Our current life has a following day

In the September 1863 issue of the Revue Spirite, Allan Kardec published an interesting article signed by sr. F. Herrenschneider, on the necessity of union between philosophy and Spiritism. In the article, the writer justifies the reason for this need.

The article offers us an analysis of the dominant thinking in the society of the time, which it is not very different from what, more than 150 years later, we have been witnessing in our world.

According to the writer, the religious spirit was lost, especially among the literate and intelligent classes, since Voltaire's sarcasm had taken away the prestige of Christianity and the progress of the sciences had made them recognize the contradictions between dogmas and natural laws. On the other hand, the development of riches and marvellous inventions, associated with unbelief and indifference, discouraged renunciation of the world, giving rise to a passion for well-being, pleasure, luxury and ambition.

Is it not precisely this picture that is presented to us in modern times? On the one hand, indifference to transcendental questions; on the other hand, the incessant search for material enjoyments.

A slight but suggestive example: with the proximity of the college entrance examination, many young people are ignorant of their vocation, personal aptitude, their willingness to become someone who can contribute to the progress of the community, and opt for the academic course that offers the most financial advantages. And this is, in many cases, the desire of their parents.

With the advent of Spiritism, the writer reminds us, the earthly society was awakened to the fact that our present life has a day to come and that our actions have consequences, whether in this or in a future existence.

Of course, the news about the continuity of life was not unknown to early Christians and even to Greek philosophers, long before Jesus came, as Plato's writings on Socrates teaches. The difference is that from the interchange with the so-called dead, it is these who come to alert us to the reality of the afterlife and the harsh consequences of the evil we do and the good that, if it may have been done, ignored or neglected.

When human society has no other purpose than material prosperity and sense pleasure, it immerses itself in selfish materialism, it renounces all efforts that do not lead to palpable advantage, it esteems only those who have possessions, and only respect the power that is imposed.

As sr. F. Herrenschneider noted, the renewal of our relations with the dead is and will continue to be a prodigious event, which it will result in the much needed regeneration of earthly society, which is or should be the goal of all who dream of a better world, more just, more solidarity and more fraternal.

And in that sense, it is good not to ignore that our current life has a following day...