WHAT IS SPIRITISM?
According to Kardec and the Spirits
Spiritism is at the same time a Science of observation and a philosophical Doctrine. As a practical Science it consists in the relationships established between us and the spirits; as a philosophy it encompasses all moral consequences derived from those very relationships.
We can define it like this: Spiritism is a Science that occupies with the nature, origin and destiny of the spirits, as well as their relationships with the corporeal world. (Allan Kardec, What is Spiritism, Preface).
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Spiritism is, no doubt, a Science of observation but, perhaps, it is even more a Science of reasoning, and reason is the only means that can make it progress and triumph over certain resistances. Such fact is only contested because it is not understood. That is why we see every day creatures that have seen nothing and believe, just because they understand whereas others saw and don’t believe because they don’t understand. Making Spiritism walk the path of reason, we make it acceptable by those who wish to know the why and how of everything, and their number is high in this century, since blind belief is no longer in our customs. Well, had we only indicated the route we would have the conscience of having contributed to the progress of this new Science, object of our constant studies. (Allan Kardec, Spiritist Magazine, August 1859, Furniture from beyond the grave).
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Spiritism is a moral Doctrine that fortifies the religious sentiments in general and applies to all religions. That feeling belongs to all and to none in particular. Hence it does not tell anybody to change it. Leave to each one the freedom to adore God at each ones taste and to observe the practices dictated by conscience, since God takes more the intention than the fact into account. Go then, each to the temple of your cult and thus prove that you are calumniated when said to have no piety. (Allan Kardec, Spiritist Magazine, January 1862, answer to the message of new year’s eve from the Spiritists of Lyon)
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Spiritism is the new Science that comes to reveal to men, through indisputable proofs, the existence and nature of the spiritual world and its relationship with the corporeal world. It shows to us no longer as a super natural thing but, on the contrary, as one of the living and restlessly acting forces of nature, like the source of an immense number of phenomena hitherto misunderstood and thus thrown to the domain of fantastic and marvelous. It is to these relationships that Christ refers to in multiple situations yielding much of his teachings remained unintelligible or falsely interpreted. Spiritism is the key with which everything is easily explained. (Allan Kardec, The Gospel According to Spiritism, Chap. I, item 5)
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Spiritism is called upon to clarify the world but requires a certain time to progress. It has existed since the beginning of creation but was known only to a few persons since in general the masses are not very much interested in meditating about Spiritual questions. Today, with the support of this pure Doctrine, there will be a new light. God, who does not wish to leave the creature in ignorance, allows that the more elevated spirits come to help, to balance the spirits of darkness that tend to loom over the world.
Human pride obscures reason and leads it to make many mistakes. Kind and simple spirits are needed to communicate the light and mitigate all evils. Courage! Do carry on with this task that pleases God, because it is useful to His greatest glory and great benefits shall result from that for the salvation of the souls. (Spiritist Magazine, April 1860)