How long will it take for us to achieve our own regeneration?

Ricardo Orestes Forni (photo), from the Brazilian city São José do Rio Preto, lives in Tupã, in the state of São Paulo. He is a doctor and a volunteer worker at the Allan Kardec Spiritist Union. He is also a published author of several books and also one of the collaborators of the Spiritist newspaper, “O Imortal,” as well as this publication. In the following interview, he tells us how he became a Spiritist and responds to those who criticise the flaws in the Spiritist Movement. 

When was your first contact with Spiritism? 

My first contact with the theoretical aspect of Spiritism took place in 1972, when I was at the last year of university and received the book, Nosso Lar - Our Home - as a present from a nurse who worked with me. But my first practical contact with Spiritism happened in 1959, when I was a child and was seriously ill. Twice doctors had given up hope on me. After being in a coma for more than 30 days, I was assisted by a Spiritist lady, my mother’s friend, who stated categorically that I wouldn’t pass away. But she warned her that I would go through a lot of pain in my life. And that’s exactly what has happened to me, including the loss of a son in 2020. I’m now 74 years old and I look back and realise how accurate those words were. Because of those events that took place in 1959, when I was seriously ill, my family went on to fully accept Spiritism and my future involvement with the Spiritist Movement.  

There are only a few issues within the theory of Spiritism that attract some controversy among its followers. And one of them concerns the secular aspect of Spiritism. In your opinion, is Spiritism a religion? 

We must consider the etymology of the word religion. It comes from Latin – religare – which means to re-connect (or to link again) man to God. If we take that into consideration, then Spiritism is clearly a religion and one of the most comprehensive ones. And it manages to establish that connection between human beings and God without any dogmas. It introduces us to a Creator who is the expression of plain love and not a punitive and vindictive God who has on his side a group of chosen people. It’s obvious that from the perspective of ritual, ceremonies, religious hierarchy, clothings, cults and images, Spiritism fortunately is not a religion. If it wasn’t like that, we would still be here waiting for the Consoler that Jesus promised to bring us. 

What is your view of the debate about the legalisation of abortion? 

We know that many Spirits who had been previously restricted to areas of pain and suffering in the Spirit World have returned for a new chance to incarnate on the Earth. It’s possibly their last opportunity here. Those Spirits have brought with them their compromised moral values, with concepts and aspirations that go against the Laws of Love ruling the universe. As they regain a physical body, many of them opt for physical pleasures. And sex has been a major stumbling block in the history of humankind. Those Spirits have then begun using abortion as a tool to enable them to live a life of sexual freedom, as if the human laws could annul Divine Laws. Those reincarnated Spirits, who make up a significant proportion of the current population of the planet, have become outspoken advocates of the legalisation of abortion, so that they are able to fulfil their instincts. But we must understand that, as Joanna de Ângelis explained, making abortion legal within human law will never make it moral before the Laws of God.

Are you happy with the direction of the Spiritist Movement in Brazil or could it do more to help disseminate the Spiritist Teachings?

We are all imperfect Spirits and, as such, it would be incoherent on our part to demand perfection from the Spiritist Movement. I am very happy, however, with the efforts made to disseminate the Teachings, especially through the debates, talks and interviews broadcast live on the internet since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. I only regret the closure of many book clubs that have happened since. 

We are aware that our planet has already given its first steps towards the transition from a world of Trials and Tribulations to a more evolved Regeneration world. As St Augustin explained, when that happens the word love will be written on the foreheads of everyone and perfect equity will prevail in all social interactions. How long do you think it will take for that process to be completed?

To set up dates and deadlines for the arrival of the new world of Regeneration is something that, in my opinion, doesn’t make sense. After all, this new world will be constructed by each Spirit who reincarnates on the planet and who has been able to achieve their own regeneration, or their own inner reform. How long will it take for us to achieve our regeneration? Is that something we can predict? How many more reincarnations will we need before we have been able to transform ourselves in order to create a world of Regeneration? This new world will be born inside each human being. It’s not something that will come from the outside, but from inside out. Is it possible, therefore, to make predictions knowing how difficult it is for each one of us to effectively carry out our inner reform. I suggest that those who are in a hurry do all they can to become better people as quickly as possible. And please bear in mind that Jesus hasn’t abandoned our boat. He is still the captain of the boat of humanity as he was in the Sea of Galilee along with disciples, showing us the way towards a safe haven. He is fulfilling his promise that not a single sheep in his herd will be lost. We must continue to trust. And the best that we can do as we go through rough seas of the world at this stage is to spread the beautiful words that make up the body of the Spiritist Teachings.