Pedro César Lopes da Silva:

“To really evangelize, we
have to evangelize
ourselves before” 

Spiritist since 2003 and member of the Spiritist Association Terceirense, the confrere talks about many current topics 
about the Spiritist movement in Portugal 
 

O Consolador: Pedro, where were you born?

In Angra do Heroísmo on April 9, 1968.

O Consolador: When and why did you move to your current place?

I currently live in a place called Biscoitos, which is located in the North part of the island, and is very peaceful; the alarm clock here is the birds. I lived more than two decades in Angra do Heroísmo and, tired of the buzz of the city, I decided to live in the rural area.

O Consolador: What is your educational background?

High School and now, at age of 40, I decided to study Social Sciences, which I take through Distance Learning, at Open University of Portugal.

O Consolador: What other activities do you have in the Spiritist movement?

I work in the fraternal attendance, as a pass-giver, and lecturer; I belong to the group of workers of mediumistic meetings (private) and, also, teaching the Basic Course of Spiritism to all those who are getting to know the doctrine. Besides, along with my brother Julio, we are in charge of development and maintenance of the site of our Association – www.geocities.com/acandeiaqueilumina –, whose president is our sister and friend Ana Sales.

O Consolador: When and how did you have your first contact with Spiritism?

All started with an ad in the paper “Diário Insular”, published in Angra do Heroísmo, about a lecture by Divaldo here in the island. It was in 2003. The event was organized by the Spiritist Association Terceirense. I got curious and decided to attend and, up to these days, I am happy to belong to this small group of workers, who are, without the shadow of a doubt, as everybody on this planet, the visible facet of this huge team that works on behalf of God.

O Consolador: Was there any special circumstance that called your attention?

Yes. In a stage of walking in the “desert” in Catholicism, which I took part (more of a question of family traditions rather than the faith of that biased God) I was looking for some rational and logical answers to many of my questions. I found the answers in the blessed Spiritist Doctrine, which I had, from the start a wonderful sensation of deep freedom, because God, for me now, is totally comprehensible for me and everything, little by little, makes sense.   

O Consolador: What was your family’s reaction when you decided to follow the Spiritist Doctrine?
  
It was not that easy from the start, especially when it comes to my close relatives. I understand that, given the deep prejudice and ignorance towards Spiritism. But, as time went by, everything got normal.

O Consolador: From the three aspects of Spiritism – scientific, philosophical and religious –, which one is more appealing to you? 

The three aspects of the Doctrine are important, since from the philosophical part we ask where we came from, what we are and where we are going; from the scientific part we rationally ask existential questions, learning that, through our free-will, we are subjected to the law of cause and effect, which leads us to the question of moral consequences of our own acts. As for the Spiritist Association Terceirense – Divaldo Pereira Franco Group and development of workers there, we focus more on the scientific part because, always based on the books by Kardec, we try to explain, in a logical and rational way, why we suffer and how we can deal with it, in a way of softening “debts” against the divine laws, and acquiring “credits” through charity.

O Consolador: What are your favorite Spiritist authors? 

Allan Kardec, Herculano Pires and André Luiz.

O Consolador: What are the most important books for those who are starting off in Spiritism?

Without the shadow of a doubt, the books of the Spiritist compilation, starting with The Spirits’ Book. After a lot of reading the basis of Spiritism, start reading the books by André Luiz, which the first one is “Our Home”.

O Consolador: What can you make of the discussion about abortion? Is there in Portugal any specific movement against abortion?

About this question, I’ll start it backwards saying that there are several movements pro-life in Portugal, which is good because they not only give useful information but also provide help to any kind of pregnancy. As for abortion itself, and in this developing plan which our planet is located, we cannot and must not violate consciences nor interfere in the free-will of anyone, but we can and must enhance our speech focusing, more and more, the aspects of the reincarnating process, focusing on the importance of helping the children of God in our family and, besides, focusing on the importance of the perispirit which accumulates and records all our actions that, at a given time, will come calling for our good and bad deeds. It means, we should appeal to the not-yet materialized consciences stating that the body is no tours and, after all, clarify in a rational and objective way why we should never take such an action.

O Consolador: Have you had any contact with the Brazilian Spiritist movement?

