8. Responsibility with life

We all have a great responsibility regarding all living beings on the planet, as well as the conditions of Earth’s livability. If spiritual progression involves passing through the less complex organisms of Nature, and if animals are destined, one day, to be part of humanity, we all have a duty to assist in the fulfillment of this natural law, avoiding anything that might contradict it.

The Book of Spirits, item 132

[...] by a remarkable law of Providence, everything is linked, everything is solidary in Nature.

9. The question of merit

To the concept of personal merit, we must always associate that of collective merit: evolution is solidary. Nobody falls alone! Nobody stands up without support! Everything that favors or retards the evolution of others and general evolution favors or retards the evolution of any member of the collectivity.

The Book of Spirits, item 132

[...] by contributing to the general work, he himself advances.

The Book of Spirits, item 889

[...] if a good moral education had taught them to practice the Law of God, they would not have fallen into the excesses that brought about their perdition. It is on this, above all, that the improvement of your world depends.

10. Indulgence with others

We need to develop a more compassionate speech for those who have "fallen”. None of us has the mental resources to correctly judge the real responsibility of each individual in their choices and attitudes. We do not have an adequate understanding of the motives of the act, its aggravating and mitigating factors. We must always remember that in the world there is much more ignorance than guilt.

The Gospel according to Spiritism – Ch. 10, item 13

“He who is without sin cast the first stone”, said Jesus. This sentence makes indulgence a duty for us others, because there is no one who does not need indulgence for himself. It teaches us that we must not judge others more severely than we judge ourselves, nor condemn in others what we absolve ourselves of. Before we impart a fault to anyone, let us see if the same censure cannot be made against us.

11. Hopeful language

We can avoid using pessimistic language, focused on evil, addictions and passions. The evidence that humanity is improving morally is indisputably established. The speech that we live in times where vices and passions predominate, in addition to presenting a wrong concept, spreads pessimism, which encourages a gloomy state of mind.

The Book of Spirits, item 784

Great enough is man's perversity. Doesn't it seem that, at least from a moral point of view, he, instead of advancing, is going backwards?

You are wrong. Take a good look at the whole and you will see that man is ahead of him, since he understands what is bad better, and day by day represses abuses.

The Book of Spirits, conclusion, item IV

Since the progressive movement is indisputable, there is no need to doubt the progress to come.

12. Social issues

There is a need to develop a proactive speech regarding social issues. It is necessary to assume a deep contempt for social inequalities and fictitious divisions in society; we can and must contribute to the complete disappearance of gender, caste, religion, ethnicity and border prejudices. As shown by the Spiritist study, poverty and misery are human problems and the solution to this absurd and unacceptable social condition involves changes in human behavior and institutions.

Posthumous Works - part II - Future of Spiritism

Spiritism is called to play an immense role on Earth. It will reform legislation still so often contrary to divine laws; it will rectify the errors of History.

The Book of Spirits, conclusion, item IV

When, however, he obtains the sum of enjoyments that intellectual progress can bring him, he will find that his happiness is not complete. He will recognize that this is impossible, without security in social relationships, security that only in moral progress will he be able to find.

The Book of Spirits, conclusion, item VI

It is true that they [spirit ideas] stand up against the abuses that are born of pride and selfishness. But, if it is certain that these abuses are taken advantage of, they harm the human community. The community, therefore, will be favorable to such ideas, counting them as serious adversaries only those interested in maintaining those abuses.

13. Limited knowledge

In the presentation of Spiritist knowledge, it is important to free yourself from the pretense of knowing everything and the temptation to answer every question. Acknowledging one's ignorance not only demonstrates intellectual modesty but lends reliability to the discourse. It is true that there are questions that Spiritism cannot answer in an absolute and definitive way. Realizing the relative inability of our present faculties to know and understand demonstrates nobility of character.

The Book of Mediums, item 110

We are far from considering the theory we present as absolute and the last word. New studies will no doubt complete it, or rectify it later.

14. The danger of boasting

We, Spiritists, need to beware of the danger of pride. Many paths lead to God and the betterment of Humanity is a collective process driven by different forces; Spiritism is one more of these forces. To naively believe that everyone will become Spiritists in the future is to ignore the inherent diversity of human beings, in their social, cultural and religious experiences.

The Book of Spirits, item 982

Belief in Spiritism helps men to improve themselves [...], but no one says that without it, it cannot be achieved.

15. Relationship with sciences and religions

Spiritism, as a field that studies the human being as a spiritual being, does not fight or replace the existing sciences and religions. Thus, care must be taken when presenting the relationship of Spiritism with these other human movements. The Spiritist Doctrine has its own object and method of study – the Spirit and mediumship; thus it should be considered neither “superior” nor “inferior” to other sciences or religions. Rather, its goal is to present knowledge that broadens our understanding of ourselves and our reality.

The Gospel according to Spiritism, Ch. 1 item 8

Science and Religion are the two levers of human intelligence: one reveals the laws of the material world and the other those of the moral world. However, these laws having the same principle, which is God, they cannot contradict each other.

16. The diversity of Spiritists

Naturally, Spiritism is one, with a unity of basic principles that are clearly presented in the works of Allan Kardec. However, it is necessary to recognize that there is a great diversity among Spiritists. This diversity is natural, considering the personal, social, cultural and intellectual differences of those who study Spiritism. Recognizing and respecting this diversity is fundamental in the Spiritist discourse, as a way to reduce unnecessary dissension in the movement. It is not a question of accepting anti-doctrinal points of view, but of understanding the different interpretations (and practices) of the points considered to be doctrinal.

The Book of Spirits, Conclusion, item VII

Spiritism presents itself under three different aspects: that of manifestations, that of the principles and philosophy that flow from them, and that of the application of these principles. Hence, three classes, or, rather, three degrees of adepts: 1^st) those who believe in the manifestations and limit themselves to confirming them; for these, Spiritism is an experimental science; 2^nd) those who perceive its moral consequences; 3^rd) those who practice or strive to practice this morality.

Conclusion

Certainly the proposals presented do not exhaust the theme. Many other important questions can be raised and we believe that each Spiritist, with their own experience, has contributions to offer in this regard. Furthermore, each proposal could be developed in several directions.

We hope, however, that these ideas can serve as a starting point for reflections by all who are in the task of presenting and sharing the excellent Spiritist knowledge, as well as by all who are dedicated to the study of Spiritism.