The thought above is by Antonio Lledó Flor (photo), who is interviewed by us this week. He has a degree in Philosophy and Literature at the University of Alicante, in Spain, and has worked as an executive in the financial markets for the past 25 years. He is also a writer and public speaker and member of the “Grupo Vilhena” Spiritist Centre in Villena. He was its president for the Group’s first 12 years. He is a former secretary of the Spanish Spiritist Federation and is the current editor of the magazine, Amor Paz y Caridad. He has taken part in many radio and TV Spiritisit programmes and given talks for more than 40 years, as we find out in the following interview:

How did Spiritism come into your life?

Because of my philosophical education, the reality of human inequalities and divine justice prompted me to find out about reincarnation. And through the knowledge of reincarnation, I came to understand the Laws of Cause and Effect and Divine Justice, finding eventually Spiritism.

In which way has Spiritism changed your life?

Because of the lack of logical and coherent answers in Catholicism, I had become agnostic. And I was going through a cognitive process that was resumed to one sentence in my mind: “I don’t know how, but I know that this is the truth and there is a lot more to discover”. I began to understand then the greatness of God and his laws, the purpose of life as well as the immortality of the soul.

What could we do to help disseminate Spiritism?

Good examples are the best way of disseminating. But this is not enough in the current times. We need to “bear witness to our commitment with Spiritism” by being faithful to the basic principles of codification, respecting the different ways of disseminating the Teachings around the world and adopting the idea of homogeneity, not uniformity. That is what Kardec explained. With all due respect and without judging the work of others, we must stick only to the “Spirits’ Universal Teaching Principle,” which is to apply reason and agreement when we are faced with the challenge of clarifying disputes concerning the principles of Spiritism in the world.

How could Spiritism help decrease the number of suicides and abortions where you live?

It would be enough to help spread and disseminate to the wider society the basic principles of Spiritism, especially the immortality of the soul. That would help neutralise suicide thoughts, which do not take into account life after death, which Spiritism proves through mediumship.

Was there any experience you had in life that proved to you the immortality of the Spirit?

Many. But the personal experience is always the most important. Anyone can refer to events in their own lives or in the lives of relatives or friends who have had paranormal, spiritual or mediunimic experiences.

Why do you think Spiritism and Allan Kardec are practically ignored in France and in Europe in general?

The reason for that is in the huge influence materialism has had in Europe since the 19^th Century. It was adopted by positivist science, challenging religions and spiritual beliefs and labelling them as a thin of the past, which referred to a simpler phase of humanity. This influence is so strong that it has become the underlying principle in science and academic institutions, blocking the advancement of any research on spiritual matters. The materialist paradigm has been, however, in decline since the middle of the 20^thCentury, when the mechanicist principle (“no soul and no God”) was challenged by disciplines such as Physics and Biology.

What could be done about that?

Science is doing that for us. Many disciplines, such as Transpersonal Psychology, Genetics, Biology, Medicine and Neurology have shown unstoppable progress in research that proves that immaterial conscience represents human Spirit and is the true director of immortal human experience. Holistic principles have opened new horizons for scientific research, replacing the parts by the whole. One example of that is the studies of Carl Gustv Jung, Dr Rupert Shedrake, Schrödinger, Fritjof Capra or David Bohm, showing that everything in universe in interconnected under an implicit order that affects all living beings.

What would you tell the leaders of the world if you could speak to them about Spiritism?

Only that no one escapes their own conscience as that is where God’s law is carved, confirming that we are all immortals and will answer for what we do, good or bad.

What else would you like to add?

We are living in crucial, decisive times. The transition phase from a world of trials and tribulations into a world of regeneration is under way. This is a unique opportunity we were given to pay our debts from previous reincarnations through selfless work to help. If we don’t use the opportunity divine providence has given us when we were allowed to find Spiritism, we will have missed a unique opportunity to progress and reach our own spiritual rendition.