What is the Spiritist Doctrine?
Long Island Spiritist Doctrine Studies
"The Spiritist Doctrine is the philosophy that deals with the nature, the origin and the
destiny of Spirits, as well as their relationship with the corporeal or material world.
destiny of Spirits, as well as their relationship with the corporeal or material world.
The Spiritist Doctrine is not the work of any one person; no one can claim to have
created it. It is as old as creation itself. Its fundamental principles are
found in all religions. The unique contribution of the Spiritist Doctrine has been to make
a coherent of what has, until now, been scattered. It has been, further, to explain in
clear and precise terms what has been previously been
obscured by the language of allegory, and to eliminate the products of superstition and
ignorance from human belief, leaving only what is real and
actual. Primarily, it integrates concepts that are found in all cultures and ages.
Yet what reasons could there be for opposing the spread of Spiritist ideas?
Those ideas, it is true are a protest against abuses springing from pride and
selfishness. Such abuses, while benefiting a few, are harmful to many; and the Doctrine
would, therefore, have the people on its side, leaving only the exploiters of humanity as
its adversaries. When widely felt, its influence will
make human beings less greedy, more benevolent toward one another, and more in
harmony with the dictates of Providence. In a broader context, it will help bring more
order and tranquillity to society.
It would be hoping too much of human nature to imagine that it could suddenly be
transformed by Spiritist ideas. Undoubtedly, the extent to which these ideas will
penetrate will vary greatly. But, however slight the penetration may be, the Spiritist
Doctrine will raise the level of humanity's spiritual awareness and push back materialist
notions. This outcome follows from mere exposure to paranormal phenomena. It will
have much greater value for those who pass beyond the phenomena and experience its
beneficial moral effects.
The first and most general of these effects is the development of a religious
perspective, even in people who, while not materialists, are unmindful of spiritual
things. It is a perspective that leads to a degree of indifference to death, to a temperate
and rational acceptance that will allow believers to deal with death without revolt or
sadness, and as something they need not fear. This attitude grows out of the assurance
of what follows death.
The second effect of the Spiritist Doctrine is resignation in the face of life's trials. The
Doctrine leads us to consider everything from an elevated point of view, thereby
diminishing the importance we attach to life on Earth and making its hardships less
painful. Consequently, we have more courage in difficult time, are able to control our
desires, and become firmly opposed to the idea of suicide, which we know will not
bring us the consolation we seek.
The certainty of a future in which we can assure our own happiness, and the possibility
of re-establishing relations with those who are dear to us, are the highest motivations of
the Spiritist. Further, we view the exercise of living from a deathless and mystery-free
perspective.
The third effect is a greater tolerance for the flaws and needs of others. Tolerance, it is
true, often runs headlong against selfishness, one of the most tenacious and difficult
human flaws to eradicate. Generally, we are willing
to make sacrifices provided they impose no real privations on us. Unfortunately, few
people today use the word "tolerance" without associating it with the self. Thus, the
willingness to sacrifice one's self interest is the most visible indicator of progress.
It is sometimes asked whether the spirits teach us anything new in the way of ethical
principals, anything superior to the teachings of Christ. Further, the question arises as
to what use the Spiritist Doctrine is if its moral teachings are the same as those of the
Gospels. Jesus came to show us the road of true goodness. God sent him to awaken
human beings to the Divine law they had forgotten. Why then should God not send
spirits to remind us once again, in clear terms, of principles we seem at present to have
overlooked in our devotion to pride and material gain? We cannot set the bounds to
the power of God or dictate the Divine will. We cannot say with certainty that the
promised time has not arrived when truths, unknown or misunderstood until now, are
to be openly proclaimed in order to accelerate human progress. Isn't there something
providential in the fact that spirit manifestations are presently occurring all over the
globe? Nor is it a single person, an isolated prophet, who comes to arouse us. Light is
breaking forth on all sides, and a new world is opening before our eyes."
