Freedom of Conscience and Reasoned Faith: The Necessary Relationship

 

Freedom of Conscience and Reasoned Faith: The Necessary Relationship

Marco Milani

Text published in the Spiritist Leader Magazine – Ed. Sep/Oct 2022, p. 40-41

  

Allan Kardec, in the third dialogue described in Chapter I of the book "What is Spiritism," states that "freedom of conscience is a consequence of freedom of thought, which is one of man's attributes; and Spiritism, if it did not respect it, would be in contradiction with its principles of freedom and tolerance."

 

Respecting individual rights and choices therefore characterizes the most advanced situation in the scenario of human coexistence, even though the antagonism of opinions and positions on various controversial issues from a dialectical perspective is entirely understandable. The sincere and fraternal clash of ideas, not of people, fosters the progress of knowledge, ultimately influencing laws and customs.

 

According to the United Nations [i], freedom of conscience encompasses all ethics and values that a human being cherishes, whether of a religious nature or not. There are no acceptable limitations to this freedom, provided that personal convictions are neither imposed on others nor detrimental to them. Although it might seem evident, respect for freedom of conscience is difficult to achieve since there is a tendency to criticize others' convictions rather than defend everyone's right to their own convictions.

 

Science is called upon to actively participate in human development, even though it does not constitute a homogeneous body. On the contrary, numerous research groups compete with each other, aiming to produce knowledge by using more objective methods without claiming absolute truth. The scientist, in turn, carries personal beliefs and values.

 

Structured under a rational method aimed at the universality of teachings obtained through different mediumistic sources and converging in their essential content, Spiritist doctrine presents remarkable internal consistency. Spiritist principles express the conceptual guideline that sustains logical and coherent arguments about the nature, origin, and destiny of Spirits and their relationships with the corporal world.

 

Departing from the formalism and hierarchical structure of traditional Christian churches, which rely on unquestionable articles of faith and impose practices and behaviors on their followers to standardize considered appropriate behavior, the faith proposed by Spiritism aligns with reason. It invites followers to question, know, ponder, and finally believe, without stagnating but continuously advancing knowledge.

 

In this sense, the true Spiritist does not have their will subordinated to leaders or institutions because they have the freedom to choose and act according to their own conscience, not out of guilt or constraint but rationally directed to meet their interests and the need for moral and intellectual improvement.

 

The cultural panorama of Spiritism, however, presents singularities. While Spiritism flourished in Brazilian lands and garnered respect and popularity, it also faces the expected challenges of an environment marked by strong religious syncretism, given that a significant portion of followers carries habits and concepts that are not promptly refined.

 

The different pace of participants in the national Spiritist movement is perfectly understandable, although the disparity in doctrinal maturity may create obstacles to understanding and practicing the teachings of the Spirits.

 

The combat against materialism and moral relativism underpins the essence of the doctrinal proposal, aiming at shaping the well-intentioned man and, specifically, the good Spiritists.

 

The doctrinal unity, so valued by Kardec for the future of Spiritism without schisms or fragmentation into personalist sects, can only be achieved, however, through proper understanding of Spiritist principles and values, grounded in reasoned faith. It is not enough to intend to love; one must know and effectively love. Hence, the guidance of the Spirit of Truth for us to love and equally instruct ourselves.

 

The Spiritist principles, validated by the universality of teachings, do not present contradictions, and therefore, cannot be understood by mixing them with fallacious or fanciful concepts. Freedom of conscience guides the individual along the path they can tread, but it does not give them the right to distort Spiritist doctrine according to their interests and limitations to accommodate their personal convictions.

 

There are, therefore, no different "Spiritisms," only one. What varies is the understanding and practice of Spiritism. Thus, there is only one Spiritist doctrine, but different levels of doctrinal maturity, and each individual will express themselves according to their own conscience.

 

Certainly, a coherent stance should guide the conduct of the Spiritist towards any fact or information, remaining open to the examination of the contradictory and the acceptance of what is, in fact, proven.

 

Reasoned faith, properly experienced, leads the adherent to recognize and value the doctrinal teachings presented by Kardec and validated by the criterion of universality, instead of precipitately assuming as truth opinions from incarnates or discarnates lacking methodological foundation and evidence.

 

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[i] https://www.ohchr.org/en/faith-for-rights/faith4rights-toolkit/module-1-freedom-conscience

 

Source: https://usesp.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/DE191.pdf