Part 2 (Final)

Here we see one of the important points of the Universal Control: the mediums must be strangers and not be acquainted with each other.

Kardec claims to have received communications (letters?) of almost a thousand serious spiritist centers and, therefore, he noticed that "the principles on which this concordance is established", which, within the context, is related to the issue of the intelligent principle in animals. Let us recall that at that time the second edition of The Book of Spirits (03/18/1860) had already been published. Therefore, it seems that for "thorny" issues Kardec widened more and more his basis of consultation, even because with the opening of new spiritist centers, he could dispose of more favorable conditions to study these cases through exchanging with them.

The title of the second article of that magazine is: "Authority of the Doctrine – Universal Control of the Spirit Teachings". Let us read this text: 

As great, beautiful and fair an idea may be it is impossible that it conquers all opinions from the very beginning. The conflicts that result from it are an inevitable consequence of the movement that it operates; indeed, they are necessary to better bring out the truth, and it is good that they occur in the beginning so that the false ideas are more readily worn out. The Spiritists that elaborate some of them and who also fear for them must therefore be perfectly calm. All isolated claims will fall before the great and powerful criterion of the universal control. I will not join the opinion of one man, but the unanimous voice of the Spirits; it will not be a man that will found the Spiritist orthodoxy; it will not be, no more, a Spirit imposing to others: it will the universality of Spirits communicating throughout the Earth by God's command; this is the essential character of the Spiritist Doctrine; this is its strength, its authority. God wanted His law to set on an unshakable foundation, and that is why He did not allow it to rest on the fragile shoulders of one man. (Kardec, 1993h, pages 104-105, emphasis added). 

It is therefore clear that the question should even arise and the discussion, besides being something healthy, may avoid that we follow a path full of stones. However, what we have seen is confreres wanting to impose their opinions or finding them be the ones that should prevail, without realizing that their opinion is also individual, and therefore besides not having the force of law they can be right or not.

Let us go on. Now, we have in hands the Spiritist Magazine 1867, of which we copy parts of two articles. The first is actually a small note that mentions the newspaper Progrés Espiritualiste:

A new journal, published twice a month since April 15, in the old format of the Avenir, and announcing to be its follower. The Avenir represented ideas with which I could not agree. However, this is not a reason not to publish them, because they need to be appreciated and their value judged by the sympathy they have among the Spiritists and their concordance with the education of the generality of the Spirits. Spiritism adopting only the principles confirmed by the universal education, sanctioned by reason and logic, always walked, and always will walk hand in hand with the majority; this is what makes its strength. There is nothing to fear from divergent ideas; if they are fair, they will prevail, and will be adopted; if they are false, they will fall. (Kardec, 1999, page 191, emphasis added). 

We want to draw attention to the "will always walk with the majority" because some think that Universality means unanimity of teaching, even because this word sometimes is used in this sense; but, in our opinion, it means "most of" and not "all".

We copy Kardec’s comments in the article “Fernande – spiritist novel": 

He is astonished to see Fernande, a developed Spirit, sustaining this statement from another time: “Laura becomes a mother; God had mercy on her, and called the child to Him. Sometimes she comes to see her. She is sad because she died without being baptized, and therefore will never enjoy the divine contemplation. Thus, here is a Spirit that God calls and which is always unhappy and deprived of the contemplation of God, because it was not baptized, and this did not depend of her, and that this fault is of God Himself, who called the Spirit very early. Thus type of doctrine made so many unbelievers and if it hoped to be accepted and pass as spiritist ideas that gain roots, they are mistaken. Only the Spiritist ideas of what is rational and confirmed by the Universal Control of the Spirit Teachings will be accepted. Regarding this matter, we may say that if we submitted to one thousand spiritist centers what we have just criticized, submitting them to Spirits, nine hundred and ninety would not be accepted. 

The base of the Doctrine and what completes it is its universal education supported by logic. It obtains a universal teaching provided by different Spirits, in several and sometimes very distant places, appearing in Spiritist Centers unaware of each other. They do not suffer any pressure, and are not submitted to any pressure, from the Spirits or man, which normally happens to the individual opinion. The alliance between the Spirits’ teachings, and the contradictory teachings or ideas, is temporary and limited to a location. Individual opinions may aggregate a few people, but are not confirmed by the majority. Rejected by the majority, they have no vigor and disappear with those who represent them.

This is the result of a mathematical calculation. If, in over a thousand centers, there are 990 of them where they teach the same lesson, and ten are of the opposite faction, it is clear that the prevailing opinion will be of the 990, i.e. unanimity.  Therefore, opposite ideas add to a tenth. Not formulating a principle before it is approved by general consent we are always in agreement with the opinion of the majority. (Kardec, 1999, pages 230-231, emphasis added). 

