Dossier 2/2026: Spiritism and health

Editors: Angélica A. Silva de Almeida, Adriana Gomes, Marcelo Gulão Pimentel
Deadline: Jun. 30 2026

The study of religions has increasingly captured the attention of scholars across philosophy and the humanities—including anthropology, sociology, history, and religious studies. These investigations are critical for understanding the cultural influence of social representations of faith and spirituality. Spiritism, which emerged in Europe during the latter half of the 19th century, quickly took root in Brazil, profoundly impacting diverse sectors of society. Today, it ranks as the nation’s third-largest religion. From its inception, Spiritism has maintained a dynamic relationship with the field of health. This connection manifests in multifaceted ways: through historical tensions (such as debates over the links between mediumship and mental illness, contested healing practices, and their subsequent legal disputes or criminalization); through alternative paradigms for conceptualizing and treating mental disorders; through its contribution of psychological phenomena for academic study (several concepts developed during this period, including frameworks for understanding unconscious processes and dissociative/hysterical phenomena, remain relevant in modern psychiatry and psychology); and, in Brazil, through the establishment of an extensive network of Spiritist psychiatric hospitals. Given its significant intersection with health, scholarly work on this topic holds particular importance. However, to date, academic research on Spiritism and health remains fragmented and limited. This groundbreaking special issue of REVER seeks to address this gap by dedicating an entire volume to the theme of Spiritism and Health. Our goal is to convene researchers from diverse disciplines to contribute rigorous, high-quality articles, thereby advancing scholarship in this field and offering valuable insights for both specialists and the general public. We invite interdisciplinary contributions that explore the historical, cultural, clinical, and sociopolitical dimensions of Spiritism’s role in health practices and discourse. Submissions should aim to deepen theoretical frameworks, present empirical findings, or critically examine the evolving intersections between Spiritist traditions and healthcare systems. This special issue aspires to serve as a foundational resource, fostering dialogue and innovation in understanding how Spiritism continues to shape—and be shaped by—conceptions of health, healing, and human well-being.