The Spirit Andre Luiz noted in the work Spiritist
Ideal (Ideal Espírita) - a psychographics by
Francisco Candido Xavier and Waldo Vieira - that,
essentially, there is little change in the contemporary
world compared to the times of Jesus. An obvious sign of
this perception is the fact that the habit of lying remains
deeply rooted in the human soul, and a serious sign of
its imperfection. If we look more closely, we will see
that lying has become, nowadays, a professional activity
of many people who resort to it, in fact, to disseminate
the so-called fake news (news or statements
without basis or support in the facts). Going a little
further, we will also see that, at election time,
candidates for public office use this expedient to
exhaustion to promise what they will never fulfill or to
criticize/flog their opponents.
Therefore, systematic lying continues to dominate the
list of moral failures of human beings, who usually do
little or nothing to free themselves from them. As a
result of this reprehensible behavior, considerable
confusion and doubts are generated in the minds of the
least informed people and, depending on the situation,
chaos. In fact, we saw this very clearly in the most
intense period of the pandemic, especially with regard
to what we could and could not take.
Furthermore, a respected journalist recently considered,
quite rightly, that we live in the “age of lies”. In his
opinion, perhaps man has never lied so much in human
history. He even thinks, with some sarcasm, that given
the present reality regarding this matter: “the Middle
Ages was a moment of light”. The most amazing thing is
that there is a plethora of recent happenings and events
that back up this assertion. It is not without reason,
by the way, that the Spirit Andre Luiz stated, as
mentioned in the book The Soul Dictionary (Dicionário
da Alma) (a psychographics by Francisco Candido Xavier),
that “The lie improvises dark rays”.
We see it, by the way, being maliciously used in
important moments of the human trajectory in this orb.
The Christian movement, it must be remembered, was the
target of intense lies and falsehoods that culminated in
the death of thousands of its followers. It is also
worth remembering, in this sense, the Nazi propaganda
that defended the supremacy of the Aryan race –
preaching without any support in reason and which
culminated in the humiliating defeat of Germany in the
2nd World War. The same abominable device was used by
the Germans to justify the Jewish holocaust. Following
this line of thought, all the rhetoric of the communist
discourse of equality, social justice and equity has
always hidden monstrosities practiced by the countries
that follow such a regime.
Indeed, the annihilation of the opposition – real or
fictional – promoted by the Russian dictator Joseph
Stalin (1878-1953) to maintain himself in power cost the
lives of millions of people (although there is no
consensus among historians, it is estimated that it may
have reached 9 million, with 6 million deliberate).
Following a similar pattern, Chinese leader Mao Zedong
(1893-1976) with his cultural revolution – essentially a
program of indoctrination riddled with lies – produced
the death of between 50 to 80 million people.
Even from this angle of appreciation, it cannot be said
that the capitalist system, in which we predominantly
live under in the West, is a panacea. On the contrary.
Today, as never before, poverty and misery can be seen
everywhere. In other words, a myriad of perverse side
effects can be clearly identified associated with a
system that, paradoxically, has always preached freedom
and prosperity for its citizens. It should be noted that
Covid-19 has only exacerbated the maladjustments of this
system, increasing the gap between rich and poor, as
social statistics vehemently demonstrate.
In summary, it can be said that at the macro level we
continue to be bombarded by systematic lies that falsely
advertise a better life without any concrete basis.
People earn less and less in relative terms and real
wealth is channeled into the hands of a few. For these
reasons, we continue to await the implementation of a
world economic system based on a new social order, which
effectively sees human beings as an end, not
objects-means of exploitation. In other words, a system
based on authentic respect, solidarity, compassion and
empathy, and that treats individuals as true brothers.
Faced with such a scenario, the Messiah's recommendation
remains unshakable for us to love our neighbor as
ourselves – the pillar of any civilization that truly
accepts God and His wise laws. The moral misery in which
we currently wallow indicates that this is perhaps the
main human challenge to be overcome. Such a proposition
I believe it may sound corny to the selfish and
indifferent who only aim for the best for themselves. In
any case, while this transformation in the orb does not
take place, we will continue to witness the shameful and
infamous rhetoric they try to sell us: that we live in
a paradise...
