We continue today the methodical study of “Heaven and Hell, or Divine Justice According to Spiritism” by Allan Kardec. The first edition was published in August 1, 1865. This work is part of the Kardecian Pentateuch. The answers to the questions suggested for discussion are at the end of the text below.
Questions for discussion
A. The murderer, when choosing his existence, knew that he would commit a crime?
B. What is the punishment reserved for criminals?
C. What feels the spirit of a guillotined person?
D. A religious person who fails is guiltier than any other individual?
Text for reading
219. Analyzing Felicien and Antoine Bell cases, Kardec affirms that these two examples show us the renewal of the same trial in successive incarnations. Kardec continues "By this we have further seen that all existences are in solidarity with one another, that divine justice and goodness are displayed in people’s ability to gradually evolve without ever depriving them of redemption from their wrongs, that wrongdoers are punished by their own wrongs and that punishment, rather than the vengeance of God, is the means employed to enable them to progress." (Part Two, Chap. V, Antoine Bell)
220. Evoked on the same day of his execution, on January 30, 1857, Father Verger said he killed the Archbishop of Paris, Monseigneur Sibour. Verger believed he was led by his nature, which could not take humiliation. (Part Two, Chap. VI, Verger)
221. Following the former priest says: "I’ve lost my mind because I can see my body on one side and my head on the other ... although it seems that I am alive in space between the earth and what you call heaven ... I even feel the cold steel of the blade slicing through my neck ... but that’s only the fear I have of dying ... It seems like there is a crowd of spirits around me, looking compassionately at me ... they’re talking to me but I can’t understand them.” (Part Two, Chap. VI, Verger)
222. Three days later, calmer and aware of his physical death, Verger said that he was sorry for his action. The archbishop, also evoked by Kardec, said he forgave the killer and prayed that Verger would repent. (Part Two, Chap. VI, Verger)
223. Commenting on Verger case, Kardec explains: Obstinacy in evil during life is sometimes the result of pride that refuses to yield and acknowledge mistakes, because humans are under the influence of matter, which casts a veil over their spiritual perception, deceives and dupes them. When this veil is lifted, the light suddenly dawns and they find they have sobered up. Kardec asserts that those who insist in evil for a more or less prolonged period of time after death are undeniably less evolved spirits in whom the materialistic instincts have suffocated the seed of the good and for whom the trial of new existences will be necessary in order for them to amend themselves." (Part Two, Chap. VI, Verger, Kardec’s note)
224. Guillotined on December 31, 1857 and evoked on January 29, 1858. Lemaire, who did not believe in God when incarnate, reported that if seen by Kardec he would be in his bodily form (just after execution) with his head separated from his body. From Lemaire’s perspective, the tendency to evil was in his nature, since he saw himself as an inferior spirit. Lemaire said, "I wanted to ascend too quickly and asked for more than I was capable of. I thought I was strong and so I chose a tough trial; but I gave in to the temptations of evil.” (Part Two, Chap. VI, Lemaire)
225. Interestingly, Lemaire agreed that if he had received solid education in his last corporeal life, he would have bypassed a life of crime. However, he chosen beforehand the conditions into which he was born, undergoing temptations that later realized outweighed his strengths. (Part Two, Chap. VI, Lemaire)
226. Benoist, who died in 1704, had been a faithless monk and his disbelief was fatal to him. “It was enough to lead to others”, said the former monk, whose errors and crimes were numerous. "Hunger tortured many of my victims, and their cries were often extinguished by violence”, said Benoist. "I have been suffering all the tortures of hell; my victims set me on fire that devours me. Lust and insatiable hunger persecute me; and thirst burns my parched lips, without a refreshing drop of water ever falling on them." (Part Two, Chap. VI, Benoist)
227. Speaking on repentance, Benoist clarified that he had repented a long time ago, nonetheless due to suffering. Having been deaf to the cries of his innocent victims, the Lord is now deaf to his cries: “The demons howl louder than I do. Cries choke in my throat. They fill my mouth with boiling pitch!...” (Part Two, Chap. VI, Benoist)
228. Benoist’s fear of his tormenting spirits was so much that, at the end, he begged Kardec not to dismiss him, not to go away, but to stay with him. "I beg you... Stay! Stay!” (Part Two, Chap. VI, Benoist)
Answers to Proposed Questions
A. The murderer, when choosing his existence, knew that he would commit a crime?
No. He only knew that in choosing a life of struggle, it was likely that he would kill a fellow man, but he did not know whether he would actually do it or not, for there was often an inner struggle. (Quoted from the book Heaven and Hell - Part Two, Chapter VI, Verger, item 18)
B. What is the punishment reserved for criminals?
Responding to a similar question, the Spirit of Verger said: "I’m being punished because I realize my wrongdoing and I ask God to forgive me for it; I’m being punished for my lack of faith in him, and for knowing that we must not shorten the lives of our brothers; I’m being punished by the remorse of having delayed my progress by taking the wrong path and for not listening to the cry of my conscience telling me that it is not by killing that I would reach my objective. But I let myself be dominated by jealousy and pride. I was wrong and have repented, because men must always make an effort to control their evil passions – but I didn’t." (Quoted from the book Heaven and Hell - Part Two, Chapter VI, Verger, questions 14 and 15)
C. What feels the spirit of a guillotined person?
In Lemaire case, who was convicted and beheaded, the first feeling was shame. Immersed in great confusion, he felt a huge pain, which to him seemed like it was his heart that suffered it. He saw something he couldn’t realize roll at the foot of the scaffold; then he saw blood flowing and his pain worsened. Afterward that, the first feeling he experienced upon entering the afterlife was an unbearable suffering, a kind of agonizing remorse which the cause he ignored at the time. (Quoted from the book Heaven and Hell - Part Two, Chapter VI, Lemaire)
D. A religious person who fails is guiltier than any other individual?
Yes. Looking at Benoist case, the medium’s guide explained that the brutalities committed by Benoist were unspeakable and innumerable. He was guiltier because he had intelligence, education and knowledge to guide him; thus, he failed with full knowledge of the facts. His suffering was dreadful but it was going to be alleviated through the help and example of prayer. In such way, comforted by hope, he could get glimpse of his tenure. (Quoted from the book Heaven and Hell - Part Two, Chapter VI, Benoist, questions 3, 23 and message from the medium’s Guide)
