What is the purpose of
spiritist press?

What is the purpose of spiritist newspapers and magazines? Is it their role in defending some of the postulates spirit?

These questions have never been as timely today as when we face a difficult time where confusion and doubt prevail in different segments of the spirit; it is driven especially by a profusion of books and ideas that have been running without the care and criteria recommended by Kardec and eminent figures of encoding Spiritism.

As spiritist book is offered without restriction to the general public, is it legal for the spiritist press comment on it and indicate it if it is applicable, their possible doctrinal mistakes?

The answer is obviously yes, and this was exactly Kardec’s attitude when in examining the work of Roustaing, he highlighted the points that he considered premature.

We refer to Kardec because one of the reasons given by those defending the silent spiritist press in response to such issue is the fear of controversy, subject that the Encoder clearly stated in Spiritist Magazine, year volume 1858, page 305, when he said that there was a kind of controversy which it always turns away: one that can degenerate into the persona, adding however that there was a controversy that never back down: a serious discussion of Spiritist principles.   

Thorough reviews, scrutiny, criticism of the judicious spirit communications are known points of all of us who study the coding Kardequiana.

Wrote Encoder Spiritism:

1.                Outside the moral issued, it should only be accepted reservations with what comes from the spiritist and never without examination. (Spiritist Magazine, 1860, page 233 and 234.)

2.                Not every message of spiritual origin deserves be published by the press, because in 3600 the spiritual messages received only 300 of these would serve as advertising and only 100 (less than 3% of total) would present an undeniable merit. (Spiritist Magazine, 1863, page 153 to 155.) 

3.                Publish without examination or without correction, everything that comes from the spirits is to display little discernment. The careful examination is therefore essential before publishing anything. (Spiritist Magazine, 1859, page 316.)

Erastus’ Spirit who had a prominent role in the codification work, was – as we know – even more accurate with respect to the consideration of spiritist communications. “Better repel ten truths – he said – to admit one lie only, one false theory.” (Spiritist Magazine, 1861, page 257.) “If any medium gives reasonable cause for suspicion, we must reject his communications, because there are a snake hidden in the grass.” , this is what he proposed. He was trying to emphasize the necessity to accurately analyze all the communications. (Spiritist Magazine, 1861, pages 257 and 258.) 

On another occasion, in a letter to the Lyon spiritists, which people from there were warned about the danger of fascination, repeated the advice he had given in Paris. “It is better to repel ten truths momentarily than to admit one lie, one false theory.” (Spiritist Magazine, pages 323 and 324.)

Nowadays we observe similar confusion in our country seen to be happened in France at that time. Fact seen by Erastus a message called “The Conflict”, which claims there at that moment a recrudescence of obsessive phenomena, a result of the struggle that inevitably it must sustain new ideas. “From all sides – he said – are mediums with supposed missions, where they say being called to take in hand the banner of Spiritism and plant it on the ruins of the old world, as we came here to destroy it, we who came to build it up.” And he added: “Almost all the mediums in their beginnings are subjected to this dangerous temptation.” (Spiritist Magazine, 1863, pages 381 to 383.)   

Therefore the spiritists should be alert, not only because the incarnated enemies attack but also because the disincarnated opponents, who are even more dangerous. Fortify yourselves, therefore, clever studies and above all, the practice of love and charity and step you up in prayer. God always enlighten those who are dedicated to spreading the truth, when they are in good faith and devoid of any personal ambition”, said Erastus, who then added: “Never judge a psychic communication by name who signed it, but only for its intrinsic content.” (Spiritist Magazine, 1863, pages 383 and 386.)

In face of so judicious words, it is not comprehensive certain mediums behavior who are responsible for works fraught with errors, which attribute to a mere persecution or over ill-will the reviews and analyzes data to the published books.