CIMA, the Spiritist Culture Movement, was organized on May 20, 1958, in Maracay, state of Aragua, Republic of Venezuela, upon decision and provision of a team of Spiritist scholars and stockholders, led by the renowned author and speaker David Grossvater (1911 - 1974). Pioneers included Manuel Massó, José Heriberto Blanco, Pedro Martínez Ibarra, Jesús María Blanco, Pedro Stagno, Blanca de Grossvater, Oramas, José Zubero, Luis Rivero, Olga de Rivero and Jorge Pacheco, to name a few of many active and enthusiastic persons.

Like a blast wave, CIMA put itself on the map with books, magazines and conferences. Local chapters set up both in several Venezuelan cities and in some other countries in the Americas, attracted by the fresh, energetic, free and approachable look of the brand-new institution. Over the course of time and with the gained experience, timing was good to conduct an unbiased performance assessment and to reset the course of CIMA. Such task involved readjustment, cementation of ideas and screening of followers. To date, changes are apparent. CIMA is headquartered in Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela.

In 1960, in Maracaibo, state of Zulia, the Venezuelan Spiritist Federation (FEV) was born, immediately becoming the top representative entity of the Venezuelan Spiritist movement, presided over by the renowned author and speaker Pedro Alciro Barboza de la Torre.

From the outset, CIMA upheld with most enthusiasm the happy initiative of creating in Venezuela a Spiritist organization of a federative status. Hence, CIMA raised its profile through high-powered delegations showing up all meetings hosted by FEV nationwide, until dissolution of FEV in 2002.

Loyal to the original values, CIMA reasserts its full identification with the Spiritist tenets indicated and defined by Allan Kardec. At the same time, CIMA resolutely bolsters refreshment of the Spiritist doctrine with a laic, humanist, openminded, evolutionist, plural and progressive vision, able to catch up with today's great challenges. More than six decades of lofty, hard and fruitful work have passed, spreading ideals all over the world, raising awareness, guiding those persons who long to find out the reason of existence, touching hearts, and brazing a trail for a better, freer, fairer, more supportive and more fraternal world.   

CIMA-CEPA PARTNERSHIP

CIMA, the Spiritist Culture Movement, is linked to CEPA, the International Spiritist Association, formerly the Pan-American Spiritist Confederation, as an affiliate. CEPA was founded in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 13, 1946. This standalone, federative entity represents a wide and increasing sector of the Spiritist movement in the Americas and part of Europe. CEPA primary goals are the following:

• Spread Spiritism all over the world.
• Revise once in a while the Spiritist doctrine, consistent with its primarily evolutionist character.

- Advance understanding among Spiritist organizations by preserving harmony and pursuing united views and purposes, in an attempt at fitting their views into the essential tenets of the Spiritist doctrine.

• Hold philosophical, scientific, literary and art events to disseminate the Spiritist thinking.

- Champion global events aimed at development and expansion of the Scientific knowledge about psychic and spiritual attributes.

Ties with CEPA tightened up over the years, firstly with CIMA initial involvement in the Venezuelan Spiritist Federation and then, in 1984, when CIMA formally joined the Confederation. Since then, CIMA has been present in both regional and global congresses, conferences and some other events. In 1990, CIMA hosted the 15th Pan-American Spiritist Congress in Caracas, as well as the 13th Pan-American Spiritist Conference, held in Maracay, in 1998. In 1993-2000, CEPA main offices moved to Venezuela, apropos the election of Mr. Jon Aizpúrua as chair for two terms in a row.

CIMA and CEPA are a perfect match as regards comprehension and interpretation of the cardinal principles of the Spiritist doctrine and also in respect of the efforts at organization and expansion of the Pan-American and global Spiritist movement.

CIMA and CEPA alike display a laic, humanist, openminded and progressive vision of the doctrine prepared and coded by Allan Kardec and the higher spiritual assistants. Besides its close ties to CEPA, CIMA has fraternal relations with all Spiritist societies and federations in the Americas and the world, engaged in the study and dissemination of Spiritism from various perspectives or trends. Notwithstanding, the ethical guidelines set by Allan Kardec should be observed indeed, particularly concerning the absence of any activity for profit or of any kind of superstitious rituals or otherwise that might fuel charlatanism and fanatism.

ACTIVITIES 

In keeping with the guidelines set forth in the Kardecist model, the sites affiliated with CIMA carry out multiple activities according to their high cultural, moral and spiritual mission. Such activities include:

• Ongoing dissemination of the Spiritist thinking by means of open-house conferences, books and booklets, press articles, radio and TV programs and web sites.
• Participation in domestic and foreign Spiritist events.
•  Analysis of the Spiritist doctrine under the study programs of systematic training courses, according to different proficiency levels.

• Practice of mediumship under stiff scientific, rational and moral criteria in order to guide and help anybody as appropriate.
• Social aid for the neediest.

SPIRITIST BOOKS

From the very beginning, CIMA founders had a crystal-clear notion of the value of Spiritist books as part of the most effective tools to disclose the fundamentals of Spiritism in their philosophical, social, scientific and moral aspects. Therefore, they rolled out an intensive campaign of distribution of Spiritist books procured from major global publishers. Also, CIMA began to release publications on its own. This is the case of the works authored and translated by Mr. David Grossvater.

To cope with the institutional growth and increasing demand of Spiritist works in Spanish-speaking countries, CIMA established in 1995 the León Denis publishing house. The works of classical and modern authors were released, with an emphasis on revision of texts, faithful translation and good-quality graphics. Altogether, 70 titles form part of the literature of CIMA Editors, including works by Allan Kardec, León Denis, Amalia Domingo Soler, Gustavo Geley, Ernesto Bozzano, Herculano Pires, Deolindo Amorim, Jaci Regis, Manuel Porteiro, Pedro A. Barboza de la Torre, Jon Aizpúrua, Wilson García and Milton Medrán Moreira, among many other Spiritist authors.