Allan Kardec
Selected passages from The Spirits' Book (pgs. 392-395)
created it. It is as old as creation itself. Its fundamental principles are
found in all religions. The unique contribution of the Spiritist Doctrine has been to make
a coherent of what has, until now, been scattered. It has been, further, to explain in
clear and precise terms what has been previously been
obscured by the language of allegory, and to eliminate the products of superstition and
ignorance from human belief, leaving only what is real and
actual. Primarily, it integrates concepts that are found in all cultures and ages.
Yet what reasons could there be for opposing the spread of Spiritist ideas?
Those ideas, it is true are a protest against abuses springing from pride and
selfishness. Such abuses, while benefiting a few, are harmful to many; and the Doctrine
would, therefore, have the people on its side, leaving only the exploiters of humanity as
its adversaries. When widely felt, its influence will
make human beings less greedy, more benevolent toward one another, and more in
harmony with the dictates of Providence. In a broader context, it will help bring more
order and tranquillity to society.
It would be hoping too much of human nature to imagine that it could suddenly be
transformed by Spiritist ideas. Undoubtedly, the extent to which these ideas will
penetrate will vary greatly. But, however slight the penetration may be, the Spiritist
Doctrine will raise the level of humanity's spiritual awareness and push back materialist
notions. This outcome follows from mere exposure to paranormal phenomena. It will
have much greater value for those who pass beyond the phenomena and experience its
beneficial moral effects.
The first and most general of these effects is the development of a religious
perspective, even in people who, while not materialists, are unmindful of spiritual
things. It is a perspective that leads to a degree of indifference to death, to a temperate
and rational acceptance that will allow believers to deal with death without revolt or
sadness, and as something they need not fear. This attitude grows out of the assurance
of what follows death.
The second effect of the Spiritist Doctrine is resignation in the face of life's trials. The
Doctrine leads us to consider everything from an elevated point of view, thereby
diminishing the importance we attach to life on Earth and making its hardships less
painful. Consequently, we have more courage in difficult time, are able to control our
desires, and become firmly opposed to the idea of suicide, which we know will not
bring us the consolation we seek.
The certainty of a future in which we can assure our own happiness, and the possibility
of re-establishing relations with those who are dear to us, are the highest motivations of
the Spiritist. Further, we view the exercise of living from a deathless and mystery-free
perspective.
The third effect is a greater tolerance for the flaws and needs of others. Tolerance, it is
true, often runs headlong against selfishness, one of the most tenacious and difficult
human flaws to eradicate. Generally, we are willing
to make sacrifices provided they impose no real privations on us. Unfortunately, few
people today use the word "tolerance" without associating it with the self. Thus, the
willingness to sacrifice one's self interest is the most visible indicator of progress.
It is sometimes asked whether the spirits teach us anything new in the way of ethical
principals, anything superior to the teachings of Christ. Further, the question arises as
to what use the Spiritist Doctrine is if its moral teachings are the same as those of the
Gospels. Jesus came to show us the road of true goodness. God sent him to awaken
human beings to the Divine law they had forgotten. Why then should God not send
spirits to remind us once again, in clear terms, of principles we seem at present to have
overlooked in our devotion to pride and material gain? We cannot set the bounds to
the power of God or dictate the Divine will. We cannot say with certainty that the
promised time has not arrived when truths, unknown or misunderstood until now, are
to be openly proclaimed in order to accelerate human progress. Isn't there something
providential in the fact that spirit manifestations are presently occurring all over the
globe? Nor is it a single person, an isolated prophet, who comes to arouse us. Light is
breaking forth on all sides, and a new world is opening before our eyes."
Allan Kardec
Selected passages from The Spirits' Book (pgs. 392-395)
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| "Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake." Victor Hugo |
| "What is the purpose of this strife & struggle if, in the end, I shall disappear like a soap bubble?" Leo Tolstoy, 1879 |
| "Death does not mean cessation of the struggle, but the culmination." Mahatma Ghandi |