Spiritists, What Are We?

Spiritists, What Are We?

by | Aug 15, 2020 | Opinion, Spiritist knowledge

The Spiritist philosophy affirms that we are, first and foremost, spiritual beings temporarily living in the physical realm with a purpose. The shared belief is that the human consciousness, or soul, continues to exist beyond the physical body. Therefore, life is defined as a continuous learning experience governed by a curriculum that calls for periods in the physical realm until such time that we have learned enough lessons to graduate to a spiritual existence.

In the fluid landscape of religious ideas, we have been asked, where do we stand? Is Spiritism (a.k.a. Christian Spiritism) a religion? 

Our present time demonstrates the amount of turmoil in the current religious landscape, as we witness the pain of social and racial divisions resounding in our consciousness. As an alternative, we offer a thought or two about the foundations of Christian Spiritism. The Covid19 public health crisis and the death of over 600.000 people worldwide is an example of a tragedy that has in many ways forced us to look a little more critically at the role of religion in social life, as well as at issues of human religiosity, and human spirituality. Almost every religious personality in America has been on television trying to serve the public a deeper understanding of God’s reasons for these events. Indeed, the transparency and overwhelming agony we witnessed live on TV reawakened people to the fragility of life and the very question of the purpose of our existence.

First of all, let us clear the throat and say what Christian Spiritism, or the Spiritist Doctrine, is not. Because it has no sacraments, defends any dogmatic precept, has organized clergy, or ritual practices, it cannot be assigned the conventional label of religion. In addition, it has no hierarchy, a chief authority, or churches in the conventional sense. The practice of baptism, marriage, and communion as ritual sacraments is not employed. Nor does it have a theology that legislates the relations between God and humankind, and is decreed as a point of faith. Besides, it doesn’t propose or offer guarantees of salvation in the hereafter. Therefore, we can safely affirm that it carries none of the elements that define a formal, organized religion. 

“There comes a time when you finally realize that no one but you is responsible for your life and your destiny. That is when your true life begins.”

Debasish Mridha

Thus, you, the reader, may be asking, what is it then? Possibly the best way of defining it is as ‘a movement that inspires the human soul on the path of Christian spirituality, i.e. the recognition of the interconnectedness of all Creation, and our relationship with the Supreme Being, having Christ as its foundation.’ Its philosophy has roots in the essential wisdom of major religions, but it endorses the stance that its principles should evolve in agreement with science.

“We will see every human being as Christ and we will help Hindus to be better Hindus, Muslims to be better Muslims, and Christians to be better Christians”

Mother Theresa

In Allan Kardec’s own words, the Spiritist Doctrine is a product of the practical knowledge and inspiration of a number of enlightened spiritual beings. Possibly, in a more mystical tradition they would be called saints, angels, or avatars. Allan Kardec recognized them for what they are, spiritual beings like ourselves, who have, however, already attained a much higher awareness of their divinity and purpose. Recognizing that earthly religions are primarily a phenomenon of human existence, they pointed to Christ, the Son of Man, as paragon of the virtues that should inspire human conduct.

 question that may still puzzle you is ‘how much Christian is Christian Spiritism’? The enlightened minds that shaped this body of ideas were very clear on one thing, we are here to work out the kinks of our souls and do so by taking Jesus as the supreme model of moral perfection. His moral teachings, as presented in the synoptic Gospels, constitute our fundamental guide of action. Allan Kardec’s The Gospel: Explained by the Spiritist Doctrine is an effort in that direction. The Old Testament and the Acts of the Apostles play only a secondary role as tools of history and interpretation. Therefore, we are Christians because we want to follow and honor the Christ in our lives.

In closing, we hope you can take a few key points with you, that Christian Spiritism is (a) a movement rather than a religion, (b) human beings are spirits (souls) temporarily in a physical body, (c) science and reason help define our perspective, (d) moral transformation is the way of spiritual evolution, (e) Jesus Christ is the north point of our journey. (f) And lastly, Christian spirituality remains an attitude, a state of mind, and a center point of our existence.

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The Incredible Book

The Incredible Book

by | Aug 1, 2020 | Allan Kardec, Opinion, Spiritist knowledge

This is a story that, not unlike many others, is set against a background of pain.  Apart from one unusual element, it’s not very different from others because, no matter where they occur or what words are used to express them, human emotions share a common tongue.

It was winter in Paris.  Night was falling quickly, and with it came a chill that cut to the bone.

