We begin today the methodical study of "The Gospel According to Spiritism" by Allan Kardec, the third of the works that make up the Pentateuch Kardecian, whose first edition was published in 1864. The answers to the questions suggested for discussion was the end of the text below.
Questions
A. What is the true character of Spiritism?
B. The Gospels are divided into five parts. What are they and how that Kardec chosen as the object of this work?
C. What is that communication with spirits made it possible?
D. Where is the key to understanding the Gospels and the Old Testament?
E. The call will be established orthodoxy spirit by men or by spirits?
Text for reading
1. The Spirit of the Lord spread throughout the Earth's surface and, like shooting stars, come light the path and open the eyes of the blind. Arrivals are the times when all things shall be restored in its true sense, to dispel the darkness, confound the proud and glorify the righteous. The great voices of Heaven and the songs resonate Angels associate to them. We invite you to the divine covenant. Make your voices in unison. That, in a sacred hymn, they extend and reverberate throughout the universe. Men, brothers whom we love, we are close to you. Love you, too, and tell each other from the heart, doing the will of the Father which is in heaven: Lord! Lord! ... and be able to enter the kingdom of heaven. (Preface, The Spirit of Truth)
2. Given this divine code - the moral teaching brought by Jesus - his own unbelief bends. For men in particular, this code is a rule of conduct that covers all circumstances of private life and public life, the basic principle of all social relations that are based on the most rigorous justice. Is it foolproof script for happiness to come, lifting a corner of the veil that hides in the afterlife. (Introduction, item I)
3. We gather in this work items that can compose, indeed, a universal moral code, without distinction of worship. Instead, however, to restrict ourselves to a chronologically impossible and no real advantage to the case, and classify grupamos methodically maximum, consistent with their natures, so that derive from each other as much as possible. (Introduction, item I)
4. Many points of the Gospels, the Bible and the sacred authors are often unintelligible, some even seeming irrational, lacking the key is to supply them seize the true sense. This key is all in Spiritism. (Introduction, item I)
5. Spiritism confronts us everywhere in antiquity and in different epoch. Everywhere if you discover traces: the writings, beliefs and monuments. That is why, while ripping new horizons for the future, no less alive sheds light on the mysteries of the past. (Introduction, item I)
6. Complementing each precept, added some instructions chosen from among those spirits dictated in several countries and different mediums. If they were taken from a single source, might have suffered a personal influence, or the middle, while the diversity of origins proof that spirits give their teachings and indiscriminately anyone about it enjoys any privilege. (Introduction, item I)
7. Thanks to the relationships established, and now permanently, among men and the invisible world, the evangelical law, that the spirits themselves teach all nations, will no longer be a dead letter, because everyone will understand and be seen incessantly compelled to put it in practice the advice of his spiritual guides. The instructions that flow of spirits are truly the voices that come from heaven enlighten men and invite them to practice the Gospel. (Introduction, item I)
8. God wanted a new revelation came to men by way faster and more authentic. Instructed therefore spirits to take it from one pole to another, manifesting everywhere, without giving anyone the privilege of hearing the word them. A man can be deceived, may deceive himself, will no longer be so when millions of creatures see and hear the same thing. It constitutes a guarantee for each and for all. (Introduction, item II)
9. They can burn books, but they can not burn the Spirits. Now, if you burn all the books, the source of the doctrine would certainly save yourself inexhaustible because it is not on Earth, because it arises everywhere and because everyone can dessedentar in it. If missing men to spread it, there will always be the Spirits, whose performance of the to ¬ reaches and which nobody can reach. (Introduction, item II)
10. Spirits communicate at all points of the earth, to all peoples, to all sects, to all parties, and all accept. Spiritism has no nationality and not part of any existing service; any social class to impose, since anyone can receive instructions from their relatives and friends from beyond the grave. And it must be so, so he can lead all men to the fraternity. (Introduction, item II)
11. In this universal teaching of spirits lies the strength of Spiritism, and also as the cause of their rapid spread. While the word of one man, even with the assistance of the press, it would take centuries to come to the knowledge of all, thousands of voices are heard simultaneously in every corner of the planet, proclaiming the same principles and transmitting them to the most ignorant, as the most learned, so that there is disadvantaged. (Introduction, item II)
12. We know that spirits, due to the diversity of its capabilities far are considered individually, the possession of all truth. It follows that, with respect to anything that is outside the scope of moral education exclusively, the revelations which each have an individual can receive without stamp of authenticity and should be considered personal opinions, being reckless to accept them and propagate them lightly as absolute truths. (Introduction, item II)
13. The first exam comprobativo is therefore the reason, which meets to submit, without exception whatsoever comes of Spirits. Every theory in clear contradiction with common sense, with a rigorous logic and positive data already acquired, should be rejected by most reputable is the name that brings a signature. (Introduction, item II)
14. The agreement to teach in the Spirits is therefore the best evidence. But she gives it under certain conditions. (Introduction, item II)
15. Serious one assurance exists for the teaching of spirits: a concodância there among the revelations they do spontaneously, making use of many mediums strangers to each other and in various places. (Introduction, item II)
Answers to questions
A. What is the true character of Spiritism?
According to Kardec, the spiritual doctrine is not based on the opinion of men, but in the voice of the Spirits, the universality of those who co ¬ municam across the earth, by God's command. This is the essential character of Spiritlism and also its strength, its authority. (The Gospel According to Spiritism, Preface and Introduction, item II.)
B. The Gospels are divided into five parts. What are they and how that Kardec chosen as the object of this work?
The matters contained in the Gospels are divided into five parts: the ordinary acts of life of Christ; miracles; predictions: the words that have been taken by the Church to ground its dogmas, and the moral teaching. The first four have been the subject of controversy, the latter, however, kept constantly challenged. Given this divine code, to own unbelief bends. For men in particular, this code is a rule of conduct that covers all circumstances of private life and public life, the basic principle of all social relations that are based on the most rigorous justice and, above all, the script infallible happiness to come. This is the part that he chose as the object of this work. (Ibid., Introduction, item I.)
C. What is that communication with spirits made it possible?
Communication between men and the invisible world made possible a better dissemination of the Gospel law, which will no longer be a dead letter, because everyone will understand and be seen incessantly compelled to put it into practice the advice of his spiritual guides. (Ibid., Introduction, item I.)
D. Where is the key to understanding the Gospels and the Old Testament?
The spirit teachings are the key to understanding the biblical texts and evangelicals, the lack of them, appear in many passages unintelligible. (Ibid., Introduction, item I.)
E. The call will be established orthodoxy spirit by men or by spirits?
By spirits. In this regard, Kardec wrote: "It is the opinion of a man who will ally others, but the unanimous voice of the Spirit, not a man, neither we nor any other spirit that will found orthodoxy, nor will a Spirit will be important to anyone: is the universality of spirits that communicate across the earth, by God's command. That the essential character of the Spiritist Doctrine that his strength, his authority. God wanted to sit in his law immovable base and therefore gave him no grounds for the head of a fragile one. "(Ibid., Introduction, Item II.)
