Emerson Oliveira Cavalcante (photo) is a certified tax accountant in the city of Barra Bonita, in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. He is also a volunteer member of the Centro Espírita Cristão (Christian Spiritist Centre), where he occupies the position of counsellor of the Executive Board. He is the founder of a study and research group that focuses on the Gospel and the author of a book entitled Antigo Testamento Berço do Evangelho (Old Testament, Cradle of the Gospel). In this interview, he talks about his experience in the Spiritist Movement and his research about the Old Testament:   

How and when did you become a Spiritist?

I began by attending the talks and public meetings at the Centro Espírita Cristão in the city Barra Bonita in 1997. And then I began reading the core works of Allan Kardec. That’s when I woke up to the fact that the consoler promised by Jesus was already among us.  

What is the main priority of Spiritism? 

It’s our inner reform. I see the Spiritist Teachings as Christianity reborn, providing a safe guideline for our process of moral and spiritual development. I think Spiritism stresses the importance of individual responsibility, combined with the need to accept the fact that Jesus is our guide and model. We must have him as our permanent reference in all our acts and behaviour in the world. The process, obviously, requires that we reincarnate many times.

Where did your interest in the Old Testament come from?

It came from my mother, who used to read the Bible as she put me to bed. She used to read me the Psalms and that began to draw my attention to the Bible as a book that provided guidance, support and a connection with God. I have been reading and reflecting upon the Scriptures since the age of 10. 

How can you link the Old Testament to the New Testament and to Spiritism itself?

Jesus made that connection himself when he explained, in Luke 24:27, his methodology: “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” What Kardec does in the first chapter of The Gospel According to Spiritism is simply to reaffirm what Jesus had already established when he famously said: “I didn’t come to destroy the Law.” 

What is the most remarkable aspect of the Old Testament?

It’s the testament of faith of the Hebrew people, who may have faltered, but prevailed in the face of so many afflictions: slavery in Egypt, captivity in Babylon, subjugation to the Roman Empire and other trials and situations of collective suffering. The most important, however, is the presence of an only God, invisible but present, intervening in history through divine providence to establish Israel as the focal point from where the light of the Gospel would be spread to the whole world.  

Tell us about your book.

Antigo Testamento Berço do Evangelho, my first book, is the result of five years of research, focusing on 12 books and one DVD about Jewish traditions. It’s a book that introduces the history and the theoretical background for those who want to study and reflect upon the First Revelation, which, as Emmanuel explained, through Chico Xavier, the medium, on question 267 of O Consolador (The Consoler), is: “...the mother source of divine revelation.”

Who, in your opinion, is the main character of the Old Testament?

Moses. The Hebrew prophet, who’s still misunderstood by many because of his vigorous actions, is a remarkable example of perseverance and healthy dependence on God. He showed leadership and at the same time the will to serve, paving the way for the redemptive mission of Jesus. I dedicate chapter 3 of the book to the prophet of the Pentatheuc, a legitimate messenger from the higher spheres.  

Have you been surprised by the public’s reaction to your talks and lectures about this issue?

It’s been a mixture of surprise and strangement. I get surprised when so many people tell me that they hadn’t realised how important the Old Testament was in the context of the three revelations of God. And I find it odd that people know so little about the subject. I was aware, of course, that many Spiritists were unfamiliar with the Old Testament. And that is one point that I try to stress in my talks and lectures about the book. I explain that there isn’t much literature available in Spiritism covering that field but I stress that Kardec and those who helped him in the codification referred very often to the relevance of the message of the Old Testament. 

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would like to thank you for the opportunity to share the results of my research with your readers, in this publication. My aim is to make everyone aware of the fact that the Gospel, through Jesus, has been a constant presence in all human history. And it all began, as a universal message, in the Old Testament, which was the foundation for divine revelation. 

Interviewer’s note for those who are interested in buying the book: 

a) On Amazon - click here