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What
is Spiritism
Spiritism is the collection of
principles and laws, as revealed by the Superior Spirits,
contained in the works of Allan Kardec, which constitute
the Codification of Spiritism: The Spirits' Book, The
Mediums' Book, The Gospel According to Spiritism, Heaven
and Hell and The Genesis According to Spiritism. It
is the promised Consoler which came, at the appointed
time, to compliment and remind us of what Jesus taught,
"reestablishing all things in their true meaning",
so bringing to Humanity the true basis for spiritualisation.
It reveals new and more profound
concepts with respect to God, the Universe, Mankind,
the Spirits and the Laws which govern life. Even more,
it reveals what we are, from where we have come, to
where we shall go and the cause of our pains and sufferings.
Spiritism touches on all areas
of human knowledge, of all activities and the behavior
of Human Beings. It can and should be studied, analyzed
and put into practice in all fundamental aspects of
life, such as: science, philosophy, religion, ethics,
morality, education and social life.
Fundamental Points
- God is the supreme intelligence
and primary cause of all things. God is eternal, immutable,
unique, omnipotent, supremely just and good. The Universe
is a creation of God. - It encompasses all beings, whether
they be rational or irrational, animate or inanimate,
material or immaterial. Beyond the physical world, which
is the habitation of incarnate Spirits (Mankind), there
exists the spiritual world which is the habitation of
discarnate Spirits. All the Laws of Nature are divine
laws because God is their author. These Laws cover both
the laws of physics and the moral laws. Man is an incarnate
Spirit in a material body. The perispirit is a semi-material
body which unites the Spirit to the material body. Spirits
are the intelligent Beings of creation. They constitute
the World of the Spirits, which pre-exists and survives
everything. All Spirits are created simple and ignorant.
They gradually evolve intellectually and morally, so
passing from an inferior order to more elevated levels,
till they finally reach perfection where they will enjoy
constant happiness. All Spirits preserve their individuality,
before, during and after each incarnation. Spirits reincarnate
as many times as becomes necessary in order to achieve
their own perfection. The different corporeal existences
of the Spirit are always progressive and never regressive.
The rapidity of their progress, both intellectually
and morally, depends upon the degree of effort made
towards betterment. Spirits pertain to various orders,
according to the degree of perfection they have attained
at any one time: Pure Spirits, who have attained maximum
perfection; Good Spirits, whose desire towards goodness
predominates; Imperfect Spirits, who are characterized
by ignorance, by their desires towards evil and by their
inferior passions. The relationship of Spirits with
Man is constant and has always existed. The Good Spirits
do their best to lead us towards goodness and uphold
us during our trials, helping us to support them with
courage and resignation. Whereas the Imperfect Spirits
try to incite us towards evil. Jesus is the guide and
model for all Humanity. The Doctrine which he taught
and exemplified is the most pure expression of God's
Laws. The morality of Christ, contained in the Bible,
is the indisputable itinerary towards progress for all
mankind, and its practice is the solution for all human
problems. Man has free-will so as to act, but must respond
for the consequences of his actions. The future life
reserves penalties or compensations compatible and in
accordance with Man's behavior while incarnate, as to
whether or not God's Laws were respected. Prayer is
an act of adoration towards God. It is contained within
Natural Law, being the result of an innate sentiment
of Man, just as the idea of the existence of a Creator
is also innate in Man. Prayer helps Man to become better.
Those who pray with fervour and confidence find themselves
to be stronger against the temptations of evil, and
God sends them Good Spirits to assist them. This is
help that is never denied to those who ask with true
sincerity.
"To be born, to die, to
be reborn again and to always progress, that is the
Law."
"Unshakable faith is only
that which can face reason in all human epochs."
"Without charity there
is no salvation."
Practical Spiritism
All practical Spiritism is free
of any charge, which is within the Gospel principle
that we must
"Give for free what we
receive for free." The practice of Spiritism is
held without any exterior cult, within the Christian
principle that God should be adored in spirit and truth.
There is no ministry within Spiritism neither does it
adopt or use in its meetings or in its practices any
of the following: vestments, alcoholic beverages, incense,
tobacco, altars, banners, candles, processions, talismans,
amulets, sacraments, the making of promises and the
paying of penances, horoscopes, fortune telling with
cards or sea shells, pyramids, crystals, rituals or
any other form of exterior cult. Spiritism does not
impose its principles. It invites all those who are
interested in getting to know them to submit its teachings
to the test of reason before accepting them. Mediumship,
which permits the communication of the Spirits with
Man, is a gift which anyone can have, independently
of whatever doctrinal guidance they may choose to follow.
Spiritist Mediumship is only that which is practiced
based upon the principles of the Spiritist Doctrine
and within Christian morality. Spiritism respects all
religions, valorizes all efforts towards the practice
of goodness and recognizes that "a true person
of goodness is one who fulfils the laws of justice,
love and charity in their greatest form of purity."
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