Sinézio Augusto
Griman:
“The Spiritist
motto ‘Love
one another and
educate
yourselves’ has
been neglected
among us”
Our fellow
Spiritist from
the Brazilian
state of Minas
Gerais talks
about his
research work
and his efforts
to try to dig
out the
history
of Spiritism. He
also talks about
the obstacles
he
has faced along
the way
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Sinézio Augusto
Friman (photo),
born in the
Brazilian city
of Juiz de Fora,
lives in Volta
Redonda, in the
state of Rio de
Janeiro. He
works there as a
volunteer for
the Spiritist
Group União,
Fraternidade e
Amor (Union,
Fraternity and
Love). He became
a Spiritist in
1971, more than
40 years ago.
Since retiring,
he has been able
to dedicate a
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great deal of
his time to
research the
history of Spiritism. That
is the main
issue discussed
in this
interview:
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When and how did
you become
interested in
the history of
Spiritism?
It began in
1985, when I
looked up for
biographical
information on
fellow
Spiritists. I
found basically
the same
information
everywhere.
People were just
copying one
another instead
of doing their
own research. In
1991 I met
Divaldo Franco
in Rio and he
encouraged me to
follow that
path. In the
beginning I had
big projects and
big dreams,
imagining I
would get a lot
of support from
fellow
Spiritists. But
gradually I
began downsize
my dreams and
now I have to
accept reality.
What was the
main lesson you
have learned
from all those
years of
research?
I can say there
are now a few
more Spiritists
concerned about
this issue, but
they are not too
many. The lack
of resources
and, frankly,
interest for
this task is
alarming. What I
have done over
the years can be
described more
as compilation
than proper
research, which
demands
persistency,
time and
financial
resources. That
is probably why
some of the best
research you get
on Spiritism is
done in academic
institutions.
But I often tell
my friends in
Spiritism that I
am not short of
time or passion.
In the
beginning,
prejudice
against
Spiritism was
the main
obstacle for its
growth? What is
the main
obstacle now for
people to
actually live
Spiritism?
My opinion in
that subject is
a bit
restricted, as I
am not really
aware of what is
going on in
other Brazilian
states. From my
experience,
however, I would
say that the
Spiritist motto
‘Love one
another and
educate
yourselves’ has
been neglected
among us. I am
not talking
about love or
fraternity, only
about the
principle of
respecting
different
opinions. I give
myself the right
of having a
particular view
of Spiritism,
but I respect
different
opinions, even
though I might
not agree with
them.
Is there
anything from
all those years
in the Spiritist
Movement that
you would like
to share with
us?
My meeting with
Divaldo Franco
enabled me to
meet a unique
person. I am not
talking here
about the famous
public speaker,
or even the
great medium. I
am talking about
the man Divaldo,
a true Spiritist
in every sense
of the word. I
remember I did
some printing
work for him a
while ago. It
was nothing
special, but he
praised me so
much and made me
feel so
important! It
was a lesson I
have never
forgotten. I
must express
here my full
gratitude for
those days of
friendship and
fraternity.
What could we
do, in the
Spiritist
Movement, to
improve the
level of our
events and
activities?
We should
disseminate
Spiritism based
on the core
works of Allan
Kardec.
Is there
anything else
you would like
to add?
The main object
of my research
are photographs
connected to
Spiritism and
its history. I
have more than
5,000 pictures,
which I have
sent to friends
in the Spiritist
Movement. I have
also focused on
the work of
Allan Kardec. My
work, “Paris in
the time of
Allan Kardec,”
is available on
DVD, free of
charge for those
who show
interest. My
email for
contact is
augustogriman@gmail.com.
