Gustavo Leopoldo
Rodrigues Daré:
“The cultural
value of
Spiritism in our
region is
quite
a new concept
to
be worked on”
Gustavo
explains in
this interview
how the end
Caminhos para o
Espiritismo
(Pathways to
Spiritism)
was born in
Ribeirão Preto,
but found
acceptance
throughout the
São Paulo region
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Gustavo Leopoldo
Rodrigues Daré
(picture)
is our week’s
interviewee. He
is an
endocrinologist
and spiritist
since birth. He
was born in
Regente Feijó (São
Paulo , Brazil),
but now lives in
Ribeirão Preto.
He was part of
the foundation
of the Medical
Spiritist
Association in
his town. Here
he talks about
the event called
Caminhos para
o Espiritismo,
which became
known in the
estate of São
Paulo.
O Consolador:
How did the idea
of an event
called
Caminhos para o
Espiritismo
came up?
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In 2006 we
started
organizing
lectures for
USE-Ribeirão
Preto (Union of
Spiritist
Societies-Ribeirão
Preto, São
Paulo, Brazil)
which were going
to be realised
in 2007. The
theme chosen for
these lectures
was “150 years
of Spiritism:
revolutionary
ideas and
attitudes”.
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We also had 17
other themes on
the board to be
chosen, why was
when I proposed
to the team of
lectures to
organise an
event where we
could get all
these lectures
in one day and
publish a book
from it. On the
19th July 2007,
I wrote my first
draft. From this
moment in time,
idea of the
event became
stronger, and
more people
joined our
proposal. We
wanted a meeting
where we could
all share ideas
and practices
from humble
spiritists who
wanted to learn
together.
O Consolador: Is
this event
linked to any
institution?
What is its main
goal?
On the 15th
February 2009 we
founded the
Association
Caminhos para o
Espiritismo
in order to
respond to the
legal
responsibilities
that any public
event demands.
The main goal of
the institution
is to publicize
the spiritist
knowledge. We
want to identify
and explore the
cultural power
Spiritism has.
This cultural
view of
Spiritism should
provide: respect
to differences,
valuing
conscious
freedom and
openness to
frank and
constructive
debate.
We want to
provide an
opportunity to
exchange ideas
and practices,
which will be
open for
respectful
dialog among
different
spiritist
opinions.
O Consolador:
Is it going to
happen every two
years? Is it
always going to
be in Ribeirão
Preto or is
there any plan
to do it in
other cities or
regions?
We have just
started with
this project.
One step should
be given at a
time. Within the
Association
meeting, we have
compromised to
work together
whilst there is
pleasure with
the work. Our
association
wants to make
the most of the
opportunities
offered each
day. At the
moment this
event is
happening every
two years.
During this
year, our group
has expanded.
Our members are
not just in
Ribeirão Preto,
but also in
Araraquara,
Matão, São
Carlos,
Pirassununga,
Batatais,
Bebedouro and
Ipuã. The group
is growing
stronger and
getting to know
each other. Some
members of our
group have
thought about
having the event
in different
cities within
the region in
order to expand
it even more.
O Consolador:
How do you
define the
speakers and
lectures?
Our members in
our internet
debate list have
the chance to
suggest themes
and names of
speakers.
O Consolador:
When will be the
next event?
We want brand
each edition
with Greek
algorisms I, II,
III, etc. On the
29th May 2010 we
will have the II
Meeting
Caminhos para o
Espiritismo,
in the same
place where the
first event
happened in
Ribeirão Preto.
We are planning
three small
events in 2009,
as a way to
prepare for
2010. These
smaller meetings
will have around
400-500 people,
and we will call
them Forums
Caminhos para o
Espiritismo.
The first will
be happening on
the 30th May at
the Faculty COC
in Ribeirão
Preto. The
second Forum
will be on the
30th August in
Araraquara, and
the third on the
14th November,
in Matão.
O Consolador:
How many people
are involved in
this project?
Where do you get
funds for it?
Funds come from
promotional
events,
sponsorships,
donations and
charged fees
from our
meetings. We
have sold food
such as ice
cream and
lasagne. We are
now negotiating
other types of
promotions. We
look for
partnerships
with companies
in order to
strengthen the
social image of
our events. We
have a debate
list with 64
members on the
internet where
we exchange
ideas and make
decisions. The
Executive
Committee is
formed with 8
Work Commissions
in which we have
33 people
working. We also
have other
colleagues who
collaborate
constantly.
O Consolador: Is
there a website
with information
about this
project?
