Denise Lino (photo), a Spiritist since childhood, teaches Education at university in Campina Grande, in the state of Paraíba, where she lives. She has worked for several years as a volunteer at the Spiritist Society Joanna de Ângelis, where she gives lectures and delivers speeches. She is also in charge of the group’s Youth Department. Denise Lino studies the Doctrine with a meticulous approach. In this interview, she talks about her findings and recent developments in the dissemination of Spiritism:  How do you prepare your talks and seminars, and what are your criteria for choosing the themes to be discussed?

What themes in particular have you focused on when preparing your talks? 

I have studied the Gospel and The Gospel According to Spiritism. I’m also very fond of The Spirits’ Book. And this year I will be focusing on The Mediums’ Book, as we are marking the 150^th year of its publication. 

How important is the contribution of Spiritism to the world we’re living in? 

It is hugely important. Without Spiritism, we simply can’t understand the complexity of this historic period. As a lecturer in Research Methodology, I can say that Spiritism has created a new paradigm of Spiritualised Science, whose ethical consequences haven’t yet been grasped by Official Science. As a religion, it has created a model that allows us to understand who we really are and our links to God. These are fundamental elements to understand what is going on in the world, with its profound moral and geological transformations. 

As you travel around, what is your assessment of the Spiritist Movement in Brazil? 

I haven’t travelled very extensively, as I am still very busy with my professional life. But wherever I go, I feel that, regardless of the local aspects of Spiritism, we belong to a bigger, wider philosophy. And that is something very positive. 

How has your message been received? 

Our Spiritist friends have been very generous and have received me really well. This is a special period for Spiritism in Brazil, with more and more people interested in our message. It couldn’t be otherwise, as evidence of the Spiritist precepts are everywhere. People are eager to hear and talk about those issues.

Do you feel there is special support from the Spiritual World to facilitate the dissemination of the Doctrine? 

No doubt about it, there’s full support. We have overcome obstacles that seemed insurmountable, and that is thanks to the support of the Good Spirits. They obviously set up a carefully elaborated plan to make sure that the message of the Consoler eventually reached more and more people. I’ll give you an example. Earlier this year, during an important yearly meeting here in the state of Paraíba, we contacted the media as usual to publicise the event. We would be focusing this year on Jesus in the home and family love. And without our planning it, opportunities came up and we ended up broadcasting live for 5 hours on a local radio station and on TV CEI. We hadn’t thought about that possibility, but the Spiritual World had. It was amazing! 

Do you think Spiritist institutions in Brazil are well prepared to deal with this recent surge in demand? 

We shouldn’t generalise. Many of the Spiritist Groups in Brazil have a history of dealing with huge financial restrictions and have done their best under very difficult circumstances. Many are still focused on providing aid, such as food and clothes for the poor, and are struggling to deal with this true avalanche of people knocking on their doors in seek of spiritual – not material – assistance. Many are adapting, and we are an example of that. We opened our doors in 2008, and used to get some 80 people in our open meetings. Three years later, we are getting 200, 300 people per meeting. And we don’t have enough workers, as it takes time for those who begin attending the meetings to settle down and commit themselves to the work in a Spiritist Centre.  

What aspect of Spiritism do you particularly appreciate? 

It’s the fact that it seems always relevant and up to date. I read about what’s going on in the world and I find an explanation in Spiritism. I study human history and I find an explanation in Spiritism. There is no frontier it doesn’t reach; there is no subject you can’t study in the light of Spiritism. That is what I love the most about it.

Anything else you would like to add? 

I would like to say that the principles of Spiritism are so widely accepted today not only because they make sense and are solid enough to reach even the most sceptical. They are also accepted due to the example from the men and women who preceded us in the Doctrine, who had a straight and noble character. Thanks to them the Brazilian Spiritist Movement enjoys so much appreciation and respect. Our main duty is to follow on their steps, bearing in mind the recommendation from Allan Kardec: “The true Spiritist can be recognized by their moral transformation and by the efforts they employ in order to overcome their bad instincts.”  (The Gospel According to Spiritism – Ch. 17, Item 4.) 

Your final thoughts… 

I would like to thank you for this opportunity to share my views with the readers. It has been, for me, an important opportunity for reflection.