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Spiritism was not presented by Allan Kardec as a religion founded on dogmas, rites, or priestly authority, but as a observational science and a philosophical doctrine. Its starting point lies in the study of facts, the comparison of manifestations, and the reasoning applied to the laws that govern the relationships between the physical world and the spiritual world.
This definition is essential for understanding the very structure of Spiritist Doctrine. In Kardec, morality does not emerge as a set of precepts imposed on faith, but as a rational consequence of knowledge of spiritual laws. The survival of the soul, reincarnation, responsibility for one's own actions, and the progress of the Spirit lead, by their own logic, to certain moral consequences.
From this perspective, this article examines three fundamental points: Spiritism as a science of observation and reasoning, its distinction from religion in the traditional sense, and morality as a direct consequence of understanding spiritual laws.
Below, the excerpts and demonstrations are presented organized by thematic areas, with the respective detailed bibliographic references.
1. Spiritism as a Science of Observation and Reasoning
Allan Kardec defines Spiritist Science by the use of experimental and inductive methodIt begins with the rigorous observation of facts in order to, tracing back from effects to causes, deduce the natural laws that govern them.
Fundamental Definition of Spiritist Science
“"Spiritism is, at the same time, a science of observation and a philosophical doctrine. As a practical science, it consists of the relationships established between us and the Spirits; as a philosophy, it encompasses all the moral consequences that stem from these same relationships. We can define it thus: Spiritism is a science that deals with the nature, origin, and destiny of Spirits, as well as their relationships with the physical world."”
Bibliography: What is Spiritism (1859), Chapter I, “First Dialogue – The Critic”; Summary of the Law of Spiritual Phenomena (1864), Item 1; Spiritist Magazine (April 1864), p. 115.
The Experimental Method Applied to the Spiritual Principle
“As a method of elaboration, Spiritism proceeds in exactly the same way as the positive sciences, applying the experimental method. New facts present themselves, which cannot be explained by known laws; it observes them, compares them, analyzes them and, tracing back from effects to causes, arrives at the law that governs them… It was not the facts that came a posteriori to confirm the theory: it was the theory that subsequently came to explain and summarize the facts. It is, therefore, rigorously accurate to say that Spiritism is a science of observation and not a product of the imagination.”
Bibliography: Genesis, Miracles, and Predictions according to Spiritism (1st ed. 1868 / Authentic FEAL Edition), Chapter I (“Nature of Spiritist Revelation”), Item 14; Spiritism in its Simplest Expression (1868), Section III (“Character of the Spiritist Revelation”), Item 14.
The Constitution of Science through Logical Deduction
“"All science must be based on facts; but facts alone do not constitute science; science arises from the coordination and logical deduction of facts: it is the set of laws that govern them."”
Bibliography: Spiritist Magazine (January 1858), “Introduction”.
Positivism of Natural Facts
“No, Spiritism is not an individual conception, a product of the imagination; it is not a theory, a system invented for the sake of a cause; it has its source in the facts of Nature itself, in the positive facts that occur every instant before our eyes… It is, therefore, a result of observation, a science, in a word: the science of the relations between the visible and the invisible world…”
Bibliography: Spiritist Magazine (November 1864), “Spiritism is a Positive Science” (Address by Kardec in Brussels and Antwerp).
The Science of Reasoning
“"Spiritism is undoubtedly a science of observation, but it is perhaps even more so a science of reasoning; reasoning is the only means of making it advance and overcome certain resistances."”
Bibliography: Spiritist Magazine (September 1859), “The Tobacco Shop” (Kardec's note).
2. Demonstrating that Spiritism is NOT a Religion in the Common Sense
Kardec repeatedly clarified the semantic distinction between the philosophical meaning of the word religion (bond of fraternity) and its common or institutional meaning (church, external worship, priesthood and dogmas), denying that Spiritism constitutes a religion in the traditional sense.
The Absence of Dogmas, Worship, and Priests
“"Spiritism is a science or, better said, a spiritualist philosophy that teaches morality. It is not a religion, in that it has neither dogmas, nor worship, nor priests, nor articles of faith..."”
Bibliography: Spiritist Magazine (February 1866), “Spiritism takes its place in philosophy and in common knowledge.”.
Rejection of the Clerical Structure and External Practices
“Why, then, do we declare that Spiritism is not a religion? – Because we only have one idea to express two different ideas, and because, in the general opinion, the word is inseparable from 'worship'; it exclusively reveals an idea of external practices. And Spiritism is not that. If Spiritism were to call itself a religion, the public would only see in it a new edition, a variant of absolute principles in matters of faith, a priestly caste with its retinue of hierarchies…‘
Bibliography: Practical Instructions on Spiritist Manifestations (1858), “Special Note on Religion”; Spiritist Magazine (December 1868), “Opening Address of the Annual Session in Memory of the Dead”.
Moving away from the cult or church format.
