iceland Google Scholar

Tedlock, Barbara. "From Participant Observation to Observation of Participation." Journal of Anthropological Research 47.1 (1991): 69-94 From Participant Observation to Observation of Participation Journal of Anthropological Research 47 69 94 Google Scholar

Turner, Victor. The Ritual Process: Structure and Anti-Structure. Chicago: Aldine, 1970 The Ritual Process: Structure and Anti-Structure Google Scholar

Wallis, Roy. The Road to Total Freedom: A Sociological Analysis of Scientology. New York: Columbia UP, 1977 The Road to Total Freedom: A Sociological Analysis of Scientology Google Scholar

Zaretsky, Irving I. In the Beginning Was the Word: The Relationship of Language to Social Organization in Spiritualist Churches." In Religious Movements in Contemporary America. Eds. Irving I. Zaretsky and Mark P. Leone. Princeton: Princeton U P, 1974. 166-222 Religious Movements in Contemporary America 166 222 Google Scholar

If you have private access to this content, please log in with your username and password here

Details

Author details

Meintel, Deirdre