Emmanuel Spiritist Center

Spiritism

Spiritism is at the same time, an observation science and a philosophical doctrine. As a practical science, it consists in the relationships that may be established with the spirits; as a philosophy, it includes all the moral consequences arising from these relationships. Spiritism can also be defined as a science that deals with the nature, origin and destination of the spirits, and their relations with the corporeal world.

In other words, one can understand Spiritism as a way that is tracked loving God, others and oneself. For this purpose, this journey is guide on by the knowledge of the spiritual truths and the reaffirmation of the Gospel.

Little historical approach

Since immemorial times, mankind is faced with phenomena that go beyond their understanding, among them the spiritual phenomena. These occurrences were related to Pythonesses and Oracles among the Greeks; to Prophets, among the Hebrew people and other names in other parts of the world.

In the mid-nineteenth century, human experiences denounced a great intellectual maturity. Nevertheless, the spiritual phenomena were still treated with levity or indifference by scholars. It was common in France, in USA and other places, people entertain themselves with the "talking tables", around which they gathered, placing his hand on it and asking questions that were answered by punching through the furniture.

Upon these phenomena, Professor Hippolyte Leon Denizard Rivail, an eminent French educator, noted that there was not a joke, but an unusual phenomenon with great investigative potential. From there, Rivail coordinated several meetings, noting that intelligent answers were got to questions. As the tables made of inanimate matter, did not set out this answers; therefore, there should be an intelligent principle behind the phenomena. After tests and reviews, it was found that the persons were responsible for communications. But the communicating person was nothing more than a dead people that maintained ones individuality after death.

This certainly allowed the exchange meetings between the "living" and "dead." Since not all communications were instructive Professor Rivail established strict criterions of selection. Therefore, structuring the Spiritist Doctrine, a moral code based on the teachings given by spirits of high moral and intellectual level. Adopting the pseudonym Allan Kardec, Professor Rivail published important works as "The Spirits’ Book," "The Mediums’ Book," "The Gospel According to Spiritism," among others.

More recently, established a practice that is becoming very common, it is the writing of books transmitted psychically by mediumship. People with great sensitivity become themselves the instrument by which Spirits use to transmit messages to the physical plane. Psychographic books as they are known contain information of great relevance, they bring stories of personalities who lived among us, and who now find themselves on another existence plane.

In Brazil, psychographic mediums best known are: Chico Xavier, Divaldo Pereira Franco and Zibia Gasparetto. High doctrine content works were wrote by spirits called Emmanuel, Andre Luiz, Joanna de Angelis, Manoel Philomeno de Miranda, among others.

Spiritism is in a process of diffusion, mainly in Brazilian land, being a fraternal movement, liberating consciousness and devoid of dogmatism and priestly hierarchies. Learn more about the message of love brought by Spiritism, read a spiritis book or visit a spiritis center! May God enlighten the search for new knowledge!

From: Allan Kardec and COEM (Centro de Orientação e Educação Mediúnica).

Fundamental concepts

God is the supreme intelligence, primary cause of all things. It is eternal, immutable, immaterial, unique, omnipotent, supremely just and good.
The universe is God's creation. It encompasses all rational and irrational beings, animate or inanimate, tangible and intangible.
All the Laws of Nature are Divine Laws because God is its author. They cover both the physical and moral laws.
In the Universe there are other inhabited worlds, with beings of different degrees of evolution: some equal, more evolved or even less evolved than men.
Spirits are the intelligent beings of creation. Constitute the world of Spirits, which pre-exists and outlives everything.
Spirits are created simple and ignorant. They evolve intellectually and morally, passing from a lower order to higher one, until reach perfection, where they will enjoy unalterable bliss.
Spirits reincarnate as many times as necessary for their improvement.
Man is a Spirit incarnated in a material body. Perispirit is a semi-material body that join the spirit and the material body.
Spirits preserve their individuality before, during and after each incarnation.
Spirits are always evolving. In their multiple physical existences they can stop, but they never regress on evolution. The speed of their intellectual and moral progress depends on the efforts they make to attain perfection.
In addition to the corporeal world, inhabited by incarnated Spirits, like mankind, there is a spiritual world inhabited by disembodied spirits.
Spirits can belong to different orders according to the degree of perfection they have attained: Pure Spirits, who have attained maximum perfection; Good Spirits, whose predominant desires are goodness; Imperfect Spirits, characterized by ignorance, desire evil and inferior passions.
The Spirits' relations with men are constant and have always existed. The Good Spirits attract us towards goodness, sustain us in life's trials and help us bear them with courage and resignation. The Imperfect lead us to error.
Man has free will to act, but answer for the consequences of their actions. Therefore, future life reserves for men penalties and pleasures according to his respect, or not, to God’s Law.
Jesus is the model guide for all humanity. The Doctrine He taught and exemplified is the purest expression of God's Law.
The morality of Christ in the Gospel, is the guidance for the safe evolution of all men, and his practice is the solution to all human problems and the objective to be attained by Humankind.
Pray is an act of God worship. It is contained in the natural law; it is the result of men innate feeling, the same as the innate idea of the Creator existence.
Prays can make men better. Those who pray with fervor and confidence gets stronger against evil tendencies, and God sends good spirits to assist him. This assistance will never be denied when requested with sincerity.

Source: Allan Kardec and Conselho das Casas Espíritas de São Bernardo do Campo.

Spiritist Practice

All Spiritist practice is gratuitous, according to guidelines of the Gospel moral principle: "Give for free what you receive for free."
The Spiritism is practiced with simplicity, without any external forms of worship within the Christian principle that God must be worshiped in spirit and truth.
Spiritism has no clergy and do not adopt or use in their meetings and practices: altars, images, litters, candles, processions, sacraments, concession of indulgences, vestments, alcoholic or hallucinogenic beverages, incense, tobacco, talismans, amulets, horoscopes, Tarot, pyramids, crystals or other objects, rituals or external forms of worship.
Spiritism does not impose its principles. Invites those interested in knowing it and to submit its teachings to the test of reason before accepting them.
Mediumship, which allows communication of spirits with men, is a faculty which many individuals bring with them at birth, regardless of religion or beliefs they may come to adopt.
The spiritist mediumship practice is only that which is exercised based on the principles of the Spiritist Doctrine and Christian morality.
Spiritism respects all religions and doctrines, values all efforts to do good and works for peace and fellowship among all peoples and men, regardless of race, color, national origin, creed, cultural or social level. It also recognizes that “a truly good person is one who complies with the laws of justice, love and charity in their greatest purity."