Christina
Renner:
“I found a
treasure and I
want to keep
hold of it”
Our fellow
Spiritist from
Germany talks to
us about the
Spiritist
Movement in her
home country
|
Christina Renner
(photo),
from Neu-Ulm in
Bavaria,
Germany, is an
accountant,
relaxation
instructor and
Bach flower
remedies
consultant. She
is the mother of
three children
and became a
widow in 2005.
She became a
Spiritist in
2000 and is now
deputy-head of
the SEELE Group
in Stuttgart -
http://www.gruppe-seele.de/.
She is also
Secretary of
|
the German Spiritist
Union -
http://www.spiritismus-dsv.de/.
In this
interview, she
talks about the
Spiritist
Movement in
Germany and a
number of other
issues. |
When did you
have your first
contact with
Spiritism?
In 2000, when I
was given a copy
of Allan
Kardec’s The
Spirits’ Book.
And how did you
become a
Spiritist?
After I read the
book, I got
curious and
looked for a
Spiritist Group
in Germany. I
found SEELE in
Stuttgart. I
came for a first
meeting and
began attending
the group
regularly.
Something inside
me made me
remain in
Spiritism. I had
been looking for
something for
many years, but
what was it?
When I began
studying the
Spiritist
Teachings I
realised I had
found it. I
found a treasure
and I want to
keep hold of
it.
What has been
your family’s
reaction?
My children
accept my
beliefs, but the
reactions in the
family have been
mixed. Some go
as far as
rejecting the
fact that life
goes on and that
Spirits do
exist.
What is your
role in the
Spiritist
Movement?
I am deputy-head
of the SEELE
Group in
Stuttgart and
Secretary of the
German Spiritist
Union. In the
SEELE Group I
give healing and
work in the
mediumship
group. I also
look after the
group’s monthly
newsletters. I
also give
lectures and
talks about
Spiritism.
Which aspect of
Spiritism says
the most to you:
science,
philosophy or
religion?
They are all
equally
important and
interesting.
Excluding the
books of Kardec,
which Spiritist
books have
touched you the
most?
The books of
Chico Xavier
(those dictated
byAndré Luiz as
well as
Emmanuel) and
the works of
Joanna de
Ângelis.
What can you say
about the
Spiritist
Movement in
Germany?
It began to be
organised in
Berlin in 2003,
when there were
four Groups in
the country.
That is when the
German Spiritist
Union was
created. In
2007, the German
Spiritist Union
was registered
officially, with
its headquarters
in Stuttgart.
There are 10
active groups
now in the
Union, which is
headed by Maria
Gekeler. The
Union has been
making efforts
to disseminate
the Teachings in
Germany. There
are textbooks
now in German
and a website
with information
about Spiritism.
We hold an
annual meeting
gathering all
the German
Spiritist Groups
and the Union is
now publishing
the Spiritist
Magazine in
German. We are
now taking part
in the campaign
“Love for Life”
through posters
and a calendar.
Few native
German speakers
have as yet
joined Spiritism.
Why do you think
that happens?
Only patience,
information and
continuing work
will have an
effect.
Spiritism is
associated to a
number of
negative ideas
and that needs
to be changed.
We must continue
to offer the
opportunity for
people to learn
about Spiritism
in German, even
if not many
people take the
offer. Each seed
counts. On the
positive side,
we already have
a vast Spiritist
literature in
German,
including
textbooks,
leaflets and
books.
In Europe,
abortion,
euthanasia and
assisted suicide
are legal in
several
countries. What
can the
Spiritist
Movement do to
prevent these
regrettable
acts?
In Germany, the
so-called
assisted death
is forbidden.
Anyone involved,
including
doctors and
relatives, face
charges. But
there are calls
for a change in
the legislation.
Many say that
would reduce
what is called
the “death
tourism.” People
would not need
to go to other
countries for
that purpose.
The German
Spiritist Union
launched a
campaign against
the proposal to
change the
legislation
regarding
assisted suicide
and euthanasia.
It is very
important to
engage the
public in a
dialogue,
enlightenment,
providing
information
naturally with
the Spiritist
perspective. I
also give a
course on how to
look after
terminal
patients. When I
have the
opportunity, I
try to talk to
the patient and
show him or her
that life goes
on. I am
surprised by the
number of people
who believe that
life continues.
Our prayers are
also very
welcome.
Your final
thoughts,
please.
My final
thoughts will
certainly not be
the last ones
(laughter).
Spiritism has
taught me so
much and it
continues to
show me the real
meaning of life.
Spiritism has
the answer to so
many questions
and it makes
Jesus shine even
brighter. Every
day we have new
opportunities to
view life in a
positive manner.
There are
certainly
difficult times
and I sometimes
become insecure
when dealing
with my
feelings. But
Spiritism has
taught me that
we need to work.
I know that
inner reform is
of crucial
importance. I
believe that the
continuous
effort to
improve, which
Jesus talked so
much about, is
the pathway for
a better future.
I am so grateful
because I can
say things are
fine with me. I
am alive, after
all, and I am
fully aware of
how great and
merciful God is.
Spiritism
enables me to
observe life
from a much
wider
perspective.
All I want to do
is to carry on
working on
behalf of other
people and my
family. I am a
Spiritist 24/7,
365 days per
year. May God
bless us all,
because we are
his children.