Yes, there is.
The site is
www.caminhosparaoespiritismo.org.br.
All our events
require
subscription and
the places are
limited. If
there are places
available on the
day of the
event,
inscriptions can
be made locally.
We are
organising
ticket offices
in Araraquara,
Batatais, Matão,
Ribeirão Preto
and São Carlos.
This way,
members will be
able to buy
tickets for the
events in
person. Payments
can also be made
via bank
transfer and fax
confirmation, or
email
confirmation.
On the day of
the event, this
participant only
needs to present
the receipt of
inscription and
the proof of
payment. Anyone
who is
interested can
contact us via
the website or
via e-mail –
gustavoleopoldodare@gmail.com.
You
can contact the
Marketing
Commission at:
enalini@esquinas.com.br.
O Consolador:
Is the program
established by
the organising
committee or
through
participants’
suggestions?
The 2009-2010
project started
by a valuation
meeting for
event that
happened in
2008, on the
30th September
2008. In 2009 we
intensified the
exchange of
ideas within the
Programme
Committee. We
also expanded
the debate with
those who were
inscribed within
our internet
list. For the
2nd Meeting in
May 2010, the
Programme
Committee will
create different
sessions based
on this
exchange.
O Consolador:
Have you defined
the themes and
speakers for the
next edition?
The 2009-2010
project is
entitled “from
Today to
Tomorrow” and
will look into
the three
aspects of
Spiritism. The
first Forum will
be “Spiritist
Philosophy and
Society”, the
second
“Ethic-Moral and
Religious
Instruments in
Spiritism”, and
the third “The
Scientific
Spiritist
Aspect”. Each
Forum will have
4 parts: Problem
Definition,
Practice
Analysis,
Contemporary
Challenges’
Analysis and
Future
Practices. Each
block will have
2 lectures of 35
minutes each
followed by
20minutes of
debates. The
themes for the 3
Forums in 2009,
and the speakers
for the 1st
Forum have been
defined. For the
II Meeting in
2010, our
program is open
and will be the
recap of the
three forums.
O Consolador:
Has a book been
launched with
the content of
the last
edition?
We have given at
the 2008 event
the book
“Symposium of
the Meeting
Caminhos para o
Espiritismo:
150 years of
Spiritism:
revolutionary
ideas and
attitudes”. We
had 840
inscriptions for
the 2008 event.
We had printed
1.500 copies of
that book, and
still have some
for sale. We
were able to
introduce this
book in several
University
Libraries in
Ribeirão Preto,
São Paulo,
Curitiba, Rio de
Janeiro,
Araraquara and
Florianopolis.
We plan to
transfer this
book to an
independent
editor, but we
were not able to
do that yet.
O Consolador:
What are the
major challenges
faced with an
event of this
size?
Everything is
quite new for
us, and required
continuous
dedication.
Getting
sponsorships
could be
challenging
since potential
sponsors might
not want to
support due to
the religious
aspect of it. We
need to convince
them of the
cultural value
of Spiritism,
which trespass
religion. It’s
is hard for us
to reach non-spiritist
media but each
positive result
is a great
achievement.
Being able to
organise and
maintain an
active group is
not easy, but
the email
exchange through
internet list
has been a great
motivational
instrument. The
organisation of
the event, which
seemed to be
challenging for
us, happened
smoothly due to
decentralization
of decisions.
O Consolador:
What were the
most marking
events that
happened on the
last edition?
Some colleagues
have rejected
our idea to
share a
diversity of
existing ideas
about Spiritism
in one place.
The concept of
our association
is quite new and
has been
misinterpreted
by others. We
aim to promote
spiritist events
and want to
transform
Spiritism on an
object of
cultural debate
in our society.
We also got
positive
feedback. Some
results achieved
were the
strengthening of
our group of
friends which
lead to the
foundation of
this Association
and the
increased number
of spiritist
joining our
group in the
region. Some
spiritist have
told us, after
the 2008
meeting, more
freedom and
dedication to
the study of
Kardec has been
put in place on
their centres.
We have received
great support
from the
spiritist media
throughout
Brazil as well.
O Consolador:
Can you please
give us your
final words?
We are starting
to construct an
environment
where different
ways of thinking
and practice can
live together
freely. We have
a lot to learn
but we are sure
it is possible
to be achieved.
We want to leave
a message from
Caminhos
to everyone:
fraternity
towards the
differences and
trust the
ability each
spiritist has to
think free. We
would like to
invite everyone
to join our
work,
criticizing and
giving
suggestions.
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