Party ideology x Doctrine of Spirits
Autor: HESSEN | Publicado: 2014-08-16T07:18:00-07:00




              
                
                
                JORGE HESSEN
                
                
                
                jorgehessen@gmail.com
                Brasília, 
                Distrito Federal 
                (Brasil)

                        
                
                
                 

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                                                        Translation
                                                        
                                                                    
                                                                    
                
                Eleni Frangatos - 
                eleni.moreira@uol.com.br

                  



                                                                    
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                 Jorge Hessen

                   


                  
                                                  
                
                
                
                

                 


                
                The legacy of 
                doctrinal 
                tolerance must 
                not express 
                itself in the 
                form of omission 
                regarding 
                conceptual 
                amendments and 
                abnormal ideas 
                that some 
                companions want 
                to introduce in 
                the doctrinal 
                institutions on 
                behalf of 
                political 
                activism. Mainly 
                if it is just 
                before 
                elections, when 
                discussions 
                arise about 
                whether the 
                Spiritist should 
                or not apply to 
                any elective 
                office.

                
                In fact, the 
                Doctrine of 
                Spirits does not 
                encourage 
                engagement in 
                political 
                functions. 
                Moreover, it 
                does not allow 
                the use of its 
                tribune for 
                party propaganda 
                of any 
                candidate. The 
                main mission and 
                purpose of the 
                Spiritist is to 
                change his inner 
                self, his 
                behavior, 
                struggling to be 
                a good person on 
                behalf of the 
                Gospel. This 
                does not mean 
                that the 
                Spiritists are 
                unrelated to 
                political 
                issues. Whoever 
                thinks this is 
                wrong. The 
                incorruptible 
                Spiritists, 
                loyal to family, 
                to society and 
                moral 
                commitments are 
                fully active 
                citizens, who 
                exercise their 
                right and/or 
                obligation 
                (according to 
                the point of 
                view) to vote. 
                However, they do 
                it free from any 
                involvement in 
                the absurd 
                ideological-party 
                disputes.

                
                If a Spiritist 
                belongs to any 
                political party, 
                and wishes to 
                run as a 
                candidate for 
                elective office, 
                obviously, he is 
                completely free 
                to do so. 
                However, he must 
                act away from 
                the Spiritist 
                environments, so 
                that he does not 
                disguise his 
                intention and 
                works within the 
                Spiritist 
                Institution with 
                the masked 
                purpose of 
                winning votes 
                among those who 
                attend the 
                meetings. 
                Excessive 
                caution is 
                recommended in 
                this case. It is 
                not a matter of 
                prejudice. It is 
                even a matter of 
                logic, since, if 
                issues of human 
                politics are 
                discussed, it is 
                not acceptable 
                to bring into 
                Spiritism, the 
                party ideology 
                (the "right", 
                "left", 
                "center", "both" 
                and so on). 
                Although, as a 
                citizen, every 
                Spiritist has 
                the right and 
                free will to 
                service within 
                the fragmented 
                universe of the 
                political and 
                party 
                ideologies, he 
                also has no 
                right to mix up 
                things. Let us 
                not forget that 
                Spiritism is not 
                a fragment of 
                worldly policy, 
                nor does it 
                engage with 
                sectarian 
                political groups 
                that use 
                contradictory 
                means to reach 
                power.

                
                As we have seen, 
                for obvious 
                reasons, it is 
                imperative to 
                distinguish the 
                interest of 
                human politics, 
                with no value 
                whatsoever, and 
                the sublime 
                politics of 
                Jesus - the 
                "True light that 
                enlightens every 
                man” (1). 
                When we work to 
                eradicate 
                poverty and 
                social 
                exclusion, we 
                are adopting the 
                policy "of the 
                One who is from 
                the beginning”
                (2). 
                The true 
                Spiritist policy 
                favors the human 
                being and his 
                spiritual 
                growth. A 
                conscious 
                Spiritist does 
                not submit nor 
                does he omit 
                himself before 
                the political 
                power. Moreover, 
                he is not 
                "opposition" or 
                "situation". 
                "The sincere 
                disciple of the 
                Gospel has no 
                need to breathe 
                the atmosphere 
                of the world's 
                politics to 
                fulfill the 
                ministry that is 
                committed to 
                him. The 
                Governor of 
                Earth to meet 
                the purpose of 
                the politics of 
                love, 
                represented, 
                above all, the 
                interests of God 
                in our hearts 
                with no need for 
                regulations and 
                decrees, 
                although they 
                may be 
                acceptable"(3).
                

