Spiritist Centre for Peace-UK

REINCARNATION STRENGTHENS FAMILY TIES WHEREAS A, SINGLE LIFE WOULD DESTROY THEM,

Family ties are not destroyed through reincarnation as some would believe. On the, contrary, they become stronger and closer. The opposite principle would, on the other hand, certainly destroy them., In space, Spirit entities form groups or families bound together by affection, sympathy, towards each other, and by similar inclinations. Happy at being together, these Spirits seek each, other. Incarnate life separates them only for a while, so on returning to the spiritual world they, again reunite as friends who have just returned from a journey. Frequently they will even follow, each other into the incarnate form, coming here to be united in the same family or the same circle, of friends and acquaintances, in order to work together for their mutual progress. When some, members of the same spiritual family become incarnate and others not, they then continue their, contact by means of thought. Those who are free watch over those who are captive.

Those who are, more advanced do everything they can for the less advanced, so helping them to progress. After, each physical existence all have made some advancement, even if it is only a step along the path to, progress. As they become less bound by matter, their affections become more real and more, spiritually refined, due to the fact that they are not perturbed by selfish or violent passions. This, then allows them to live many lives in the flesh without suffering any loss of mutual esteem., It is understood, of course, that we refer to real affection, soul to soul, being the only love, which survives after the destruction of the body. So it follows that those of this world who join, together because of physical attraction, will have no motive to look for each other in the spirit, world. The only lasting relationships are those linked by spiritual affection, all carnal affections, being extinguished together with the cause that brought them about, in other words, the physical, body. Understand by this that the physical cause no longer exists in the world of Spirits, but the, soul exists eternally., With regard to those who join together exclusively out of interest, they clearly mean nothing, to each other. Death separates them both on Earth and in Heaven.,

The union and affection which can exist between relatives is an indication of former, sympathies which have brought them together. This is why, when referring to someone whose, character, tastes, and inclinations hold no similarity to other members of the same family, it is, customary to say that they do not belong to that family. When saying this, the truth is expressed far, more profoundly than suspected. God permits that in certain families these Spirits, who are, uncongenial or strangers to each other, reincarnate with the dual purpose of serving as a test for, some members of that family, and as a means of progress for others. In this manner, due to contact, with good Spirits and the general care dispensed to them, the bad or wicked Spirits get better, little, by little Their characters grow milder, their habits become more refined and their aversions dissipated.

This is how the various fusions of different categories of Spirits are accomplished, as is done with
different races and peoples on the planet.

The fear that some people may have with regard to the indefinite increase in relationships due to reincarnation is basically selfish; proving a lack of love sufficiently ample as to be able to embrace a large number of people. Does a father who has many children love them any less than he would if there was only one? The selfish people may be tranquil because there is no reason for such a fear. The fact that a person may have had ten incarnations does not mean that in the spirit world he will find ten fathers, ten mothers, ten wives and a prodigious number of children and relatives. There he will always encounter only those who had been the object of his affections, some of whom he would have been linked to here on Earth in various relationships, or perhaps even the same ones.

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same, came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come, from God.' for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus, answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he, cannot see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when he, is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?, Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of, the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh;, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born, again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof but canst not tell, whence it cometh, and wither it goeth; so is everyone that is born of the Spirit Nicodemus, answered and said unto Him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto you, We, speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen.' and ye receive not our witness. If I, have to Id you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly, things? (John, 3:1-12).,

The idea that John had been Elias and that the prophets could relive again on Earth is to, be found in many passages of the New Testament, but is most notedly quoted in the above extract., (See verses 1, 2, & 3.) If this was an erroneous belief, Jesus would have combated it as He did, many others. But from this He gave it complete sanction and authority by making it a basic, principle and necessary condition by saying: 'No one may reach the Kingdom of God if he is not, born again,' and further insisted when He added: 'Do not be surprised when I say it is necessary to, be born again.', 7. The words: If man is not born again of water and of Spirit, have been interpreted in the, sense of regeneration by means of the water of Baptism. But in the original text it was said simply:, not born of water and of Spirit, whereas in some translations the words of spirit have been, substituted by Holy Spirit, which does not correspond to the original meaning. This capital point stands out from the first, comments which the Gospels raised and will one day be confirmed beyond all possible doubt. (1),

