BOOKS
Spiritist Pentateuch and the Works that complement it
The True Spiritist Codification
encyclopedia of transcendental teachings, the Codification was the mature and blessed fruit of a plan designed in the Spirituality, with one of its creators having fulfilled the part he was supposed to play, already incarnated on Earth: Allan Kardec.
The Spiritist Codification comprises the following works in order of publication: The Spirits' Book (April/1857); The Mediums' Book (January/1861);
The Gospel According to Spiritism (April 1864); Heaven and Hell (August 1865); Genesis (January 1868). Each work contains exactly the material necessary for its understanding at the time, but, as the Doctrine is progressive, although the basic teachings endure, these are complemented by later studies, without anything changing in the doctrinal foundations exposed by the Spirits and by Kardec.
Concordância de princípios nas Obras da Codificação – Unidade Doutrinária.
Existe uma concordância de princípios nas obras da Codificação Espírita, de forma que, em O Livro dos Espíritos há um núcleo central e conceitos espíritas que compreende as partes primeira e segunda, e que tratam, respectivamente, Das causas primárias e do Mundo Espírita.
A parte segunda, constitui a fonte de O Livro dos Médiuns.
A parte terceira, origina o Evangelho Segundo o Espiritismo.
A parte quarta fornece subsídios para o Livro O Céu e o Inferno.
A Gênese por sua vez, tem como fonte as partes primeira, segunda e terceira.
A Introdução e os Prolegômenos de O Livro dos Espíritos originou a obra O que é o Espiritismo. Esta obra, na verdade, não faz parte do chamado Pentateuco Espírita, foi citada para indicar a sua origem e como fonte de estudo.
Para quem deseja descobrir o espiritismo, saber do que se trata e ter fundamentos para entender e discutir esta doutrina, clarear tudo o que o nosso mestre Jesus tentou passar quando esteve entre nós, comecem lendo as obras básicas abaixo:
THE BOOK OF SPIRITS (published April 18, 1857)
Of the five fundamental books that make up the Codification of Spiritism, this was the first, bringing together the teachings of the Superior Spirits through mediums from various parts of the world. It is the starting point of a Doctrine that has had a profound impact on the thinking and outlook on life of a considerable portion of Humanity since 1857, the date of the first French edition. Structured in four parts and containing 1,019 questions formulated by the Codifier, it addresses the Spiritist teachings in a logical and rational manner, from scientific, philosophical and religious aspects. Regardless of religious belief or conviction, reading “The Spirits’ Book” will be of immense value to everyone, because it deals with God, the immortality of the soul, the nature of Spirits, their relationships with men, moral laws, the present life, the future life and the future of Humanity, subjects of general interest and of great current relevance.
THE BOOK OF MEDIUMS (published January 1861)
“The Book of Mediums” is one of the five works that make up the Codification of the Spiritist Doctrine. It brings together “the special teachings of the Spirits on the theory of all types of manifestations, the means of communication with the invisible world, the development of mediumship, the difficulties and obstacles that can be encountered in the practice of Spiritism”. It also presents, in the final part, a valuable basic Spiritist vocabulary. Essential reading and reference for Spiritists, it will always be a valuable source of knowledge for any inquisitive person who is attentive to the mediumistic phenomenon, which is increasingly manifesting itself throughout the world, within or outside of Spiritist activities. Since men are an integral part of the exchange between the two planes of life, the material and the spiritual, it is best that we know, and know well, the mechanisms of this relationship. “The Book of Mediums” is the safest manual for all those who dedicate themselves to activities of communication with the Spiritual World.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SPIRITISM (published in April 1864)
“The Gospel According to Spiritism” is one of the five books that make up the doctrinal body of Spiritism. “The Gospel According to Spiritism” is the moral teaching of Jesus Christ for Christians of any faith, developed by the Spirits of Light in mediumistic communications collected, organized, commented and made public by the Codifier Allan Kardec. If the reader is a Christian, read with application the moral teaching of Master Jesus for suffering Humanity and become aware of contents that perhaps you have never before perceived or fully understood. If you are not a Christian, but an inquiring spirit, read with respect the guidance of this divine Spirit, given two thousand years ago and always current, in its educational, motivating and comforting character.
HEAVEN AND HELL (published August 1865)
This is one of the five basic works that make up the Codification of Spiritism. Its main purpose is to explain God's Justice in light of the Spiritist Doctrine. It aims to demonstrate the immortality of the Spirit and the condition that it will enjoy in the Spiritual World as a consequence of its own acts. It is divided into two parts: The first establishes a comparative examination of religious doctrines about life after death. It shows facts such as the death of children, beings born with deformities, collective accidents and a range of problems that only the immortality of the soul and reincarnation can satisfactorily explain. Kardec seeks to elucidate topics such as: angels, heaven, demons, hell, eternal punishment, purgatory, fear of death, the Mosaic prohibition on evoking the dead, etc. It also presents the Spiritist explanation contrary to the doctrine of eternal punishment. The second part, resulting from practical work, gathers examples about the situation of the soul during and after disincarnation. These are testimonies from repentant criminals, hardened spirits, happy spirits, average spirits, suffering spirits, suicidal spirits and spirits in earthly atonement. Books of the Spiritist Codification: The Spirits' Book, 1857; The Mediums' Book, 1861; The Gospel According to Spiritism, 1864; Heaven and Hell, 1865; Genesis, 1868.
GENESIS (published January 1868)
It is one of the five basic works of the Codification of Spiritism. It is a book that, when known and studied, provides an exceptional opportunity for immersion in major themes of universal interest, addressed in a logical, rational and revealing manner. It is divided into three parts: The first part analyzes the origin of planet Earth in a coherent manner, avoiding mysterious and magical interpretations about the creation of the world; the second part addresses the issue of miracles, explaining the nature of fluids and the extraordinary facts contained in the Gospel; the third part focuses on the predictions of the Gospel, the signs of the times and the new generation, which will mark a new era in the world with the practice of justice, peace and fraternity. The subjects presented in the eighteen chapters of this work are based on the immutability of the great Divine Laws.