Desperately a man walked the streets alone, his heart torn by the loss of the one person he had loved: his late wife.  Losing her, he’d lost the very heart of life.  How could he say goodbye to life and keep on living?

He, who had dreamed of conjugal bliss and a life blessed with the laughter of children, was now a desolate shadow upon the Earth.  In him there was darkness where there had been light.

Sleepless nights had sapped his strength, and he dragged through his days in despair. When the quality of his work started to reflect his state of mind, his employer, a hard and bitter man, threatened to relieve him of his duties.  Life lost all meaning.

“Why go on?” he asked himself.

Religion had no meaning to him. He decided to follow the same path that many others had followed before him when confronted by the death of a loved one — he would take his own life.

Paris, the city of lights, was covered in darkness, and a cold wind thrashed about him mercilessly.


Two Human Beings by Munch

As he continued walking slowly through deserted streets, he decided to stop for a moment and contemplate the river Seine.  Perhaps, he thought, the strong current could sweep him away and silence his confused thoughts in its deep, dark waters.

“Yes,” he thought, “that would be a solution.”

Mesmerized, he approached the Marie Bridge.  He could barely see it through the fog.  He was bracing himself for the leap, placing his right hand on the stone wall lining the side of the bridge, ready to jump, when he felt something fall at his feet. Surprised, he realized it was a book dampened by the evening dew.  A little confused, he picked it up and walked towards the dim light of a nearby lamppost.  As he opened the book, his eyes fell on the inscription:

“This book saved my life.  Read it carefully and make good use of it.”

It bore a man’s signature.

Though hesitant, he decided to read the book.  After all, it seemed to have saved the life of someone who, like himself, had decided to end his own life.

And so it was that he found many reasons to live and to struggle, even in the first few pages of it.  Reading further, he found that it was possible to bear life’s misfortunes with courage and resignation and find hope again, and that his pain was not without a purpose.  Avidly, he went through the volume and realized that he needed to present it as a gift to the one who had produced such a treasure.


Melancholy by Munch

It was April of 1860, when on a cold morning like so many others in the city of Paris, Professor Rivail received a carefully wrapped package at his residence. He opened it and found a book and a note with the following words:

“Gratefully, I send you this book urging you to continue your mission of enlightening humanity.  I have strong reasons to request this of you.”

The writer of the above message then narrated the story you’ve just read.

Allan Kardec opened the book and read the inscriptions on the first page:

“This book saved my life.  Read it carefully and make good use of it.”

Underneath the first signature, which read “A. Laurent,” someone had written:

“It saved my life, also.  May God bless the souls who contributed to its publication.”

It was signed:

“Joseph Perrier.”

Holding the book to his heart, Allan Kardec understood the vital importance of his mission.  In compiling and organizing the books that established the Spiritist Doctrine, he was a messenger of comfort and hope to all humanity.

The novel book that had prevented two men from ending their lives had been published on April 18, 1857 under the title The Spirits’ Book.

 

Brother X

Automatic writing by Francisco Xavier

 

 

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The SB Question on Social Engagement

The SB Question on Social Engagement

by | Jul 6, 2020 | Opinion, Spiritist knowledge

It’s hard to ignore the numbers of cases of Covid 19 spread across TV, Facebook, and seemingly everywhere. It’s hard to turn away from the reports about the virus, to ignore the stories of people dying without a loved one by their side, to be unaffected by the violence against black people, and to be indifferent to the lines of cars outside food banks. The visuals of this moment are fraught with widespread and contagious emotions that are depressing, scary, and unsettling.

Social justice and social transformation seem to be happening by the pure passion and willpower of human beings everywhere in this country. There is, in almost everyone, a burning desire to remove the injustices that have plagued society for so long. The rivers of social pain are now overflowing, and I have to say, I am inspired and encouraged by the current state of society fighting for what’s right. The pressure on those who control the levers of change is so great and widespread that change will happen. We have seen it before, and will see it many times to come, as this is the way social progress is accelerated.

Question 876 of The Spirits’ Book, discusses the answer that is setting alight the purpose behind such a profound desire for change and transformation: “In all ages and in all beliefs, human beings have sought to enforce their personal rights. An inspiring implication of the Christian doctrine is that this insistence on our own rights has become the basis for insisting on the rights of others.”

Implicit in the spirits’ answer is the notion that social changes require activism, peaceful protest, community organizing, engagement and financial support for movements such as Black Lives Matter and other social justice movements. We must insist with all resources available to us that our rights, and the rights of others, be defended. It is this form of commitment from our communities that affirms that we are the masters of our destiny, here, and in the hereafter.