“The majority” (and not unanimity) reinforces and supports the fact if something new is being considered, especially if it regards a Doctrinal issue.

In Genesis, in the article "Doctrine of the Fallen Angels and the Loss of Paradise" there is the following note: 

When, in the Revue Spirite, dated January 1862, I published an article on the Interpretation of the Doctrine of the Fallen Angels, I presented this theory as a simple hypothesis, based on no other authority except on a controversial opinion of my own, because I then lacked sufficient information for a peremptory statement. I presented it as a test, in order to cause the study of the matter, however, I was decided to abandon or change it, if necessary. At the moment, this theory has already gone through the universal control. Not only was it well accepted by the majority of the Spiritists, as the most rational and in agreement with the sovereign justice of God, but it was also confirmed by most of the instructions that the Spirits gave on the subject. The same was confirmed with regard to the origin of the Adamic race. (Kardec, 2007e, page 262, emphasis added). 

It is very interesting for Kardec to say, in his justification, that "not only was it well-accepted by most Spiritists", because it shows that he also values the opinion of the embodied regarding a certain issue, probably linked to the question of logic and reason. This is certainly the reason why he always published something and waited to see the reaction it would cause among the Spiritists.

Again we emphasize that "generally" is not the same as unanimity, to clarify this matter.

We believe that two other statements of Kardec [brought to us by our confrere Elio Mollo – site: Era of the Spirit (www.eradoespirito.net)], are important to our work. The first statement is in The Book of Mediums, Chapter III, item 35: 

 [...] Those who wish to know all about a science must necessarily read everything referring to the subject, or at least the most important and not be limited to a single author. One should even read the pros and cons, the criticism and the apologies, get acquainted with the different systems, so that one can judge by comparison.

Therefore, we do not defend nor criticize any work, since we do not want in any way to influence the opinion that it can cause. Bringing my stone to the construction, I become part of the ranks. I am not to be judge and part, and I do not feed the ridiculous pretension of being the only one that provides enlightenment.  The reader is to separate the good from the bad, the true from the false. (Kardec, 2007b, page 53, emphasis added). 

What Kardec says at the end of this text deserves a good reflection from all of us: “I do not feed the ridiculous pretension of being the only one that provides enlightenment”. 

His second statement is in the Rational Catalog – Works to create a Spiritist library. This must sound like Greek to many Spiritists, but, yes, Kardec did publish a book under this title. Let us see what he says in Chapter “Works against Spiritism”: 

To ban a book is a sign that we fear it. Spiritism, far from fearing the publication of any work that goes against it, or banning them, it draws attention to them, so that they can be judged by comparison. [...]. (Kardec, 2004, page 85, emphasis added). 

In these two lines, two points stand out: "It is forbidden to forbid"; "One should not criticize (negatively) any work"; "Not be limited to reading a single author"; "Read everything, in favor or against"; "We must judge by comparison" and "The reader is to separate the good from the bad." Unfortunately, none of this is followed by most Spiritists in this Brazilian land.

We believe that we must think about all this good information, since most of us are trying to impose our own ideas to others in what refers to the Universal Control of Spirit Teachings.

For us, it is quite clear that we cannot disregard the opinion of eminent scholars, we should listen to them, yes, but that does not mean that they are always right. We should only pay more attention to what they say. And that many Spiritists, without having contrary opinions of other Spirits, deny the points presented, fight certain ideas that come from some of them, contrary to what the Encoder’s guiding. 

On the other hand, when we introduce to this person a scholar of the Doctrine to justify some point that we think correct, we see a systematic denial of what he thinks, so that the person’s opinion is maintained. It is something like a backfire, because if the one who denies does not accept the opinion of a scholar, why should we then accept his opinion, if what he thinks is an individual opinion?

Unfortunately, quite a lot behave as if they own the truth. For these we copy Kardec: “The man who thinks himself perfect is very close to mistake”. (Kardec, 2007a, page 38). 

References: 

Kardec, A. Genesis. Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 2007e.

Kardec, A. Rational Catalog - works to establish a Spiritist Library. Sao Paulo: Madras: USE 2004.

Kardec, A. The Book of Spirits - first edition of April 18, 1857. London: IPECE 2004.

Kardec, A. The Book of Spirits. Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 2007a.

Kardec, A. The Book of Mediums. Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 2007b.

Kardec, A. Posthumous Works. Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 2006a.

Kardec, A. 1858. Spiritist Magazine Araras, SP: IDE 2001a.

Kardec, A. 1864. Spiritist Magazine Araras, SP: IDE, 1993h.

Kardec, A. 1866. Spiritist Magazine Araras, SP: IDE, 1993i.

Kardec, A. 1867. Spiritist Magazine Araras, SP: IDE 1999.