“Its true character is, therefore, that of a science and not a religion… Spiritism is not, therefore, a religion: otherwise it would have its cult, its temples, its ministers. Everyone, undoubtedly, can make a religion of their own opinions… but from there to the constitution of a new Church, there is a distance… In short, Spiritism concerns itself with the observation of facts, and not with the particularities of this or that belief…”
Bibliography: What is Spiritism (1859), Chapter I, “Third Dialogue – The Priest”; Spiritist Magazine (March 1859), “Reply to the Reply of Abbot Chesnel”.
Independence from Rites and Temples
“To the first question: Is Spiritism a religion? Spiritists say: No, Spiritism is not a religion, it does not intend to be a religion… It has moral consequences, it is true, in the sense of Christianity, but it has neither worship, nor temples, nor ministers; each person can make a religion of their own opinions, but there is a long way from that to the constitution of a new Church…”
Bibliography: Spiritist Magazine (July 1862), “Is Spiritism proven by miracles?”.
3. Morality as a Direct and Rational Consequence of Spiritist Science
In the Codification, morality is not the dogmatic starting point, but the corollary and practical application derived from scientific knowledge of spiritual laws (immortality, perispirit, reincarnation, and the law of cause and effect).
Morality as the "Code of Consequences" of Scientific Law
“"Spiritism, within the limits of its domain, rejects all miraculous effects, that is, those outside the laws of Nature; it does not perform miracles or prodigies, but rather explains certain effects by virtue of one of these laws… It also expands the domain of Science, and it is in this that it itself becomes a science; however, since the discovery of this new law brings moral consequences, the code of consequences makes it, at the same time, a philosophical doctrine."”
Bibliography: What is Spiritism (1859), Chapter I, “The Marvelous and the Supernatural”.
Science as a Vestibule and Morality as an End
“"Spiritist Science had physical manifestations as its vestibule, but its purpose is moral, and its research should develop in that direction. Having proven spiritual survival and communicability, Spiritism must delve deeper into the investigation of communication processes, the situation of Spirits after death, and the laws that regulate the permanent relationships between Spirits and humans..."”
Bibliography: The Mediums' Book (1861), Preface (Theoretical analysis of the Codification method).
The Hierarchy of Knowledge: From Fact to Moral Practice
“Spiritism presents itself under three different aspects: that of the manifestations, that of the principles and philosophy that derive from them, and that of the application of these principles. Hence, three classes, or rather, three degrees of adherents: 1st those who believe in the manifestations and limit themselves to verifying them; for these, Spiritism is an experimental science; 2nd those who perceive its moral consequences; 3rd those who practice or strive to practice this morality.”
Bibliography: The Book of Spirits (1857 / 1860), “Conclusion”, Item VII.
Moral Consequences as the Real Usefulness of Science
“"Manifestations are therefore not intended to serve material interests; their usefulness lies in the moral consequences that flow from them; even if they had no other result than to reveal a new law of Nature, to demonstrate materially the existence of the soul and its immortality, that would already be a great deal, because it would be a wide new path opened to Philosophy."”
Bibliography: What is Spiritism (1859), Chapter I, “Of Mediums”.
The Sanction of Natural Laws on Moral Doctrine
“"What the teachings of the Spirits add to the morality of Christ is the knowledge of the principles that govern the relationships between the dead and the living, principles that complete the vague notions that were held of the soul, of its past and its future, giving as sanction to Christian doctrine the very laws of Nature."”
Bibliography: The Genesis (1st ed. 1868), Chapter I, Item 56; Spiritism in its Simplest Expression (1868), Section III, Item 56.
Bibliographic Summary Table of Cited Works
| Works by Allan Kardec | Exact Location | Theme Demonstrated |
|---|---|---|
| The Book of Spirits (1857/1860) | Conclusion, Item VII. | The experimental scientific aspect and the scale of moral understanding. |
| What is Spiritism (1859) | Chapter I (Dialogues 1 and 3; The Marvelous; Of Mediums). | Definition of observational science, rejection of religious and moral forms as a consequence. |
| Practical Instructions (1858) | Special Note on Religion. | An explanation of why Spiritism is not a traditional religion. |
| The Mediums' Book (1861) | Preface / Introduction. | Spiritist Science as a means and morality as an end. |
| Summary of the Law of Spiritual Phenomena (1864) | Item 1. | Defining Spiritism as a science of observation and a moral philosophy. |
| The Genesis (1868 – 1st Authentic Edition) | Chapter I, Items 14, 16 and 56. | The experimental method, the complementarity between Science and Spiritism, and natural laws. |
| Spiritist Magazine (1858–1868) | Jan/1858, Mar/1859, Jul/1862, Nov/1864, Feb/1866, Dec/1868. | Continued argumentation regarding the scientific method, the absence of cults/priests, and rational morality. |
These texts prove that Allan Kardec defined Spiritism as a field of scientific and philosophical knowledge, in which the experimental research of facts reveals the laws of the invisible world, and whose rational assimilation compulsorily produces moral renewal and the practice of charity.
Reading Recommendations (Books)
Discover the books we recommend as essential for your understanding of true Spiritism: https://www.geolegadodeallankardec.com.br/livros-recomendados/
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