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Fale Conosco
 
Interview Portuguese Spanish    
Year 3 - N° 152 – April 4, 2010
ORSON PETER CARRARA
orsonpeter@yahoo.com.br
Matão, São Paulo (Brasil)
Translation
Carolina von Scharten -carolinavonscharten@yahoo.com

Rogério Coelho: 

“Jesus was the standard-bearer for the concept of ‘empty grave”

Rogério here talks about the fear and pain of separation caused by death. He says it is possible to overcome the fear of death
and lost a dear relative

 

Rogério Coelho (picture) is well known spiritist speaker and writer. He recently launched the book E depois da morte o que acontece? (Translated: What happens after death?). This book aims to comfort the hearts that are afflicted due to the physical death of the ones they love.  

Rogério developed this book using the clarity and logic of the Spiritist Doctrine. Here he talks about his book and the concept of immortality of the soul. 

O Consolador: Why do you think it’s important to have book that approaches death? 


The objective of this book is to soften the fear of the physical death to us all and disseminate spiritist concepts that would help to comfort us in a difficult time. It also emphasises the true reality of life, trying to open our eyes as immortal spirits. 

O Consolador: How did you decide which texts to use and its sequence? 

We decided to select the texts due to something that happened in Ecuador. One of our colleagues got completely lost due to the physical death of her son during a simple procedure. She was so afflicted that during six months she could not due something other than starring at her son’s picture. We decided to send her a few articles we wrote about Death and Immortality and the result was quite positive. She was able to come out of this crisis. We then realised we could turn this into a book, since it consoled this lady and would be able to console other people as well.  

O Consolador: You have approached the concept of immortality according to the Spiritist Doctrine in your book. You seem to be concerned of offering console to the ones who lost a family member. Would you be able to share a bit more with us? 

It is such a good comfort for us to have access to the Spiritist Doctrine...  Spiritism reveals facts and testimonials from the reality of a spiritual world which proves the immortality of the soul. 

O Consolador: What is the best way for us to prepare ourselves for death? 

The practice of rectitude during the earthly life, and a clear conscience are the conditions which lead us to get ready for the physical death, according to THE SPIRITS’ BOOK; question 165.   

O Consolador: What would you say to the ones who have doubts regarding the concept of immortality? 

To the sceptics I would suggest to their pride, presumption and arrogance aside and study the spiritist concepts in a humble and unprejudiced way. Let’s remember the medical council was against the existence of micro-organisms until the microscope proved its existence. Death could be considered to be the microscope, as it reveals the immortality of the soul. There is no need for us to wait for it to start believing: we just need to get to know the Spiritist teachings that analysed spirits’ phenomena.  

Léon Denis explains in his extraordinary book Life and Destiny (Original title: Le Probleme de l'etre et de la destine - French): In the face of so much phenomena established by experimentation, in face of accumulated testimonials from all quarters, no clear-seeing intelligent mind can deny the proof of the survival of the soul, or elude the moral consequences and responsibility, which follow that fact…  

Christianity has for its point of departure phenomena similar to that, which in our day constitute the proofs in the domain of psychical research: facts revealed through the influence and actions of a spiritual country of souls. Through these facts, and only through them, do we behold a pathway opening into infinity, and hope is born in anguished hearts, and humanity is reconciled with death.  

O Consolador: Is it possible to overcome the fear of death? 

We are, in general, afraid of the unknown. Death causes great fear in many people! This is a natural feeling, and is even related to the instinct of conservation. We all have this instinct innate on us, but it is also worsened by the fact that we were ingrained in a Judaic-Christian way of viewing life that would consider death the end of everything. As soon as we understand the spiritual destination of the living beings, the fear starts to disappear.  

Allan Kardec approaches this issue in a very clear and objective way on the book “Heaven and Hell”, 1st part, chapter II: The fear of death is at once a proof of the wisdom of Providence and a consequence of the instinct of self-preservation that is common to all living creatures… The certainty of a future life gives another direction to his thoughts, another aim to his activities…. The fear of death diminishes in proportion as we obtain a clearer anticipation of the future life; it disappears entirely when that anticipation has become a certainty... The Spiritist Doctrine of life changes entirely our views of the future. The life to come is no longer a hypothesis, but a fact; the state of the soul, after death, is no longer a matter of theory, but a result of observation.’

O Consolador: What would you say to the ones who are dealing with the physical lost a dear relative? 

I would send them my solidarity, appreciation and warm regards. I would also suggest the reading of the Gospel According to Spiritism. I would highlight Chapters V and VI, where the content is quite consoling for those hearts that are in pain. It is very beneficial to pray for those who returned to the spiritual world and for those who stayed. 

O Consolador: How can we conceive the binomial immortality/reincarnation? 

We should actually consider it to be a trinomial: Immortality, Communicability of the Spirits and Reincarnation. These elements highlight the consoling aspect of the Spiritist Doctrine, as it gives us the assurance ‘God is not the God of the dead, but of the living’. It proves life continues after the physical death. 

O Consolador: What really happens after the physical death? 

We are taken to a place in the spiritual world after the physical death which will be in accordance with our spiritual progress. We will need to be faced with our work, as Jesus said according to Matthew’s Gospel: ‘For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done’ (Matthew 16:27). It is evident the support and care will be available to those who deserve it. The practice of rectitude during the earthly life, and a clear conscience will be made available to each individual in the spiritual world. 

O Consolador: How can we convince ourselves we are immortal spirits? 

We convince ourselves we are immortal spirits by the study, the rational faith, logic… Jesus was the standard-bearer for the concept of ‘empty grave’. He was the one who taught us the physical body is the one that gets destroyed; but we are immortal living beings. Why would we doubt His teachings? 

O Consolador: Can you please give us your final words?

I would like to give my warm regards to all readers and invite them to study seriously and continuously the Spiritist Doctrine. This Philosophical way of seeing life fills us with happiness, strengthens our faith and gives us the right orientation for our life. It also explains in a clear and reasonable way our origin and destiny: where we come from, what we are doing here and where we are going. It teaches us to work constantly without demanding anything in return. It teaches that without Charity there is no salvation; this is what will allow our spiritual progress.  

The Spirit of the Truth gave us the following instruction: ‘Love one another, that is the first precept; educate yourselves is the second’. Within Christianity you will find all the truths. There is no reason for us to fear death as it is just a transition to another plan of life since we will just be continuing with our spiritual evolution. I hope our book can help console the hearts of those who are in pain and miss their beloved relatives who passed away.
 

 
 


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O Consolador
 
Weekly Magazine of Spiritism