Mr. Franco is
Doctor Honorius
Causa in
Humanity and
also in
Parapsychology
by American and
Canadian
Universities.
Through his
extraordinary Mediumship, Mr.
Franco has
published almost
200 books and 70
of them have
already been
translated in 16
languages. Here
you will be able
to find the
interview he
gave us right
there:
– In the year
2010, we are
commemorating
the Centenary of
Chico Xavier*.
There are many
spiritist
projects being
launched, such
as soap operas,
movies and
cartoons that
are discussing
Spiritism. How
do you see this
for the
spiritists? Do
you believe
these events
will bring new
joiners to the
Spiritist
Doctrine?
It is clear the
mass
dissemination of
the Spiritist
Doctrine has an
extraordinary
meaning; as long
as it goes in
accordance with
the basic books
of Allan
Kardec's
codification
(The Spirits'
Book, The
Mediums' Book,
The Gospel
According to
Spiritism,
Heaven and Hell,
and The Genesis
According to
Spiritism). This
will allow
others to get to
know the
doctrine’s
logical base,
supported by
reasoning.
Chico Xavier was
not just a
symbol of what
the true
spiritist is,
but also a role
model to be
followed by any
individual who
aspire to do
good and to
construct a
better society.
Every homage
paid by us only
represents a
minimum if we
compare to
everything he
did during his
noble existence.
With media’s
support, a lot
of people will
become
interested in
Spiritism and
look for more
information at
the spiritist
centres.
- How do you see
the level of
criminality and
violence which
appears to
increase
everywhere? Do
you believe this
has to do with
the
transformation
of the world
from being a
world of tests
and atonements;
to becoming a
world of
regeneration?
Yes, I believe
so. This
question has
historical,
sociological,
religious
behaviour and
educational
roots. During
many centuries,
the religious
castration and
social hypocrisy
limited the
behaviour of
children and
adults; of
citizenships in
general. The
following
punishments were
imposed to as a
way create the
‘ideal society’:
threats of an
eternal
punishment, the
need to follow
false
behaviours,
severe
judgements,
inappropriate
domestic
demands, etc.
The 1960s and
1970s were
marked by a
sociological
revolution in
which young
people began to
revolt against
the conservative
norms of the
time, as well as
remove
themselves from
mainstream
liberalism, in
particular the
high level of
materialism
which was so
common during
the era. The
1960s have
become
synonymous with
all the new,
exciting,
radical, and
subversive
events and
trends of the
period, which
continued to
develop in the
1970s, 1980s,
1990s and
beyond.
The
counterculture
movement
dominated the
second half of
the 1960s, its
most famous
moments being
the Summer of
Love in San
Francisco in
1967, and the
Woodstock
Festival in
upstate New York
in 1969.
Psychedelic
drugs,
especially LSD,
were widely used
medicinally,
spiritually and
recreationally
throughout the
late 1960s, and
were popularized
by Timothy Leary
with his slogan
"Turn on, tune
in, drop out".
The concepts of
family and
marriage were
being considered
overcome by the
society in
general. Rampant
recreational
drug use and
casual sex has
become
inextricably
associated with
the
counterculture
of the era.
Law and order
were rejected
within this
period, leading
a nation to
become troubled
with the effects
of these
behaviours. The
young generation
started to adopt
oriental
doctrines, which
were in favour
of meditation,
trips to
nowhere,
psychological
escape from
duties…. Soon
later, delusion
and suffering
took place. John
Lennon in
December 1971
released "Happy
Xmas (War Is
Over)" which
declared: "WAR
IS OVER! if you
want it".
Although the
song is a
protest song
about the
Vietnam War, it
was also a
reflection of
the present
times.
The moral
wounds, drugs,
erotism,
addiction to
pleasure,
depression,
anxiety,
loneliness and
violence were
left from this
time. On the
other hand, the
traditional
family gave
space for a
modern model
where everything
was allowed.
Parents no
longer needed to
worry about
their children
who, feelings
orphans ran away
to their peer
groups, to
sexual
promiscuity,
other types of
addictions….