To enable the real meaning of these words to be reached it is also necessary to pay, attention to the significance of the word water which is not used here in its usual sense., The knowledge of physics was very imperfect in ancient times when it was believed that the, Earth had risen out of the water. Therefore water was considered to be the exclusive primitive, generating substance. This is why we read in the book of Genesis: '...the Spirit of God moved upon, the face of the waters; it floated above the waters; .. . Let there be firmament in the midst of the, waters; ... Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land, appear; ... Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that, may fly above the Earth in the open firmament of heaven.', According then to this belief, water represented the nature of matter, just as the Spirit, represented the nature of intelligence. The words: 'If man is not reborn of the waters and of the, Spirit, or in water and in Spirit', thus signify -'if man is not born with his body and his soul'. This is, the manner in which these words were originally understood., This interpretation is wholly justified by these other words: What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of Spirit is Spirit. Here Jesus established a clear distinction between body and, Spirit. What is born of the flesh clearly indicates that only the body generates from the body and, that the Spirit is independent.,

The words: 'The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound but know' not from, whence it comes nor whence it goes' are referring to the Spirit of God, who gives life to whom He, wishes, or rather to the soul of man. The words you know not where it comes from nor where it, goes', signifies that we do not know who the Spirit had been previously or who it will be in the, future. If the Spirit or soul was created at the same time as the body we would know where it came, from because we would know its beginning. Whichever way you look at this passage, it confirms, the principle of the pre-existence of the soul and subsequently the plurality of existences., 10. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth, violence and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until, John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear (Matthew, 11: 12-15)

RESURRECTION AND REINCARNATION
Reincarnation was part of the Jewish dogmas, being taught under the name of resurrection. Only the Sadducees, who believed that everything ended with death, did not accept the idea of reincarnation. Jewish ideas on this point, as on many others, were not clearly defined because they had only vague and incomplete notions with regard to the soul and its connection with the body.

They believed that man could live again without knowing exactly the manner by which this could happen. They used the name resurrection for what Spiritism more correctly calls reincarnation, Resurrection presupposes a return to the same physical body, whereas science demonstrates that this is materially impossible, especially when that same body has decomposed and long since been dispersed and reabsorbed. Reincarnation is the return of a soul, or Spirit, to physical life in another body which has been newly formed for it, and which has nothing to do with the previous one. The word 'resurrection' can be applied to Lazarus but not to Elias, nor to the other prophets. If, according to their belief, John the Baptist was Elias, then the body of John could not have been the body of Elias because John was seen as a child and his parents were known. John then could be
Elias reincarnated but not resurrected.

Saint Augustin is one of the greatest popularizers of Spiritism. He bas manifested himself in almost every part. The reason for this is to be found in the life story of this great Christian philosopher. He belongs to a vigorous phalanx known as Fathers of the church, to whom Christianity awes its mast solid bases.
Like many others he was uprooted from Paganism, or rather from the most profound godlessness, by the splendour of truth.
When suddenly, in the middle of his dissipations, he felt a strange vibration in his soul which called him to himself and made him understand that happiness was not to be found in debilitating and escapist pleasures. Finally he too
had a similar experience to Paul, who heard saintly voices calling to him an the road to Damascus
saying: 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'
When Saint Augustin heard his voices he exclaimed:
'My God! My God! Forgive me! I believe; I am a Christian!' From this moment an he became one of the greatest supporters of the Gospel.
You may read the notable confessions left by this eminent Spirit, the characteristic and prophetic words he uttered after the death of Saint Monica,
'I am convinced that my mother will visit me and give me advice, revealing to me what awaits us in the future life.' What great leaching in these words!
What resounding foresight of the doctrine that was to come!
This is the reason why today, seeing that the time has come to spread the truth as he predicted, he has become its ardent disseminator and as it were, multiplied himself in order to be able to reply to all who call him. - ERASTUS, disciple of Saint Paul (Paris 1863).

Read more:
The Gospel According to Spiritism - Allan Kardec
Available at AMAZON.CO.UK