8. Responsibility with life
We all have a great responsibility regarding all living
beings on the planet, as well as the conditions of
Earth’s livability. If spiritual progression involves
passing through the less complex organisms of Nature,
and if animals are destined, one day, to be part of
humanity, we all have a duty to assist in the
fulfillment of this natural law, avoiding anything that
might contradict it.
The Book of Spirits, item 132
[...] by a remarkable law of Providence, everything is
linked, everything is solidary in Nature.
9. The question of merit
To the concept of personal merit, we must always
associate that of collective merit: evolution is
solidary. Nobody falls alone! Nobody stands up without
support! Everything that favors or retards the evolution
of others and general evolution favors or retards the
evolution of any member of the collectivity.
The Book of Spirits, item 132
[...] by contributing to the general work, he himself
advances.
The Book of Spirits, item 889
[...] if a good moral education had taught them to
practice the Law of God, they would not have fallen into
the excesses that brought about their perdition. It is
on this, above all, that the improvement of your world
depends.
10. Indulgence with others
We need to develop a more compassionate speech for those
who have "fallen”. None of us has the mental resources
to correctly judge the real responsibility of each
individual in their choices and attitudes. We do not
have an adequate understanding of the motives of the
act, its aggravating and mitigating factors. We must
always remember that in the world there is much more
ignorance than guilt.
The Gospel according to Spiritism – Ch. 10, item 13
“He who is without sin cast the first stone”, said
Jesus. This sentence makes indulgence a duty for us
others, because there is no one who does not need
indulgence for himself. It teaches us that we must not
judge others more severely than we judge ourselves, nor
condemn in others what we absolve ourselves of. Before
we impart a fault to anyone, let us see if the same
censure cannot be made against us.
11. Hopeful language
We can avoid using pessimistic language, focused on
evil, addictions and passions. The evidence that
humanity is improving morally is indisputably
established. The speech that we live in times where
vices and passions predominate, in addition to
presenting a wrong concept, spreads pessimism, which
encourages a gloomy state of mind.
The Book of Spirits, item 784
Great enough is man's perversity. Doesn't it seem that,
at least from a moral point of view, he, instead of
advancing, is going backwards?
You are wrong. Take a good look at the whole and you
will see that man is ahead of him, since he understands
what is bad better, and day by day represses abuses.
The Book of Spirits, conclusion, item IV
Since the progressive movement is indisputable, there is
no need to doubt the progress to come.
12. Social issues
There is a need to develop a proactive speech regarding
social issues. It is necessary to assume a deep contempt
for social inequalities and fictitious divisions in
society; we can and must contribute to the complete
disappearance of gender, caste, religion, ethnicity and
border prejudices. As shown by the Spiritist study,
poverty and misery are human problems and the solution
to this absurd and unacceptable social condition
involves changes in human behavior and institutions.
Posthumous Works - part II - Future of Spiritism
Spiritism is called to play an immense role on Earth. It
will reform legislation still so often contrary to
divine laws; it will rectify the errors of History.
The Book of Spirits, conclusion, item IV
When, however, he obtains the sum of enjoyments that
intellectual progress can bring him, he will find that
his happiness is not complete. He will recognize that
this is impossible, without security in social
relationships, security that only in moral progress will
he be able to find.
The Book of Spirits, conclusion, item VI
It is true that they [spirit ideas] stand up against the
abuses that are born of pride and selfishness. But, if
it is certain that these abuses are taken advantage of,
they harm the human community. The community, therefore,
will be favorable to such ideas, counting them as
serious adversaries only those interested in maintaining
those abuses.
13. Limited knowledge
In the presentation of Spiritist knowledge, it is
important to free yourself from the pretense of knowing
everything and the temptation to answer every question.
Acknowledging one's ignorance not only demonstrates
intellectual modesty but lends reliability to the
discourse. It is true that there are questions that
Spiritism cannot answer in an absolute and definitive
way. Realizing the relative inability of our present
faculties to know and understand demonstrates nobility
of character.
The Book of Mediums, item 110
We are far from considering the theory we present as
absolute and the last word. New studies will no doubt
complete it, or rectify it later.
14. The danger of boasting
We, Spiritists, need to beware of the danger of pride.
Many paths lead to God and the betterment of Humanity is
a collective process driven by different forces;
Spiritism is one more of these forces. To naively
believe that everyone will become Spiritists in the
future is to ignore the inherent diversity of human
beings, in their social, cultural and religious
experiences.
The Book of Spirits, item 982
Belief in Spiritism helps men to improve themselves
[...], but no one says that without it, it cannot be
achieved.
15. Relationship with sciences and religions
Spiritism, as a field that studies the human being as a
spiritual being, does not fight or replace the existing
sciences and religions. Thus, care must be taken when
presenting the relationship of Spiritism with these
other human movements. The Spiritist Doctrine has its
own object and method of study – the Spirit and
mediumship; thus it should be considered neither
“superior” nor “inferior” to other sciences or
religions. Rather, its goal is to present knowledge that
broadens our understanding of ourselves and our reality.
The Gospel according to Spiritism, Ch. 1 item 8
Science and Religion are the two levers of human
intelligence: one reveals the laws of the material world
and the other those of the moral world. However, these
laws having the same principle, which is God, they
cannot contradict each other.
16. The diversity of Spiritists
Naturally, Spiritism is one, with a unity of basic
principles that are clearly presented in the works of
Allan Kardec. However, it is necessary to recognize that
there is a great diversity among Spiritists. This
diversity is natural, considering the personal, social,
cultural and intellectual differences of those who study
Spiritism. Recognizing and respecting this diversity is
fundamental in the Spiritist discourse, as a way to
reduce unnecessary dissension in the movement. It is not
a question of accepting anti-doctrinal points of view,
but of understanding the different interpretations (and
practices) of the points considered to be doctrinal.
The Book of Spirits, Conclusion, item VII
Spiritism presents itself under three different aspects:
that of manifestations, that of the principles and
philosophy that flow from them, and that of the
application of these principles. Hence, three classes,
or, rather, three degrees of adepts: 1st)
those who believe in the manifestations and limit
themselves to confirming them; for these, Spiritism is
an experimental science; 2nd) those who
perceive its moral consequences; 3rd) those
who practice or strive to practice this morality.
Conclusion
Certainly the proposals presented do not exhaust the
theme. Many other important questions can be raised and
we believe that each Spiritist, with their own
experience, has contributions to offer in this regard. Furthermore,
each proposal could be developed in several directions.
We hope, however, that these ideas can serve as a
starting point for reflections by all who are in the
task of presenting and sharing the excellent Spiritist
knowledge, as well as by all who are dedicated to the
study of Spiritism.
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