                
                
                Bezerra and 
                Euripedes&nbsp;

                
                The first 
                chapter of the 
                Statute of the 
                Parisian Society 
                of Spiritist 
                Studies provides 
                the following 
                BAN (yes, BAN!): 
                "POLITICAL 
                ISSUES, 
                RELIGIOUS 
                CONTROVERSY, AND 
                SOCIAL ECONOMY 
                ARE PROHIBITED". 
                Therefore, based 
                on fair grounds, 
                it is 
                unacceptable for 
                someone to use 
                the Spiritist 
                tribune to make 
                political-party 
                propaganda. 
                Likewise, it is 
                a depressing 
                situation for a 
                Spiritist to use 
                an electoral 
                platform to 
                implore for 
                votes, using 
                demagogical 
                fallacies and 
                pretending to be 
                "modest," 
                "poor," 
                "humble," 
                "altruist," 
                "tolerant," 
                glorifying his 
                unparalleled 
                "virtues" and 
                colossal works 
                of "charity". We 
                advise these 
                inconsiderate "Spiritists", 
                imploring for 
                votes, to keep a 
                distance from 
                Spiritism and 
                follow another 
                faith thus 
                assuring that 
                the Spiritist 
                movement does 
                not become 
                contaminated by 
                the cheap and 
                petty politics 
                of personal 
                interests.

                
                Some defenders 
                of the 
                politicization 
                in Spiritist 
                centers remember 
                Menezes and 
                Euripides 
                Barsanulfo in 
                order to justify 
                their reasoning. 
                The political 
                career of 
                Menezes began in 
                1861, when he 
                was elected 
                municipal 
                councilor for 
                the Liberal 
                Party. He was 
                re-elected for 
                the period 
                1864-1868 and 
                was elected 
                Deputy General 
                in 1867. Again, 
                he was elected 
                city council man 
                in 1873. He 
                became Mayor, 
                which currently 
                corresponds to 
                the Mayor of Rio 
                de Janeiro, from 
                July 1878 to 
                January 1881. 
                During this 
                period, Bezerra 
                joined the 
                Abolitionism 
                struggle. 
                However, Bezerra 
                used extreme 
                caution in 
                dealing with the 
                matter. 
                Meanwhile, on 
                August 16, 1886, 
                the audience of 
                two thousand 
                people who 
                crowded the hall 
                of honor of the 
                Old Guard, in 
                Rio de Janeiro, 
                listened, in 
                silent and 
                astonishment, 
                the famous 
                physician and 
                politician 
                announcing his 
                conversion to 
                Spiritism. From 
                then onwards, he 
                did not involve 
                himself in 
                politics.

                
                As for Euripides 
                Barsanulfo, he 
                was a 
                respectable 
                political 
                representative 
                of his 
                community, no 
                doubt. He became 
                the secretary of 
                the Brotherhood 
                of St. Vincent 
                de Paul, having 
                actively 
                participated in 
                the foundation 
                of the newspaper 
                "Gazeta 
                Sacramento" and 
                "High School 
                Sacramentano". 
                Soon he found 
                himself raised 
                to the natural 
                position of 
                leadership, for 
                his safe 
                guidance towards 
                the real values 
                ​​of life. 
                Through 
                information 
                passed to him by 
                one of his 
                uncles, he 
                learned about 
                the existence of 
                spiritual 
                phenomena and 
                the works of the 
                Spiritist 
                Codification. In 
                view of these 
                facts, he 
                completely 
                turned his 
                activities to 
                the new 
                doctrine, 
                searching to 
                clarify all his 
                doubts. From 
                that moment, the 
                political party 
                ceased to be an 
                integral part of 
                the desires of 
                the young man 
                born in the 
                State of Minas 
                Gerais.&nbsp;

