Spiritism
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Other meanings of the word: "Spiritism" is also used as a synonym, usually pejorative, for Spiritualism; uncapitalised, it is an archaic term for beliefs such as animism that involve spiritual beings,
Spiritism is defined by Spiritist Doctrine as the collection of principles and laws, considered to be revealed by Superior Spirits, contained in the works of Allan Kardec, which constitute the Codification of Spiritism: The Spirits' Book, The Mediums' Book, The Gospel According to Spiritism, Heaven and Hell and The Genesis According to Spiritism. (* It is considered by spiritists to be the promised Consoler which came, at the appointed time, to compliment and remind us of what Jesus taught, "reestablishing all things in their true meaning", so bringing to Humanity the true basis for spiritualisation.
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Spiritist beliefs
Spiritists believe new and more profound concepts with respect to God, the Universe, Mankind, the Spirits and the Laws which govern life can be obtained through spiritism. Spiritism serves to answer what we are, where we have come from, where we shall go to and the cause of our pains and sufferings.
Spiritism touches on all areas of human knowledge, of all activities and the behavior of human beings. Spiritism is applied to all aspects of life and civilization, playing a role in science, philosophy, religion, ethics, morality, education and social life.
The Spirits' Book
Allan Kardec demonstrated the Fundamental Points of Spiritism in his 1857 guide The Spiritsī Book.
- God is the supreme intelligence and primary cause of all things. God is eternal, immutable, unique, omnipotent, supremely just and good.
- The Universe is a creation of God. It encompasses all beings, whether they be rational or irrational, animate or inanimate, material or immaterial.
- Beyond the physical world, which is the habitation of incarnate Spirits (Mankind), there exists the spiritual world which is the habitation of discarnate Spirits.
- All the Laws of Nature are divine laws because God is their author. These Laws cover both the laws of physics and the moral laws.
- Man is an incarnate Spirit in a material body. The perispirit is a semi-material body which unites the Spirit to the material body.
- Spirits are the intelligent Beings of creation. They constitute the World of the Spirits, which pre-exists and survives everything.
- All Spirits are created simple and ignorant. They gradually evolve intellectually and morally, so passing from an inferior order to more elevated levels, till they finally reach perfection where they will enjoy constant happiness.
- All Spirits preserve their individuality, before, during and after each incarnation.
- Spirits reincarnate as many times as becomes necessary in order to achieve their own perfection.
- The different corporeal existences of the Spirit are always progressive and never regressive. The rapidity of their progress, both intellectually and morally, depends upon the degree of effort made towards betterment.
- Spirits pertain to various orders, according to the degree of perfection they have attained at any one time: Pure Spirits, who have attained maximum perfection; Good Spirits, whose desire towards goodness predominates; Imperfect Spirits, who are characterized by ignorance, by their desires towards evil and by their inferior passions.
- The relationship of Spirits with Man is constant and has always existed. The Good Spirits do their best to lead us towards goodness and uphold us during our trials, helping us to support them with courage and resignation. Whereas the Imperfect Spirits try to incite us towards evil.
- Jesus is the guide and model for all Humanity. The Doctrine which he taught and exemplified is the most pure expression of God's Laws.
- The morality of Christ, contained in the Bible, is the indisputable itinerary towards progress for all mankind, and its practice is the solution for all human problems.
- Man has free-will so as to act, but must respond for the consequences of his actions.
- The future life reserves penalties or compensations compatible and in accordance with Man's behavior while incarnate, as to whether or not God's Laws were respected.
- Prayer is an act of adoration towards God. It is contained within Natural Law, being the result of an innate sentiment of Man, just as the idea of the existence of a Creator is also innate in Man.
- Prayer helps Man to become better. Those who pray with fervour and confidence find themselves to be stronger against the temptations of evil, and God sends them Good Spirits to assist them. This is help that is never denied to those who ask with true sincerity.
"To be born, to die, to be reborn again and to always progress, that is the Law."
"Unshakable faith is only that which can face reason in all human epochs."
"Without charity there is no salvation."
Practising Spiritism
- All practical Spiritism is free of any charge, which is within the Gospel principle that we must "Give for free what we receive for free."
- The practice of Spiritism is held without any exterior cult, within the Christian principle that God should be adored in spirit and truth.
- There is no ministry within Spiritism neither does it adopt or use in its meetings or in its practices any of the following: vestments, alcoholic beverages, incense, tobacco, altars, banners, candles, processions, talismans, amulets, sacraments, the making of promises and the paying of penances, horoscopes, fortune telling with cards or sea shells, pyramids, crystals, rituals or any other form of exterior cult.
- Spiritism does not impose its principles. It invites all those who are interested in getting to know them to submit its teachings to the test of reason before accepting them.
- Mediumship, which permits the communication of the Spirits with Man, is a gift which anyone can have, independently of whatever doctrinal guidance they may choose to follow.
- Spiritist Mediumship is only that which is practiced based upon the principles of the Spiritist Doctrine and within Christian morality.
- Spiritism respects all religions, values all efforts towards the practice of goodness and recognizes that "a true person of goodness is one who fulfils the laws of justice, love and charity in their greatest form of purity."
References
- Allan Kardec, The Spirits' Book ISBN 0922729271
- Allan Kardec, Book on Mediums ISBN 0877283826
- Allan Kardec, The Gospel Explained by the Spiritist Doctrine ISBN 0964990768da:Spiritisme