We continue with the methodical study of "The Gospel According to Spiritism" by Allan Kardec, the third of the works that make up the Pentateuch Kardecian, whose first edition was published in 1864. The answers to the questions suggested for discussion was the end of the text below.
Questions
A. How should we react appropriately to the instructions of the Spirits on points of doctrine still unclear?
B. What is the only sure guarantee of the teaching of spirits?
C. What is strength of Spiritism?
D. Who were the scribes and Pharisees?
E. Why the Jews and the Samaritans were enemies?
Text for Reading
16. Experience proves that when a new principle has to be stated, it occurs spontaneously at several points simultaneously and identically, except as to the substance. (Introduction, item II)
17. In the position we are in, to receive communications about a thousand serious spiritual centers, spread along different points of the earth, we find ourselves in a position to observe that principle is established on the agreement. This observation is what has led us to this day and is one that will lead us into new fields that Spiritism has to explore. (Introduction, item II)
18. This check is a universal guarantee of future unity of Spiritism and void all contradictory theories. There is that, in future, will meet the criterion of truth. What led to the success of the doctrine expounded in "The Book of Spirits" and "The Mediums' Book" that was everywhere all received direct confirmation of the Spirits that these books contain. (Introduction, item II)
19. The principle of agreement is also a guarantee against changes that would subject the Spiritism sects proposing to seize him for their own benefit and accommodate you at ease. (Introduction, item II)
20. It follows from all this that the instructions given by the spirits about the points not yet elucidated the Doctrine does not constitute law while those instructions remain insulated, and they should not therefore be accepted only on all bookings and for clarification. (Introduction, item II)
21. Superior spirits proceed with extreme wisdom in his revelations. Do not attack the big questions of doctrine but gradually, as the intelligence proves able to understand the truths of the highest order and when circumstances reveal conducive to issuing a new idea. (Introduction, item II)
22. It will not be the opinion of a man who will ally others, but the unanimous voice of the Spirits, is not a man, neither we nor any other spirit that will found orthodoxy, nor will a spirit that will impose anyone : is the universality of the spirits that communicate across the earth, by God's command. That the essential character of the Spiritist Doctrine that his strength, his authority. (Introduction, item II)
23. The Essenes or esseus belonged to a Jewish sect founded in about 150 BC, the time of the Maccabees, and its members, inhabiting a kind of monastery, formed between themselves as moral and religious association. With mild manners and austere virtues taught to love God and neighbor, the immortality of the soul and the resurrection. The Essenes lived in celibacy, condemned slavery and war, put your goods in communion and gave themselves to agriculture. (Introduction, item III)
24. Contrary to sexy Sadducees, who denied the immortality, and the Pharisees, attached to rigid external practices, the Essenes, the kind of life they led, resembled the very first Christians. They say that Jesus belonged to this community, but it is true that he will have known her, nothing proves that if you were affiliated. (Introduction, item III)
25. Nazareth was the name given, in ancient law, Jews who were voting to keep perfect purity. The Nazarenes undertook to observe chastity, abstaining from alcohol and keep the hair. Samson, Samuel and John the Baptist were Nazarenes. The Jews gave this name to the early Christians, by allusion to Jesus of Nazareth. (Introduction, item III)
26. Portageiros were fund-low category, tasked mainly from charges of entry in cities. Its functions correspond more or less to the employees of customs. (Introduction, item III)
27. Publicans were, in ancient Rome, the gentlemen tenants of public charges, responsible for the collection of taxes and rents of all kinds, whether in Rome or in other cities of the Roman Empire. The name publican later extended to all public money that oversight of agents and subordinates. The Jews despised, abhorred because paying taxes to Rome. (NR: Levi, aka Matthew the Evangelist, was publican.) (Introduction, item III)
28. Synagogues were buildings where Jews gathered on Saturdays to make public prayers, under the leadership of the elders and scribes, or doctors of the Law These conclusions also held readings of the sacred books, followed by explanations and comments, activities in which anyone could participate. That is why Jesus without being a priest, taught in the synagogues on Saturdays. The only temple that was had in Judea has ¬ ple of Solomon built in Jerusalem, where he celebrated the great ceremonies of worship and major festivals such as Easter and the Dedication of Tabernacles. (Introduction, item III)
29. The therapists were Jewish sectarian contemporaries of Jesus, based principally in Alexandria, Egypt. Were related to the Essenes, whose principles they adopted, by applying the latter as the practice of all virtues. They were of utmost frugality in food, bachelors and voted to contemplation and solitary life. S. Jerome and other Church Fathers thought they were Christians. In fact, therapists represented the bridge between Judaism and Christianity. (Introduction, item III)