                
                
                We do not need 
                political 
                representatives
                
                
                &nbsp;

                
                Very strong 
                reasons compel 
                us to make an 
                important 
                distinction 
                between Spiritsm 
                and politics. We 
                are "political" 
                since we were 
                born. Yes, we 
                are, so what? 
                Spiritism can 
                never be a 
                vehicle for our 
                particular 
                ambitions. If 
                the world spins 
                around economic, 
                administrative 
                and social 
                policies, there 
                is no way to 
                tolerate 
                militancy within 
                Spiritism. The 
                simplest theory 
                cannot be 
                sustained when 
                we say that by 
                effectively 
                participating in 
                political 
                processes we 
                will improve the 
                world. This is 
                an ideological 
                foolishness.

                
                In no way can we 
                mistake our 
                earthly politics 
                of minor 
                interests with 
                the policy of 
                the "Son of God”(4). 
                &nbsp;Each situation 
                has its proper 
                dimension. Party 
                politics belongs 
                to politicians, 
                while the 
                Spiritist 
                practice belongs 
                to the Christian 
                Spiritists. The 
                argument that 
                the Congressman 
                uses that being 
                in politics he 
                can more easily 
                "defend" the 
                principles of 
                the Doctrine, or 
                entice social 
                prestige to 
                Spiritism, or 
                even being a 
                "light" among 
                lawmakers, is an 
                artful and 
                dishonest 
                argument. "WE 
                HAVE NO NEED OF 
                OFFICIAL 
                REPRESENTATIVES 
                OF SPIRITISM IN 
                NO SECTOR OF 
                HUMAN POLICY""(5).
                

                
                The genuine 
                Spiritist 
                scholars 
                understand that 
                life is to be 
                lived based on 
                common sense and 
                humbleness. They 
                understand that 
                "the mission of 
                the doctrine is 
                to comfort and 
                instruct, in 
                Jesus, so that 
                all mobilize 
                their divine 
                possibilities 
                into the way 
                they live. To 
                change this for 
                a place at the 
                banquet of the 
                States is to 
                reverse the 
                value of the 
                teachings, 
                because all 
                human 
                organizations 
                are transient 
                due to the need 
                for renewal of 
                all formulas of 
                man in the law 
                of universal 
                progress"(6).&nbsp;

                
                Again, we 
                guarantee that 
                that there is no 
                basis for the 
                useless 
                arguments that 
                only by 
                participating in 
                political 
                processes, we 
                can help to 
                "improve" 
                Brazil. Let us 
                not forget that 
                the "King of the 
                Ages”(7) 
                thought much to 
                improve creature 
                itself. It is 
                not reported 
                that the "Son of 
                God”(8) 
                opened any 
                political party 
                proceedings 
                against or in 
                favor of the 
                established 
                power at the 
                time. So our 
                nonpolitical 
                conduct 
                (nonpartisan) 
                should not be 
                seen as 
                conformism; on 
                the contrary, 
                this attitude is 
                synonym of 
                industrious 
                patience, always 
                working to 
                improve the 
                situation and 
                cooperate with 
                those who are 
                given the 
                responsibility 
                of managing our 
                public 
                interests.

                
                It is right to 
                remember that 
                through 
                imperceptible 
                consents, we 
                mischaracterize 
                the program of 
                the Third 
                Revelation. 
                Under the title 
                of tolerance, 
                many times we 
                become blind to 
                the 
                politicization 
                in Spiritist 
                centers. 
                However, 
                experience shows 
                that, sometimes, 
                we can even 
                close an eye, 
                but never both 
                of them. 
                Considering that 
                our world is the 
                home of opinion, 
                it is natural 
                that we disagree 
                with our fellow 
                political 
                activists 
                regarding this 
                specific 
                subject. 
                However, what is 
                inadmissible, in 
                view of the 
                proper 
                orientation of 
                the Spiritist 
                Doctrine, is the 
                imposition that 
                arises involving 
                those who 
                mistake 
                intensity with 
                aggressiveness, 
                or defense of 
                truth with 
                inflexibility.