On the other hand, the lie, as discussed above, prevails
rooted in the human psyche, spreading, sneaky and
poisonous, in the structures of institutions, in the
values worshiped by individuals and in the actions
implemented. Such a disaster still occurs basically due
to our spiritual backwardness, which reaches, in fact,
alarming levels. In this way, the ideas and arguments
invoked here are deeply contaminated by the virus of
lies of their creators. Furthermore, it is necessary to
emphasize that the lie has many facets and aspects. It
is therefore not uncommon, for example, for people to
attribute to themselves predicates and virtues that they
are very far from possessing. Meanwhile, others appeal
to it to escape responsibility for her unfortunate acts,
often dragging innocent people into their evil plots.
Whatever the appearance of the lie, let us never forget
that the heavenly Father is all-seeing, and from His
perfect justice no one escapes.
The greatest of spirituality produced serious
considerations on the subject. The Spirit Emmanuel
observes, for example, in question number 192 of the
book The Consoler (O Consolador (a psychographics
by Francisco Candido Xavier), that:
“The lie is the deceitful action that aims at the
immediate benefit of oneself, to the detriment of the
interests of others in their legitimate and sacred
aspect; and this mental attitude of the creature is one
of the most humiliating to the human personality,
delaying, in every way, the divine evolution of the
Spirit.”
In turn, the Spirit Joanna de Angelis highlights, in the
work Light of Hope (Luz da Esperança), a psychographics
by the medium Divaldo Pereira Franco, says that:
“The lie results from the moral immaturity of man and
develops with the residues of inferior passions.
A pernicious miasma, it contaminates non-adverting
creatures, sometimes managing to afflict more reserved
temperaments, depending on the terms in which it is
elaborated and the circumstances in which it presents
itself.
It becomes a cloud that, momentarily, blurs the contours
of the landscape, allowing countless evils to appear.
Sister of slander, it is the first step towards the
degradation of human behavior (my emphasis).”
The venerable spiritual entity adds that the resort to
lying is even more harmful to the author of the
unfortunate act than to his victim. After all, sooner or
later the protagonist of the ignominious act reaches the
point of having his disjointed view of events and things
and, thus, ends up getting entangled in the sick webs of
his macabre creation. That is, the liar ends up falling
into contradictions and slips that make his vision and
explanation of the facts worthless. In addition, Joanna
de Angelis alludes to the fact that “By getting used to
a negative or exaggerated observation, the liar advances
in the direction of alienation, since new mental
gymnastics are always imposed on him in order to cover
up the previous slips he allowed himself to be”.
According to the benefactress, “Memory is the organ that
first denounces”. Advanced in its clarification, she
observes that, at first, the engendered lie tends to be
heard. It is also possible that the protagonist – and
life teaches this – enjoys credibility. But the facts,
in due course, come to light and his crime is
identified. On other occasions, ponders the mentor,
circumstances or unforeseen events arise that try to
clarify the issue in an unmistakable way. In such cases
the liar is exposed naturally - as if divine action
directed the clarification.
Unfortunately, many people fail miserably in their
(futile) attempt to hide their sickly deeds against
others. The wheel of life may take a while to unmask
them, but the truth catches up with them sooner or
later. In fact, Jesus was extremely accurate in
recommending that we cultivate the truth. In this way,
having such a virtue is essential for souls who wish to
ascend in the spiritual scale. Even more, speaking the
truth in any circumstance must be a good individual's
commitment. It is better to be momentarily hit by the
meshes of lies and evil than to use the lie to hurt
anyone. Furthermore, lying is a practice that does not
conform to divine guidelines.
Joanna de Angelis recommends being open to the truth and
acting with moral firmness. It is possible that moved by
these ideals we will have to face rough problems along
the redemptive path. After all, most incarnate souls do
not want to hear the truth that they so despise.
Therefore, for the mentor, it is better for us to be
misunderstood in the use of the truth than to be seduced
“by the artifices of lying”. She also advises us not to
get used to the so-called “white lies”, that is, the
less compromising ones, since we can get used to them,
and thus “end up lying out of habit”. In her view, it is
vital that we be honest “with the good and friend of the
truth” at all times.
Finally, Joanna de Angelis suggests that we get used to
being faithful to the truth (the best possible antidote
to the lie), and she will be in front of us, opening the
way for us to walk. It is not something that is
impossible to accomplish, but, like everything that
involves the things of the Immortal Spirit, it takes
determination and persistence. As for the individual
consciously adhering to the behavior of lying, painful
educational experiences await him on the roads of the
future until he assimilates the cultivation of truth as
one of the existential imperatives.
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