Answers to questions
A. How should we react appropriately to the instructions of the Spirits on points of doctrine still unclear?
The instructions given by the spirits about the points not yet elucidated the doctrine should not be accepted, but all bookings under the guise of enlightenment. You must have the utmost caution in giving them publicity and, if deemed fit to publish them, no matter the present but as individual opinions, more or less probable, but require confirmation. This confirmation is that they need to wait before reporting a principle as absolute truth, unless one wants to be accused of levity or unthinking credulity. (The Gospel According to Spiritism, Introduction, Item II.)
B. What is the only sure guarantee of the teaching of spirits?
The security seriously, regarding the teaching given by spirits, there is agreement among the revelations they do spontaneously, making use of many mediums strangers to each other and in various places. We refer here not to communications relevant to secondary interests, but those that relate to the principles of the doctrine. Proof experience that when a new principle must be stated, this takes place spontaneously at several points at the same time and in the same manner, but as to the substance. (Ibid., Introduction, Item II.)
C. What is strength of Spiritism?
It is the universal teaching of the Spirits. This is where lies the strength of Spiritism, and also the cause of its rapid spread. While the word of one man, even with the assistance of the press, it would take centuries to come to the knowledge of all, thousands of voices are heard simultaneously in every corner of the planet, proclaiming the same principles and transmitting them to the most ignorant, as the most learned, so that there is disadvantaged. (Ibid., Introduction, Item II.)
D. Who were the Scribes and Pharisees?
Scribes was the name given, in principle, to the Secretaries of the kings of Judah and the Jews certain quartermasters of armies. Later, it was applied particularly to doctors who taught the law of Moses and interpreted for the people. They made common cause with the Pharisees, whose principles of shared as well as the antipathy they voted to innovators.
The Pharisees were a sect of the supporters who had influential boss for Hillel, Jewish doctor born in Babylon, founder of a famous school, which taught that one should not put faith in Scripture. Its origin dates back to 180 or 200 years before Jesus. The Pharisees, at various times, were persecuted, especially under Hyrcanus - sovereign pontiff and king of the Jews - Aristobulus and Alexander, king of Syria. The latter, however, granted them honors and returned goods, so that they regained power and kept the old to the ruin of Jerusalem in the year 70 of the Christian era, a period in which they erased the name, due to the dispersion of Jews. Servis doers of the external practices of worship and ceremonies, filled with a burning zeal of proselytizing, enemies of the innovative principles of great severity affected, but, under the appearances of meticulous devotion concealed dissolute habits, pride and, above all, excessive desire for domination. They had religion more as a means to reach his ends than as an object of sincere faith. Virtue had nothing beyond the externals and ostentation, however, by one and the other, exerted great influence on the people, whose eyes went through holy creatures. They believed, or at least pretended to believe in providence, the immortality of the soul in eternal punishment and the resurrection of the dead. (Ibid., Introduction, item III.)
E. Why the Jews and the Samaritans were enemies?
After the schism of the ten tribes, Samaria constituted the capital of the breakaway kingdom of Israel. Destroyed and rebuilt several times, became, under the Romans, the head of Samaria, one of four divisions of Palestine. Herod called the Great, embellished with sumptuous monuments, and to flatter Augustus gave him the name of Augusta, in Greek Sebaste. The Samaritans were almost constantly at war with the kings of Judah Aversion deep, dating from the time of separation, perpetuated between the two peoples, who avoided all relations. The Samaritans, to become the largest division and not having to go to Jerusalem for the celebration of religious festivals, built for himself a particular temple and adopted some reforms. Admitted only the Pentateuch, containing the law of Moses, and rejected all these other books that were later attached. Their holy books were written in Hebrew characters of the highest antiquity. For Orthodox Jews, they were heretics and therefore despised, persecuted and anathematized. The antagonism of the two nations was thus founded on a single religious divergence of opinions, though the origin of the same beliefs over and over. They were Protestants of that time. (Ibid., Introduction, item III.)