Spiritism is the
best antidote
against
selfishess and
pride. It offers
moral education;
not just formal
education. As
Allan Kardec
wrote commenting
the question 685
from The
Spirits' Book:
‘…education,
not merely the
education of the
intellect, not
even that of the
moral nature as
given by books,
but that which
consists in the
formation, of
characters and
habits; for
education is the
totality of the
habits
acquired’.
When the human
creature
understands and
acknowledges the
immortality of
the soul, gets
to know the
responsibility
of his/her acts,
understands that
we construct our
own destiny and
are responsible
for our
behaviour, lives
the law of cause
and effect,
works on our
inner
reformation,
then we will be
working towards
peace and social
justice.
Drugs are a
social disease,
which needs
elucidation and
preventive
education
instead of
judgement and
persecution. If
there is a drug
addict, there
will still be a
drug dealer. We
need to work on
forming the
personality of
each child at
home, by setting
up good
examples… We
need to work on
a drugs misuse
prevention
programme.
Violence,
according to
UNESCO, is also
a disease which
has its origin
in the spirit;
it needs to be
treated within
the psyche. In
psychoanalysis
and other forms
of depth
psychology, the
psyche refers to
the forces in an
individual that
influence
thought,
behaviour and
personality.
– Do you believe
the Haiti
earthquake is
linked with the
transformation
of the planet?
Yes, I am sure.
In order to be
transformed into
a new world, the
planet has been
changing
continuously.
The most recent
tragedies that
happened
worldwide, such
as the Chile
Earthquake, are
moral and
spiritual ways
for the people
who were victims
of these events
to be purified.
– Spiritism
started in
France; based on
the five books
of the Spiritist
Codification
written by
French educator
Hypolite Léon
Denizard Rivail
under the
pseudonym Allan
Kardec.
Therefore, there
are more
spiritists in
Brazil than in
Europe,
according to
IBGE (The
Brazilian
Institute of
Geography and
Statistics).
What is the
reason for this?
From a
historical
perspective,
France was
affected by
three horrendous
wars after
Spiritism was
established in
France: 1870 -
Franco Prussian
war, 1914/1918 –
1st Word War –
and 1939/1945 –
2nd World War.
This has damaged
enormously the
dissemination of
Spiritism in
Europe. The new
generations
preferred to
follow
existential
philosophies
such as Jean
Paul Sartre and
Mme. de Beauvoir,
rather then
follow religious
offerings...
Looking at the
spiritual
aspect, we
believe a high
number of
spiritists from
the 19th century
from French
origin
reincarnated in
Brazil. They
easily accepted
Spiritism due to
its concepts and
the logic behind
it.
Spiritism is now
being reborn in
France and all
over Europe,
thanks to the
work of
Brazilian
spiritists who
are living in
these countries.
There are also
the visitors who
come from Brazil
to disseminate
the doctrine and
the great
efforts of The
International
Spiritist
Council (ISC).
– The
environment
issue has been
bringing
attention from
all over the
globe.
Governments
worldwide are
now talking
about drastic
changes that are
happening in our
planet and its
future
consequences.
What does
Spiritism have
to say about
these issues?
We, human
beings, need to
preserve Nature.
It is
unfortunate that
our mental
behaviour is
linked to
selfishness,
since we are
poisoning the
atmosphere of
Earth with our
attitudes.
Spiritism fights
for the respect
of the
environment; the
great school for
our spiritual
evolution.
These drastic
changes are to
do with the
disrespect we
have for the
live forces of
the planet.
– What would you
say to the ones
who argue
against the
Doctrine? What
about the ones
who don’t even
want to get to
know it?
We should not
aim to convince
others that
Spiritism is the
right place for
them, but we
should aim to
present a
different
perspective to
these brothers.
It is important
to present the
doctrine as the
science that
investigates,
the philosophy
that enlightens
and the moral
religious ethic
that consoles,
leading the
creatures to
God.
We have the
questions, but
Spiritism has
all the answers.
If someone
denies it and
contests it
without willing
to get to know
the Doctrine, we
need to respect
their attitude.
Therefore, this
is can be seen
as a sign of
arrogance and
pride since no
one can fight
against
something they
ignore
completely. We
need to give
this person
time, which is
the greatest
transformer.
|