Cesar Soares dos
Reis:
“Editing the
Cultura Espírita
Magazine is a
monthly
challenge”
The president of
Instituto de
Cultura Espírita
do Brazil
(Brazil
Spiritist
Culture
Institute) talks
about the body
he directs and
the challenge of
editing monthly
publication
 |
Cesar Soares dos
Reis (photo)
was born into a
Spiritist family
in the city of
Rio de Janeiro.
He is a retired
Mathematics
teacher and a
former military
man, who now
lives in the
nearby city of
Niterói. He is a
well-known
speaker and
president of the
Instituto de
Cultura Espírita,
founded in 1957.
In this
interview, he
shares his views
on the Institute
and the Magazine
Cultura Espírita,
which reached
its
|
|
number 54 in
August. |
What is the
Instituto de
Cultura Espírita
do Brasil?
The Institute,
or ICEB, is an
organisation
dedicated to the
study, research
and
dissemination of
themes related
to Spiritist
Culture. It
promotes regular
courses,
conferences,
seminars and
other means of
dissemination of
the Teachings,
or any
initiative that
highlights the
cultural value
of Spiritism or
safeguards its
moral and
theoretical
integrity.
ICEB was founded
on December 7th
1957 and began
its activities
on March 15th
1958. Its
foundation came
after the
decision by
Deolindo Amorim
of closing down
the old
Brazilian
College of
Psychic Studies.
It was decided
to set up an
independent body
to offer regular
courses on
Spiritism and
associated
matters. The
first statute
was written by
Lauro Salles.
Deolindo Amorim
was elected
ICEB’s first
president and
remained in the
post until his
discarnation, in
1984.
Where is the
Institute based?
It is based at
Rua Ibituruna,
53, Tijua, Rio
de Janeiro, in
an area
generously
donated by the
Teresa de Jesus
Home. We meet
every Saturday.
In the morning,
we offer
Beginners
Spiritism,
Mediumship and
Esperanto
courses. In the
afternoon we
have courses on
the ideas of
Joanna de
Ângelis (the
Spiritual mentor
of Brazilian
medium Divaldo
Franco) and
study and
research on the
works of André
Luiz. Later in
the afternoon,
we have courses
focusing on four
aspects of
Spiritism:
Doctrine,
Philosophy,
Science and
Religion. The
courses are
available live
online via
TVICEB and on
our portal,
www.portalicebo.org.br.
We also
publicise our
DVDs, seminars
and our weekly
programme on
Rádio Rio de
Janeiro, called
Cultura
Espírita. It
goes on air
every Wednesday
at 12h30 local
time.
Tell us a bit
more about the
magazine. When
was it created
and how often is
it published?
In August, our
magazine
completed its 5th
year on print,
with its edition
number 54. It is
a monthly
publication. (1)
Its editorials
reflect the
content of every
issue, which is
decided, as much
as we can, by
the courses
planned for the
month at ICEB.
There is always
scientific,
philosophical
and religious
material. We pay
special
attention to the
issue of
education. Our
coordinator and
expert, Nadja do
Couto Valle,
looks after that
issue. We also
keep a page
aimed at young
people. There is
a special
session
dedicated to
Jesus and a page
focusing on the
aid work carried
out by Lar
Fabiano de
Cristo.
How do you pay
for the expenses
of publishing
the magazine?
How can people
do to
subscribe?
The magazine is
part of a
partnership we
developed with
Rede Social do
Bem, the old
Arts Club, which
has some 15,000
members. They
pay 18 reais a
month (about $8)
and get a CD, a
DVD or a book,
high quality
products that
help disseminate
Spiritist Art.
The magazine is
sent out to
members
alongside their
monthly item
(CD, DVD or
book). That
helps cover the
costs. But we
also have
subscriptions,
which can be
done through the
following
emails:
culturaespirita@oi.com.br
and
institutodeculturaespiritadobr@gmail.com.
We aim to have
no profit. All
we try to do is
to cover our
cost. The
magazine is part
of the
Institute’s
commitment to
disseminate
Spiritism.
What are the
main challenges
faced to publish
the magazine?
We are a small
group. We are
all volunteers,
with a number of
other
commitments. The
magazine,
however, is
delivers high
quality,
unpublished
material, with
proper
referencing and
quotations
methods. As much
as we can, we
try to
commission
authors to write
about the themes
debated in the
Institute’s
courses. The
authors who
collaborate in
the magazine are
also volunteer
and generally
very busy. The
main challenge
we have is to
meet the
deadlines,
having to
publish every
month and having
to have the
magazine printed
in time to be
distributed to
the members of
the old Arts
Club.
Is there any
particular event
and aspect that
you would like
to share with
us?
The Cultura
Espírita
Magazine is a
monthly
challenge. As
soon as one
edition is
published we
begin preparing
the next one. We
work in a
frenetic mode,
making huge use
of the internet.
Very often, when
it looks like
there is no hope
of meeting the
deadline, or
meeting the
required
standards of
quality,
everything seems
to fall in place
and the troubles
make room for
great happiness
and a sense of
relief. Every
month, we have
the magazine
ready,
beautiful, well
done. It is
something we
really value, as
mere beginners
in the difficult
art of
disseminating
Spiritism.
Your final
thoughts…
The Instituto de
Cultura Espírita
do Brazil and
its magazine,
Cultura Espírita,
thank you for
this opportunity
and make
themselves
available to
help all of
those involved
in the ideal of
disseminating
Spiritism. We
remain committed
to the ideals of
ICEB’s pioneers,
led by Deolindo
Amorim, and
firmly attached
to the
principles of
the Codificator,
Allan Kardec.
(1) The Cultura
Espírita
Magazine can
also be read
online on
http://www.portaliceb.org.br/home/?v=revista.
