The tree of good does not bear fruits of division
Published in Revista Candeia Espírita, no. 49, Oct/2025, pp. 8
As a
phenomenon made more visible by social networks, there are some groups that
paradoxically call themselves Spiritist but turn toward political-party
activism and the defense of materialistic agendas. By spreading hatred and
seeking to stigmatize those who hold different electoral preferences, their
fruits are unmistakable: division, aggressiveness, moral lynching, and contempt
for freedom of conscience. Surely, the tree that produces anger cannot be
called the tree of good.
Spiritism
was not born to serve as a shelter for militants who follow decayed
revolutionary manuals aimed at conquering hegemonic power and reshaping
society.
When organized collectives present themselves
as “Spiritists” of this or that ideological faction and begin to police
mediums, directors, collaborators, and speakers, trying to morally blackmail
those who do not adhere to their activism,they become agents in Gramsci’s war
of position[1].
Kardec warned against the detractors who would sow discord among the followers;
today we see them trying to subvert the concept of charity into “social
justice” in order to impose their own narratives.
Although
it is legitimate for every citizen in a plural society to make his political
choices, when Spiritist groups and networks are turned into extensions of
political committees, demonizing brothers in faith, reducing people to labels,
and excommunicating them for disagreements, those responsible reveal moral
illness. Such totalitarian attitudes poison environments, confuse new
followers, and erode activities through mistrust. It is indeed possible to
engage socially based on Spiritist values, as long as the doctrine is not
subordinated to transient ideologies and respect is not broken. True
transformation, born of balanced actions and guided by self-knowledge and
freedom of conscience, must not be confused with political warfare, which
breeds division and hatred, the bitter fruits of bloody revolutionary
proposals.
The
discourse of these groups often dresses itself in concepts like “rights,”
“justice,” or “public morality,” as if goodness required partisan unanimity and
as if charity depended on loyalty to a project of power. But rights that come
with insults, justice that demands hostility, and morality that excludes those
who think differently do not spring from the man of good.
The
sporadic mention of terms and phrases adapted from Spiritist works will not
convert aggression into virtue.
Some
attempt to invert the situation, accusing of “omission” those who refuse to
turn Spiritist centers into pulpits of activism. Not so. Spiritism is deeply
committed to moral and social transformation, but its method is another:
enlightenment, example, charity, dialogue, and respect for individual freedoms.
A
Spiritist center is not an arena for political combat. And those who insist
otherwise must hear a clear, firm, and serene “no.” Firmness is not rudeness.
Those
who wish to engage in activism should do so in the proper sphere, without
hijacking the institutional image of Spiritism. Those who wish to live by the
principles of Spiritism should practice love that endures differences without
surrendering truth.
Followers
should not be deceived by the rhetoric that this is merely a “necessary and
current social dialogue” when it turns brothers into enemies, discredits
leaders and workers for political preferences, and pressures institutions to
bow to party programs. In such a case, it is not “dialogue,” but a project of
power. It is an abuse that must be unmasked and restrained.
Let each
center uphold, in its statutes, meetings, and communications, freedom of
conscience and make it clear that partisan proselytism is forbidden. Let
directors and speakers set the example, refusing invitations to instrumentalize
the tribune and correcting, with charity but without hesitation, any deviation
from the path. Let workers and attendees learn to reject incitement to violence
and, conversely, embrace fraternal coexistence.
Spiritism
is far greater than any political ideology. By living it, we cultivate fruits
of peace, meekness, justice, coherence, and respect for free will. Those who
attempt to use the Doctrine as a factional banner will, in time, reap the
harmful effects of their own deeds. It is our duty to remain vigilant, to work,
and to keep our institutions united, safeguarded from hatred disguised as
virtue.
---------------
Spiritist Educator
Channel
Blogger: https://spiritisteducator.blogspot.com
[1]
For the Marxist theorist Antonio Gramsci (1891–1937), the conquest of hegemonic
power is achieved not only through force but mainly through the gradual
domination of culture and civil institutions, such as schools, churches, and
the media, to spread a worldview and make its values dominant.
