In this issue, we continue the study of the book, Spiritism in its simplest expression, published in 1862 by Allan Kardec. The present work is based on the translation into Portuguese made by Salvador Gentile. 

Preliminary issues 

A. Why do men show, instinctively, special aptitudes and good or bad inclinations that seem innate in them?

The reason is easy to understand: this is the baggage that, when reincarnating, the Spirits bring from their previous lives. Skills and inclinations are the fruit of what they have done and of what they have acquired in the past. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Summary of the Teachings of the Spirits). 

B. How to understand the evil natural tendencies that man shows in a new life?

These evil natural tendencies are the remnants of the imperfections of the Spirit, and of which he is not entirely deprived. They are also the signs of the faults he committed, and the true original sin. In every life, he must wash himself of some impurities.  (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Summary of the Teachings of the Spirits). 

C. Is it then to reincarnation that we should attribute the diversity of the innate, moral, and intellectual skills we know so well in the world we live in?

Of course. The diversity of innate, moral, and intellectual abilities is proof that the soul has lived previously, because if it had been created at the same time as the present body, there would be no reason for souls to exist in the world more advanced than others. Why are there savage and civilized men in the world, good and bad, foolish and lively? Saying that some have lived more than others, and have acquired more in knowledge and morality, everything is explained. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Summary of the Teachings of the Spirits).

Text for reading 

112. The Spirits, in incarnating, bring with them what they have acquired in their previous lives; this is the reason why men instinctively show special aptitudes, good or bad inclinations that seem innate in them. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Summary of the Teachings of the Spirits).

113. The bad natural tendencies are the remnants of the imperfections of the Spirit, and of which he is not entirely deprived; they are also the signs of the faults he committed, and the true original sin. In each life, it must wash itself of some impurities. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Summary of the Teachings of the Spirits).

114. God, in His goodness, wanted to spare man the most often painful memories, and so, as a benefit, He made man forget his previous lives. With each new life, man is what he made of himself; it is for him a new starting point, he knows his current faults; he knows that these faults are the consequences of those he had before; from it he deduces the evil that he has been able to commit, and this is enough for him to work in order to correct himself. If he had faults that he no longer has, he has nothing to worry about; he has many imperfections presently. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Summary of the Teachings of the Spirits).

115. If the soul did not live before, it would be because it had been created at the same time as the body; considering this, it can have no relation to those that preceded it. Therefore, we ask how could God, who is sovereignly just and good, may have made him responsible for the fault of the father of mankind, staining him with an original sin which he did not commit. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Summary of the Teachings of the Spirits).

116. In saying, on the contrary, that it brings, in rebirth, the germ of the imperfections of its previous lives; that it suffers in its present life the consequences of its past faults, then the original sin is given a logical explanation, which each can understand and admit, because the soul is not responsible only for its works. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Summary of the Teachings of the Spirits).

117. The diversity of innate, moral and intellectual abilities is the proof that the soul has already lived; if it had been created at the same time as the present body, it would not be according to the will of God to make some more advanced than the others. Why are there the savages and civilized men, the good and the bad, the fools and the people of spirit? By saying that some have lived longer than the others, and have improved more, explains everything. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Summary of the Teachings of the Spirits).

118. If the present life was unique and only it should decide the future of the soul for eternity, what would be the fate of the children who die at a young age? Having done neither good nor evil, they deserve neither rewards nor punishments. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Summary of the Teachings of the Spirits).

119. According to the parable of the Christ, each one being rewarded according to his works, has no right to the perfect happiness of the angels, nor does he deserve to be deprived of it. Tell them that they may, in another life, fulfill what they have not done in that which has been abbreviated, and there will be no more exception. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Summary of the Teachings of the Spirits).

120. For the same reason, what would be the fate of the fools and the idiots? Having no consciousness of good and evil, they have no responsibility for their actions. Would God be just and good, when He created stupid souls to devote them a miserable life and without compensation? (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Summary of the Teachings of the Spirits).

121. Accept, on the contrary, that the soul of the cretin and the idiot is a Spirit being punished in a body unfit for his thought, where he is like a man entangled in bonds, and you will have nothing that is not in conformity with the justice of God. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Summary of the Teachings of the Spirits).

122. In successive incarnations, as the Spirit is gradually stripped of its impurities and made perfect by labor, it reaches the end of its bodily life; it belongs then to the order of the pure Spirits or the angels, and enjoys, at the same time, the full life of God and happiness without blemish for eternity. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Summary of the Teachings of the Spirits).

123. When men are atoned for on Earth, God, a good Father, does not leave them to themselves, without guides. First they have their protective Spirits or guardian angels that watch over them and strive to lead them on the right path; they also have Spirits on mission on Earth, Higher Spirits incarnated from time to time among them, to clear the way for their works and to make Humanity advance. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Summary of the Teachings of the Spirits).

124. Though God had recorded his law in the conscience, he believed it ought to be formulated explicitly; first He sent them Moses; but the Laws of Moses were appropriate to the men of his time, and so he spoke to them only of earthly life, of penalties and temporary rewards. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Summary of the Teachings of the Spirits).

125. Christ then came to complete the Law of Moses by a higher teaching: the plurality of lives, the spiritual life, the penalties, and the moral rewards. Moses led them through fear, the Christ through Love and Charity. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Summary of the Teachings of the Spirits).

126. Spiritism, better understood today, adds to the unbelievers the evidence of theory; it proves the future by patent facts; it says, in clear and unequivocal terms, what Christ said in parables; it explains the truths unknown or falsely interpreted; it reveals the existence of the invisible world, or Spirits, and initiates man into the mysteries of the future life; it fights materialism, which is an insurrection against the power of God; finally, it establishes, among men, the Kingdom of Charity and Solidarity announced by Christ. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Summary of the Teachings of the Spirits).

127. Moses plowed, Christ sowed, and Spiritism comes to reap. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Summary of the Teachings of the Spirits).

128. Spiritism is not a new light, but a brighter light, because it comes from all parts of the world, by the voice of those who have lived. Making clear what was obscure, puts an end to erroneous interpretations, and must gather men in the same belief, because there is but one God, and His laws are for all; in short, it marks the era of times predicted by Christ and the prophets. (Spiritism in its simplest expression – Summary of the Teachings of the Spirits). (To be continued on the next issue).