How did you
become a
Spiritist?
I needed to
understand the
reason for life:
where do I come
from, why am I
here, where am I
going? I was a
Catholic and a
Presbyterian
before but I
found the
answers to my
questions in
Spiritism. I had
a Spiritist
neighbour when I
was a child. He
didn’t attend a
Spiritist Centre
regularly but
read The
Spirits’ Book.
I remember
him saying more
than once that I
wasn’t able to
understand the
greatness of the
Codification of
Allan Kardec
because of my
young age. In
2004, my wife
Alice and I
began attending
the open
meetings at the
Allan Kardec
Spiritist
Centre. I was
happy with the
way the
Teachings of
Jesus were
explained there
and I became
keen to find out
more. I began
attending the
meetings more
regularly and
that is how I
became a
Spiritist.
What impact has
the knowledge of
Spiritism had in
your life?
As I got to know
more about the
philosophical
and moral
aspects of the
Teachings I
began to
understand the
need to change
my behaviour so
I could
effectively live
like Kardec
recommended on
chapter XVII,
item 4 of
The Gospel
According to
Spiritism: “The
true Spiritist
can be
recognised by
their moral
transformation
and by the
efforts they
employ in order
to dominate
their bad
instincts.” I
must say that
that lesson has
had a great
impact on my
personal life.
What is your
assessment of
the Spiritist
Movement at
present?
I have notice
remarkable
growth in the
Spiritist
Movment since
the celebrations
of the centenary
of the birth of
Chico Xavier in
2010. Several
books about him
were published
them, there were
seminars and
conferences and
the success of
the Brazilian
film Chico
Xavier all had
an impact.
Spiritism came
to show the true
lessons that
Jesus taught and
lived and, as
such, it will
continue to
attract more
people
interested in
finding true
Christianity.
What strikes you
the most about
Spiritism?
The fact that
people who
deliver
Spiritist
lectures and
talks at all
levels remain
faithful to the
principles of
the Teachings.
Spiritism, as
Kardec defined
it, is not only
a religion: it
is philosophy,
based on science
and it has a
moral impact. In
Spiritism there
is no hierarchy,
ceremony, dogmas
or privileges.
Another
important aspect
is the fact that
it aims at
getting people
to carry out
inner reform and
become better
people. There
are no promises
of miracles of
salvation
without inner
reform.
What would you
like to say
about your
experience at
the Allan Kardec
Spiritist Centre
(CEAK)?
In the 11 years
I have been at
the Allan Kardec
I have noticed
that, on top of
the concern with
disseminating
Spiritism, there
is a priority
towards charity
work and
education.
CEAK’s founder
was an educator
by vocation and
founded a number
of organizations
dedicated to
education and
social work. But
what I will
never forget
about this place
is the
dedication of
its directors
and all
volunteers, who
do not measure
efforts to carry
out their tasks
in the best
possible way. In
many cases, they
sacrifice to
some extent
their
professional
activities and
family life for
that.
Is there
anything else
you would like
to share about
your experience
in Spiritism?
I haven’t been
in Spiritism for
long, but I must
say that since I
found the
Teachings I have
doubled my
efforts to
control my bad
inclinations.
Reading
Spiritist books
and attending
talks and
seminars I have
learned so much
and tried to
carry out an
inner reform. A
pillar of
Spiritism is the
freedom for
everyone to read
what they want,
assess what they
read and express
their opinions.
I am an avid
reader, a great
fan of the great
Brazilian writer
Humberto de
Campos, from
Maranhão state.
I read Spiritist
books regularly
and, even though
I like to get
into all issues
and subjects,
reincarnation if
my favourite
subject.
What else would
you like to
add?
I deeply regret
only having
found Spiritism
when I was
already 60 years
old. Had I found
it before, I am
certain that I
would have
avoided many of
the errors of
the past. My
work at the CEAK
book shop has
enabled me to
guide newcomers
to the most
appropriate
Spiritist
literature for
their current
needs. As we
often say in
Brazil, you get
into Spiritism
either through
love or through
pain. My final
thought on
Spiritism is a
sentence
attributed to
Léon Denis, who
said: “Spiritism
is not the
religion of the
future, but the
future of
religion.”