Vinícius Lara:

“Being young is something that passes; being intolerant
is a state of spirit”

The Spiritist researcher and public talker from the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais talks about many issues involving the Spiritist Movement, in particular the participation of young people
 

	Vinícius Lara da Costa (photo) was born in the city of Bicas, where he lives. He is a History teacher from a Spiritist family. His mother used to take him to Spiritist Centres from a very young age. He is now the president of the Spiritist Centre Morada do Caminho (www.moradadocaminho.com.br) in Bicas and   works  as  a   Directors  of  Studies   and
Mediumship at the Spiritist Centre Fe e Caridade, in the neighbouring city of Juiz de Fora. He talked to us about his works and his views on the Spiritist Movement in Brazil:

Tell us about your early days in the Spiritist Movement.

I have been a Spiritist from a very young age, but I did not fit in the Spiritist Movement very easily. I was a “difficult” child in the evangelisation classes, someone who refused to accept all the teachers said. It felt to me many of their teachings came more from the traditional religions of the past then Spiritism. I even abandoned Spiritism for a while, but aged 14 I had my first experience with mediumship and came back.

How do you think young people feel in the Spiritist Movement? Do they feel welcome? Do they get appropriate guidance?

The picture is changing, but till a very short while ago young people were strangers inside Spiritist Centres. They were treated as the “future” of the Movement, but were never given any meaningful tasks. They were allowed to study, sometimes. To give healing, if they were very good. But they could never work with mediumship. That is why many young people left after a while, attracted by Evangelical and Catholic churches that made them feel valued. Gladly, things are changing. Many Spiritists Groups have become aware of the role young people have in the Movement today, not tomorrow. They have new work plans for them, and young people have been able to adapt to work as volunteers in Spiritism.

What does it mean to you, from the point of view of young people, to be “ethical” in the phase of transition we are going through?

Being young is something that passes; being intolerant is a state of spirit. I do not believe young people have necessarily a different attitude towards life. As for the phase of transition, I believe it began when Christ came to earth, 2,000 years ago. The world has been changing fast lately. To be ethical as you go through this process that goes beyond our understanding, we need to look closer into the essence of what Our Master proposes. We should detach more and more from pointless formalities. I would say that ethics is having Christ inside of us, while moral is something created along the centuries by so many religions.

As a young man, what do you think should be changed inside Spiritist Centres, in their practices and in the way they organise their activities?

I am not a revolutionary, but I believe that a lot needs to be changed. Spiritist Centres [in Brazil] are increasingly victims of red tape and rigid regulation, with very long courses that at the end of the day fail to add much. You are supposed to stay with the same group throughout the course, but all that is lost if you move city. You need to start again. Also, many people overvalue all sorts of messages from the Spiritual World. But I understand people need time to change and to mature and that has been happening. We have new leaderships and new ideas in many Spiritist Centres in Brazil, more focused on Spiritual matters than anything else.

What is the most valuable principle of the Spiritist Teachings for the formation of young Spiritists?

Allan Kardec’s method of critical analysis. It is simply not fair to offer to the young man of the Third Millennium rigid text books. Young people will mature and learn if they are given the room to develop their own ideas and reflections, shedding light on their own path ahead.

Do young non-Spiritists often come to you to look for advice?

That happens many times. And, gladly, many of them have become Spiritists or in many cases have become volunteer workers in Spiritist Centres across the country.

Do you think our societies are in decline or moving forward?

We are going through a cycle of development of our souls. For those who believe that development is a linear process, I would say were going down. But I prefer to replace that model with a linear, spiral, cyclic model. We are going back toward the house of the father, just like the prodigal son of the Gospel of Jesus.

What is the best way of introducing the Jesus of the Spiritists for other people?

Talking less and being better people.

A final thought for the young people of today…

Persevere and mature. The whole world is God’s workshop, so be prepared to serve wherever you are called, regardless of the religious or social appearance of the service provided. It is not worth losing the tenderness for other people and there is always a bit more to be done. Whenever you, young people, get together, be the light and all the rest will be unimportant details.