Irresponsibility and
its fruits

 
Irresponsibility for what we talk and do is a direct consequence of the free-will, the freedom to choose, which God conceded to us and which is extended as we evolve.

Given that, irresponsibility could not propagate itself in our circle. Journalists, editors, mediums – more than any other person – should always have clear in their minds such a fact, given the impact that their work can cause in the society.

This is, therefore, the reason by which we make use of the following words which compose one of the articles published in the July’s edition of the newspaper O Imortal:

“We face difficult moments nowadays in the Brazilian Spiritist Movement, but we are the culprit of all this.

We have confused the meaning of the word tolerance. Tolerance, undoubtedly, is our duty for everyone, but never for the mistakes made by them. Pointing out a mistake, a fault, a misunderstanding is a benefit to those who are wrong, given that, warned about their mistakes, they will go up to another level of comprehension. And obviously, doing so, we must never expose anyone to neither embarrassment nor mockery, because it would be against the principle of charity, which is a precious property that cannot be ignored by any Spiritist.

Our second mistake is the irresponsibility which has led many people, not only the mediums, to despise the fundamental basis on which the Spiritist Doctrine was codified. It even looks like we forgot the lesson given by Emmanuel to Chico Xavier early in the beginning of the medium’s work so admired by the Spiritists in Brazil. It was necessary, the beloved mentor said, to compare the mediumistic writings to both Kardec’s work and Jesus’ teachings. In case of mismatch, the writings’ destination should be the litter basket, even if the author was himself.

In the main work directed to the mediums and Spiritist leaders, Kardec inserted two indispensable lessons which are still up-to-date, one firmed by Erastus and other by Saint Louis.

The first composes the item 230 of the Mediums’ Book:

‘In doubt, abstain yourself, says one of your oldest proverbs. Do not admit, thus, anything else than what is, to your eyes, clearly evident. Once one opinion of you is about to be given, even if does not seem to be doubtful, make it face the reason and the logic and deny without fear what the reason and the logic has disapproved. It is better to avoid ten truths than to admit one single falsity, one single erroneous theory. Effectively, over such a theory you will be able to construct an entire system, which would collapse with the first blow of truth, like a monument edified over quicksand, whereas, if you reject some truths today, because they are not clearly and logically demonstrated, a brutal fact or irrefutable demonstration will later affirm you about its authenticity.

‘Remember, however, oh Spiritists! That for God and for the good Spirits, there is just one impossible: injustice and iniquity. Spiritism has already sufficiently spread itself among the men and has already moralized the sincere adepts of its sacred doctrine, so that the Spirits do not see themselves embarrassed to use bad tools, imperfect mediums. Thus, if now a medium, whoever he or she is, becomes an object of legitimate suspicion by his or her behavior, habits, pride, lack of love and charity, repel, repel his or her communications, because there will be a serpent hidden among the weeds. This is the conclusion I have regarding the moral influence of the mediums (Erastus).’

The second lesson can be seen in the item 266 of the cited work:

‘By submitting all communications to a scrupulous test, by examining and analyzing the thoughts and expressions, as it is usual to do when it is all about judge a literary work, rejecting without hesitation all that sins against the logic and good-sense, all that denies the character of the Spirit which is supposedly manifesting itself, causes discouragement to the liar Spirits, which end up going away since they are convinced that will not achieve deluding others. We repeat: this is the only mean, but it is infallible because there is no malicious communication that resists to a sold criticism. Good spirits never get offended with it, since they all recommend it and because they have nothing to fear. Only bad spirits get offended and try to avoid it because they have much to lose. Just with that they show who they really are. Here is the advice that Saint Louis gave to us: Whatever is the legitimate trust inspired by  the Spirits that preside your works, there is an advice that will never be excessive to repeat and that you must have it fresh in your memory, when you are studying: that is, to weight and meditate, to submit it to the crucible of the severest reason all communications you receive; that is, not to discard asking for the necessary explanations in order to form secure opinions, every time that a topic looks suspicious, doubtful or obscure.’

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Herculano Pires, who, according to Emmanuel and Chico Xavier, was an expert in Kardec’s work, never gave up to point out the mistakes, regardless who made them, because, above everything, we have to preserve the Doctrine and not to allow anyone to use ourselves in order to denigrate it.

It is disclosed, however, in our circle, a newspaper that seems to be managed by non-spiritists, a newspaper that uses Chico Xavier’s name, not to god him, like we could imagine, but to muddy and diminish him before our eyes, while assigning to him the defense of abortion in cases of anencephaly and rape and, what is even more serious and lamentable, attributing to him the information that someone else’s Spirit can incarnate in a cadaver, reanimate it and keep living.”