                
                We are invested 
                of an immediate 
                commitment, 
                rather than 
                delve into the 
                world of 
                politics 
                saturated by 
                deplorable 
                misconceptions. 
                Therefore, we 
                should not seek 
                a prominent 
                position for 
                ourselves in the 
                transitional 
                government of 
                the Earth. If we 
                are called upon 
                by 
                circumstances, 
                we must accept 
                it, not for the 
                honor of the 
                doctrine we 
                profess, but as 
                a complex 
                experience, 
                where every 
                success is 
                always very 
                difficult. "The 
                sincere 
                Spiritist must 
                understand that 
                enlightenment of 
                a consciousness 
                is as if it were 
                the 
                enlightenment of 
                a world. We 
                emphasize that 
                the task of the 
                Gospel, 
                regarding the 
                embodied souls 
                on Earth, is the 
                most important 
                of all, since it 
                constitutes a 
                definite and 
                real 
                realization. The 
                purpose of the 
                Doctrine is to 
                comfort and 
                teach Jesus, so 
                that all 
                mobilize their 
                divine 
                possibilities in 
                the way of life. 
                To change it for 
                a place at the 
                banquet of 
                States is to 
                reverse the 
                value of the 
                teachings, 
                because all 
                human 
                organizations 
                are transient 
                due to the need 
                for renewal of 
                all formulas of 
                the man in the 
                law of universal 
                progress."(9)&nbsp;

                
                
                Conclusion
                
                
                &nbsp;

                
                If we lived in a 
                society educated 
                for mutual 
                tolerance, 
                respect for 
                authority, for 
                the persistent 
                work without 
                conflicts 
                between servers 
                and government, 
                employers and 
                employees, where 
                people came 
                together to 
                understand the 
                need of 
                individual or 
                social group 
                spiritual 
                values, then we 
                would live in a 
                blissful and 
                peaceful 
                country. Many 
                can admire 
                politics as a 
                science, as a 
                principle, as a 
                philosophy, but, 
                certainly, we do 
                not need to 
                engage in 
                political 
                parties. We 
                think in being 
                fair to fight 
                for our 
                voluntary action 
                in society, 
                whether in our 
                professional 
                action, whether 
                acting as a 
                citizen, without 
                changing our 
                dignity by 
                politics or 
                personal 
                convenience.

                
                &nbsp;

                
                
                References: &nbsp;

                
                1 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; John 
                1:9 

                
                2 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1 John 
                2:13 

                
                3 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Xavier, 
                Francisco 
                Candido. 
                Vineyard Light (Vinha 
                da Luz), 
                dictated by the 
                Spirit Emmanuel, 
                Rio de Janeiro: 
                Ed BSF (FEB) 
                1999, Chapter 59
                

                
                4 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Luke 
                1:32 

                
                5 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; VIEIRA, 
                Waldo. 
                Spiritist 
                Conduct (Conduta 
                Espirita), 
                dictated by the 
                Spirit Andre 
                Luiz, &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
                Rio de Janeiro: 
                BSF (FEB), 2001 
                Chapter 10
                

                
                6 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Xavier, 
                Francisco 
                Candido. The 
                Comforter (O 
                Consolador), 
                dictated by the 
                Spirit &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
                Emmanuel, Rio de 
                Janeiro: Ed BSF 
                (FEB) 1984, 
                Question 60
                

                
                7 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1 
                Timothy 1:17
                

                
                8 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mt 2:15
                

                
                9 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Xavier, 
                Francisco 
                Candido. The 
                Comforter 
                (O Consolador), 
                dictated by the 
                Spirit &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
                Emmanuel, Rio de 
                Janeiro: Ed BSF 
                (FEB) 1984, 
                Question 60.