by Brian Foster

Abstract

Allan Kardec was the codifier and the Spirit of Truth supplied the initiative for the third revelation, but do you wish to know how exactly Allan Kardec worked with the Spirit world and published his books? The process he used is explained in this article.

Introduction

Allan Kardec brought us the third revelation, for this the world will always owe him our eternal gratitude. For those who have read the Bible and attempted to completely understand the meanings of the parables and phrases that could make sense from many different angles, the books published by Allan Kardec clears the fog completely. For the first time we actually are allowed to understand the processes and sociology of the Spirit world. How is it maintained, who governs it, how do we get there and how do we become successful citizens of that marvelous place. It is as if the human race went from elementary school, where we learn by various methods to coach children to want to comprehend, such as play-acting, watching others, activities are planned to satisfy our short attention spans; to college, where the professor lays out what is required for the course and expects you to read the material, study it, and have the ability to pass the test at the end.

How did Allan Kardec derive and categorize this information? He utilized his science and mathematical background to gather data points from as many different locations as possible. Allan Kardec knew that for the human race to believe what is in the Doctrine, it must be the product of many. For as he says;

“If the Spirits who have revealed it had manifested to only one person, nothing would guarantee its origin, for it would be necessary to believe the word of whoever stated that he or she had received their teachings. Admitting perfect sincerity on his or her part would at most convince a circle of acquaintances; he or she would have followers but would never succeed in rallying everyone.”[1]

Next he takes this concept further, and stipulates the Doctrine must be the work of many Spirits. For given the answers to questions he had posed before, he understood that like humans, spirits are of different capabilities and levels. Hence, to tap into the collective knowledge of the Spirit world a variety of spirits, with their own spheres of expertise, must be utilized to insure to correctness of the doctrine. Allan Kardec lays out his logic;

“It is known that, as a consequence of the differences that exist in their capabilities, spirits are far from being in possession of the whole truth individually that it is not given to all to grasp certain mysteries; that knowledge is proportional to their purification; that ordinary spirits do not know any more than humans and even less than some amongst them, as amongst the latter, there are presumptuous and pseudo-learned spirits who think they know what they in fact do not, and theorizers who take their own ideas for the truth; in short, that spirits of the highest order – those who are completely dematerialized – are the only ones divested of earthly ideas and prejudices.”[2]

Lastly, using various numbers of mediums and spirits he applies the rule concordance. Different spirits working with independent mediums must illustrate similar answers to the same questions. Allan Kardec spells it out;

“The only true guarantee for spirits’ teachings is in the overall agreement amongst revelations made spontaneously through a large number of mediums unknown to one other and in several places.” [3]

The above is the basis for all of Allan Kardec’s books. Multiple sources of revelations and similarity between the messages is the cornerstone of Spiritism. Where other theories may rely on one source, the theory may be refuted by later messages or by different spirits. Spiritism stands on a solid foundation of bedrock, not the work or ideas of one person, but the cumulative work of many on both sides, those living and those in the spirit world. Allan Kardec describes the ultimate test of the Doctrine, the ability to withstand contradiction;

“The universal test is a guarantee for the future unity of Spiritism and will annul all contradictory theories. It is in this universal test that in the future the criterion for truth will be sought.”[4]

For up to the present day, one hundred and sixty years or so, the world has seen mainly confirmation of the Doctrine. What arguments that have been against Spiritism is mainly against the entire concept of learning from spirits, not the central messages of the need for love and charity. This is not to say that we will not learn more at some future time. For Allan Kardec explains that while we here on earth have evolved enough to understand the Doctrine, there is still more;

“Highly evolved spirits proceed with extreme wisdom in their revelations; they do not address the great issues of the Doctrine except gradually, to the degree that our intelligence is capable of comprehending truths of a higher order and when circumstances are propitious for the release of new ideas. That is why at the beginning they did not say everything and why they still have not said everything today, nor have they given in to the impatience of hasty individuals who would like to harvest the fruit before it is ripe.”[5]

We have seen his words come true, for around one-hundred years after his publications; we now have additional works from Francisco (Chico) Xavier which expose so much detail of the daily life of the spirits who toil in their work to bring us enlightenment. In more than four-hundred books, the mysteries of the spirit world are again being slowly revealed to us. Now it is up to us to learn, to grow, to act in accordance with the Doctrine.

Author:

Brian Foster has a BSCS degree and a MBA. He has worked in R&D for medical device corporations and in IT for large financial institutions. Brian Foster has a blog at http://www.nwspiritism.com.

Works Cited

Kardec, A. (2008). The Gospel According to Spiritism. Brasilia (DF): International Spiritist Council.

[1] Kardec, A., The Gospel According to Spiritism, EDICEI, p. 20

[2] Kardec, A., The Gospel According to Spiritism, EDICEI, p. 22

[3] Kardec, A., The Gospel According to Spiritism, EDICEI, p. 23

[4] Kardec, A., The Gospel According to Spiritism, EDICEI, p. 25

[5 ] Kardec, A., The Gospel According to Spiritism, EDICEI, p. 27