Almir Del Prette:

"The time has come to bring out the lamp"

The well known Spiritist writer and speaker talks about his work
in the Spiritist Movement and says we need to make
bigger efforts to disseminate the Teachings

	Almir Del Prette (photo) found Spiritism in his hometown of Lins, in Brazil's Sao Paulo state, during his youth. He has taken a number of tasks in the Spiritist Movement, teaching and helping organise events. In 1995 he settled down in the city of Sao Carlos -- also in Sao Paulo state -- where he finished his academic formation along-
side his wife, Zilda, with whom he has written many books and scientific articles in the field of Psychology. Almil Del Prette is a Psychologist and university lecturer.

Tell us a bit more about you, to begin with. 

I was born in Lins in 1938. My mother was a Catholic and my father described himself as esoteric. I am not sure why, but they put me in an Adventist school, which ended up having a positive effect as the experience reinforced the atmosphere of religious tolerance my family had. I moved to the south of Brazil and met my wife, Zilda, in the city of Londrina. I was 38 when I got married. We have two children, Lucas and Giovana. When I was 18 my mother got very ill and discarnated shortly after. I then went through a big crisis and became agnostic and, eventually, a Marxist. I also got ill and went to hospital for two years. While in hospital, I joined an underground movement that studied Marxism. But one of its members was also a Spiritist, and introduced me to the Teachings. We studied Spiritism in a second underground group, which had its appeal. We met at a room next to the morgue -- the only space available -- and used to joke and say it was the proper gathering place for a Spiritist meeting. At the third meeting there, I found out that the Spiritists of Lins were organising an event, a local gathering. I wasn't well but decided to go. And that was an unforgettable moment in my life. That is when a group of Spiritists explained to me the story of Andre Luiz, his development in the Spiritual World. I was discharged from hospital a few weeks later and began to improve, and got engaged in the city's Spiritist Movement. That was the beginning of years of work in many Brazilian cities. I am now a member of the Obreiros do Bem Spiritist Centre in Sao Carlos but I give talks at several other groups in the city. 

What is your assessment of the Spiritist Movement in Sao Carlos, in Brazil in general and the rest of the world? 

In Sao Carlos, my assessment is very positive. The city has 250,000 inhabitants and has two big, important universities. Many students are here for a few years and then return back home. Many of them receive important guidance and preparation here before they go back and join the Spiritist Movement where they come from. As for the rest of the country, it is difficult to make a proper assessment. I believe, however, that changes in the media and globalisation, with more people movement, has improved the possibilities of disseminating the Teachings. I believe the time has come to bring out the lamp. In Europe, I have noticed a general discontentment with religion, which has led to the current atheist movement. Churches are more of a tourist attraction than temples in many places, but I think the religions are to blame for the lack of interest. I noticed that in universities many students say they are atheists but they have an interest in gathering more knowledge, they have an interest in the issue of religion. 

What are the main flaws you see in the Spiritist Movement and what do you think needs to be corrected? 

Again, I do not think I am the most qualified person to answer. What I can say is that Allan Kardec believed that the goal of Spiritism was mainly to tackle selfishness and materialism. Taken into account the current scene of disillusion with religiosity, Spiritist should highlight the differences between its core principles and traditional theology. After all, the Bible's God justifies the growth of materialism and atheism. There is another important point regarding atheism and materialism. Most of those who say they are atheists say they do not want to live under the illusion of something else, but they refuse to accept a "minor god". And we must agree with them there. Humankind, in its infancy, made the wrong question: "Who is God?" Kardec asked in The Spirits' Book: "What is God?" But as bad as or even worse than scientific materialism is religious materialism, which is everywhere. It undermines good intentions, subverts the truth and undermines humankind's progress efforts. Most of us who are linked to spiritual matters have helped shape this "minor god" and put into people's minds this false representation of divinity. It is up to us, therefore, to restore the truth. And we must begin by change ourselves.  

Anything else you would like to add? 

I would like to thank you for this opportunity and thank the readers for their patience. I must also thank all the Spiritual Benefactors who assist us in our Spiritual renovation.
 

Note:

Almir and Zilda Del Prette's books and articles are available at www.rihs.ufscar.br. His email is adprette@ufscar.br.