For better answering this question, I’d need a good knowledge about it. What I know is through reading articles, over the internet. What worries me, and this is worldwide, is the fact that some institutions are still in a state of “church being” ; they still agree with the so-called adoration of the golden calf; adoring this or that medium, in short, all reminiscences we bring from our past and hinders our progress.

O Consolador: What is your opinion about the current state of the Spiritist movement in your island?

On April 20, 1998, Divaldo came for the first time to Terceira to deliver a lecture, invited by some friends already in touch with the books by Kardec. In a non-official way, we have just celebrated 10 years of existence on last April 20, but, officially; the Association was created on October 8, 2003.

Even though we are still young, we already have an architecture project, to be approved, for the construction of what will be the new Spiritist Association Terceirense, to be built on the same place.

O Consolador: What are the services provided in the Spiritist Center? 
Our small house follows this schedule: Tuesdays, at 18:30 we have fraternal support until 19:30. At 20h00min – Gospel and Lecture. Wednesdays, 16:30 we open so that at 16:45 we start the Gospel and The Spirits’ Book. From 17:15 to 17:45, fraternal support. Thursday, from 19:00 to 19:30 individual passes. At 20h00min mediumistic meeting (private), until 21h15min. And, on Saturdays, basic course of Spiritism from 16:00 to 17:00 and from 17:00 to 18:00, course about Fluids and Perispirit.

O Consolador: Why is the Spiritist Center called Divaldo Pereira Franco?

We are Spiritist Association Terceirense, Divaldo Pereira Franco Group, because he was the first Spiritist lecturer to come to the island, which boosted the movement, which, despite being small, is growing and, as we know, will keep growing according to the needs of the population, when their consciences start to awake for these clarifications.

O Consolador: How do you spread the Doctrine?  

We spread in our everyday lives. Little by little, through pamphlets, Spiritist journals, our site on the internet (www.geocities.com/acandeiaqueilumina), and talking, in our homes and workplaces. In a place of Catholic background, is a complex challenge. What is needed is to spread the word and wait.

O Consolador: Portugal-wise, how is the Spiritist movement going? Do you believe that the Doctrine has been well spread?

The Spiritist movement in Portugal is walking, little by little, to its unification, because this is the way to be. But still in this time, we have been a bit astray. We believe that, sometimes, it is still careless about the basis and the serious study so that we can spread the doctrine in its purity. We all will have to make an effort for the union around the same objective that is trying not to change what was compiled by Kardec. As for the Spiritist association, there is a physical distance that keeps us from the Portuguese continent, even though we can still communicate with the others. As for spreading it, we’ll keep doing the possible and what is in our reach, we already have a Spiritist TV, which is, without the shadow of a doubt, an important tool for the doctrine to go everywhere.

O Consolador: How do you see criminality and violence in our country? How can Spiritist help in this situation?

Criminality on the increase is the result of education being despised, originating, then, the young criminal that searches on the outside what he can’t find on the inside, it means, an orientation, a light to guide him to better places. It is with education, since childhood, that we are going to avoid bigger problems, given the opening of conscience that the educational process provides the incarnated individuals in this world of probations.

O Consolador:  How long do you think it will take for Earth to be promoted from his current status, world of tests and atonement, to the condition of regenerating world, according to Saint Augustin, the word love will be written in all fronts and a perfect balance will ensure relationships?

About this question, I admit my intellectual insignificance passing the answer to the Supreme Intelligence, First Cause of all things. The only certainty is that we feel it is about to come, having as symptoms collective deaths, terrorist attacks and wars in some areas of the globe. Now, the time it will take, as I said before, is up to the Creator.

O Consolador: About the problems that the earthly society is facing, what should be the top priority for Spiritism in the world?

To really evangelize, we have to evangelize ourselves before. A lot of inner repair and constant studying. We are well-prepared and with in-depth knowledge in the Doctrine, let’s unite then, not only to discuss ideas, but also accept our differences, creating an atmosphere of more humility and unity among all, because, as they say, many hands make light work!

O Consolador: Is there any question we haven’t asked and you would like to have answered?

Yes. And the question would be: if I answer on my behalf or on behalf of the Spiritist Association Terceirense? And the answer would be: on behalf of the association because, united, the little we have achieved was always because of teamwork. At last, I’d like to say that we should avoid, wherever the Doctrine might take place, to take any action that won’t help the spreading of the Spiritist Doctrine.