In this issue, we continue the study of the book, What is Spiritism, launched in Paris in July 1859. This study will be divided into 19 parts. The pages cited in the text and suggested for reading refer to the 20th edition published by the Brazilian Spiritist Federation (Federação Espírita Brasileira). The answers to the questions suggested for discussion can be found at the end of this text.
Questions for discussion
A. What does Spiritism teach about Demons and Satan?
B. Is it true that Moses and the Gospel of Jesus formally banned communication with the Spirits of the dead?
C. The Mosaic Law can be divided into how many parts?
Reading Text
103. For a man to be salved, it is not required that he believes in Spiritism. No, the Spirits, whoteach us, are not so little logical. They tell us: God is supremely just and good, He does not establish that man’s future is linked to conditions, which are not his will. They do not teach us that out of Spiritism there is no Salvation, but they say as Christ said: Without Charity there is no salvation. (Chapter I, Third Dialogue, page 144).
104. If Christ told the truth, Spiritism could not say anything different, and instead of stoning Him for that reason, one should welcome Him as a powerful aid, which confirms, through all the voices that come from beyond the grave, the fundamental truths of religion, fought by disbelief. (Chapter I, Third Dialogue, pages144 and145).
105. The Church is inconsequent when it calls demoniac this teaching that rests on the same authority and that proclaims the divine mission of the founder of Christianity. (Chapter I, Third Dialogue, page 145).
106. Did Christ say everything? Did He reveal everything? No, since He, himself, said: "I still have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot understand them. That is why I will speak in parables". Now, when man is prepared to understand it, Spiritism completes and explains what Christ purposely did not say at the time, or said it in an allegorical form. (Chapter I, Third Dialogue, page 145).
107. It is said that Spiritism reveals nothing new. It is a mistake: it teaches, on the contrary, much to those, who are not limited to a superficial study. If it only offered the maximum: “Without Charity there is no Salvation”, bringing men together, instead of: “Outside the Church there is no salvation”, which divides them, and that would mark a new era for Humanity. (Chapter I, Third Dialogue, page 146).
108. The world of Spirits is one of those laws that Spiritism makes us know; it teaches us the influence that this world has on the body. Let us suppose that its use was limited to this would it not be already a lot the very revelation of such power? (Chapter I, Third Dialogue, page 147).
109. Spiritism rejects materialism, which no longer has a reason to be. But that's not all: the certainty of future life, the living picture of those who preceded us show the need for the good and the unavoidable evil consequences. That is why, without being a religion with a constituted priesthood, Spiritism essentially contains religious ideas, develops them in those who have not, makes them strong in what they have doubts. (Chapter I, Third Dialogue, page 147).
110. If Spiritism is not essential to Salvation, it makes it easier for us and guides us to the path of goodness, because it magnifies and raises our thoughts and fights the abuse born in selfishness, greed and ambition. (Chapter I, Third Dialogue, page 147).
111. The best way to clarify oneself about Spiritism is to study first the theory; the facts will follow naturally and will be easily understood. Kardec’s publications were written to make this study easier. The ignorance of the fundamental principles is the cause of most of the false assessments of those, who want to judge what they do not understand, or that are based on preconceived ideas. If this reading is triggers the wish to continue, then one should read "The Book of Spirits," then "The Mediums' Book". Then, follows the various works, where the application is developed, as well as the consequences of the Doctrine, such as "The Gospel According to Spiritism", "Heaven and Hell", and so on. (Chapter I, Third Dialogue, page 149).
112. Frivolous meetings are harmful to those who are beginning, and they have a false idea of Spiritism. (Chapter II, item 5, page 153).
Answers to the proposed questions
A. What does Spiritism teach about Demons and Satan?
Spiritism does not accept demons in the ordinary sense of the word, but it accepts evil spirits, back ward and imperfect beings. However, one day they will reach perfection. As for Satan, it is a figure that embodies the evil genius, not capable of any conversion towards goodness, going completely against Spiritist teachings that consider that the spiritual development of all creatures is one of its most important principles. (What is Spiritism, Chapter I, Third Dialogue, pages 137 and 138).
B. Is it true that Moses and the Gospel of Jesus formally banned communication with the Spirits of the dead?
Moses, as we know, actually for bade consulting the dead and had serious reasons to do so, because he wanted his people to break with all the habits brought from Egypt, among which the evocation of the dead was done in an abusive manner. As for the Gospel, there is no ban on it with respect to any communications between us and the Spirits. (Ibid, Chapter I, Third Dialogue, pages 139 and1 40).
C. The Mosaic Law can be divided into how many parts?
In two parts: 1st, the Law of God, summarized in the Tables of Sinai, and 2nd, the civil or disciplinary law, appropriate to the customs of that time. (Ibid, Chapter I, Third Dialogue, page 140).
