MORE REJECT “RELIGION”
Written by Yvonne Limoges
An October 2012 Pew Research poll
found “one in five adults have no religious affiliation”…the highest
percentages ever in Pew Research Center polling. Further, “the number of
Americans who do not identify with any religion continues to grow at a rapid
pace.” And, “overwhelmingly, they think that
religious organizations are too concerned with money and power, too focused on
rules and too involved in politics.”
This poll includes a survey conducted
jointly with the PBS television program Religion
& Ethics NewsWeekly which however finds that many of the country’s 46
million unaffiliated adults are religious or spiritual in some way. In this
group, it was found many believe in God, feel more spiritual rather than
religious, and some pray.
It appears, as souls, many still
intuitively remember their SPIRITUAL SOURCE.
As for myself, I believe people
are having real and personal psychic experiences and contact with the spirit
world, but they want to know if they are truly genuine, for this can provide
hope of spiritual realities. People want proof of their spiritual feelings and
encounters, but where can they go for corroboration?
Blind faith may be enough for many people who attend
traditional places of worship. People there are taught that spiritual miracles
– which are found in most holy books – occurred only in the past. Traditional religions
founded on spirit revelations tend to condemn these spiritual encounters now…as diabolical.
And, then there is mainstream Science which won’t seriously
study the paranormal or rejects it outright as fabrication, creating much
skepticism and uncertainty.
This can cause the average person to deny their own legitimate
personal psychic experiences and the contact they are having in various ways from
the spirit world.
We are all spirits incarnated into a physical body. Down
through the ages mankind has had psychic experiences and contact with spirits.
How these phenomena have been interpreted by mankind has changed: from
shamanism to myths and superstition; from miracles and the supernatural to the normal
and natural faculties of mediumship and psychic abilities inherent in us all. Yet,
there is still no universal consensus on their legitimacy.
It is very unfortunate people cannot find official
authentification or support for these important matters in life that many
people know exist, from either the Science or Religious establishments.
ALLAN KARDEC’S LEGACY
Written
by Yvonne Limoges
The Spiritual
Science of Spiritism can help those seeking knowledge and proof of spiritual
realities.
Kardec was a
researcher that left important books on the paranormal and the spirit world,
but most importantly he also provided guidance on how groups can seriously
study, and ethically put into practice, interaction with the spirit world towards
moral betterment…for all involved participants.
And…Spiritist
groups continue to multiply, continuing to spread his valuable legacy.
HELPING OTHERS & OUR WORLD
Can we evaluate
to help or at least mitigate the suffering of others? This question remains
[many times] unanswered in the society of men of the twentieth century because
we do not even ask it.
Our aspirations only seek the benefit of ourselves and our environment, thereby
relegating the most complete forgetfulness of all those who suffer, either
morally, physically or psychologically affected by any type of situation, [while]
the solution may well reside in our hands.
In our daily struggle for better property and improvement in our personal
circumstances, we forget about those around us and their most basic needs.
When fortune
smiles [upon us], we overlook the idea of a God who presides over our
destinies and eradicate from our minds all spiritual conceptions requiring our
renunciation and sacrifice. But what happens when suffering makes its
appearance?
We cry to heaven,
we expressly request an explanation for our pain and from there begin to see
the error of our behavior.
Unfortunately, must we only perceive the intensity of the suffering of others
until we live in our own flesh a similar situation? Is it useful, then, our suffering,
if at least it helps us to raise our already distorted feelings, and start
worrying about others?
It should not be necessary to incur such a situation, especially when we have
at our disposal sufficient knowledge and experience to show us that selfish
attitudes lead an individual to more absolute loneliness and unhappiness.
If we want others to attend to what we need, we must first help them in their
needs. To receive, one must first give.
Undoubtedly, one of the desires of every human being is to be appreciated and
loved by those around him, and we are aware that to reach this situation one must
deserve it…Although on this last point it is more difficult, because it
requires an effort on our part; which we are not always willing to make.
Improving our current
conditions should not be based solely on the material aspects that surround us,
but most importantly, in human relationships and our dealings with other
people. Not surprisingly, coexistence, when it is harmonious, provides human
beings good feelings and joy.
There will come a day when our views on life will profoundly change, and all the current
landscape will change, leading to human relationships based on respect and
friendship, where differences of class, race, sex, religion, etc. have no
place.
What's more, when
we will also have learned the lesson of the futility of war and violence, our
aspirations will only improve our environment and the world around us.
(Translated by Yvonne Limoges from the Spanish of their March 2012 Editorial
on the website of (Love, Peace and
Charity) www.amorpazycaridad.com
in Spain)
HAVE CONFIDENCE
Inspirationally received by Julie
L. Harper
Believe
in yourself. The strength of confidence may come from belief in God’s promise
that you are never given more than you can handle within any given moment in
any given situation.
Stand
upon the Creator’s perfect love to honor God and the blessing of life. Know
that by your very existence you are loved equally and are equal in importance,
regardless of how you view yourself or the views of others.
All
challenges are easier to face with gratitude and faith. They exist to enable
you to move beyond current circumstances to greater understanding.
Every
path, no matter how difficult or seemingly glorious, is designed with necessary
lessons for each individual in order to promote growth.
When
one navigates with the sentiment of faith, confidence is encouraged, and the
journey is smoother. Always remember that God helps those who help themselves.
One’s
effort done with confident mindfulness help endeavors by the energy it lends
and by those in the spirit world who assist.
Belief
in oneself and support from the spirit world may also reinforce faith. Trust in
God that all outcomes result to encourage betterment.
INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY – 3/08/13
The Centers of Disease Control reports:
one quarter of American women will experience domestic violence. Around the
world, there is widespread: sex trade, rape & mutilation, little girls
married off, and prevention of their education. Progress is slow. Pray for change!
WISE ADVICE FROM
SPIRIT GUIDES
In your troubles, in your anxieties,
and your fears do not forget to
place your confidence in us, never
forget that we are your elder brothers and as such are entrusted with the beautiful
task of protecting you; to help guide
you through the stormy oceans of earthly
life and the hard
tests.
Rather
than roaring
with indomitable fury with
tempests of passions…remain calm,
serene and confident in the full assurance
of our protection.
It is prudent, and discreet to stay
away from any discussions or disputes of discord. Master your passions supporting patiently
without complaint, all offenses, as well as inconveniences and hardships that will upset current circumstances.
Clear your mind and
your heart from all feelings of hatred or rancor, sincerely
forgiving and forgetting any harm or damage whoever is the cause of it; as
well as do not participate in
intriguing, alarming or disruptive discussions.
Be frugal, be sober, be fair, clean of mind and soul;
be noble, be honest, reject the vices, and
cultivate high spiritual virtues.
Pray, trust and hope. Put your
firm and unwavering willpower in helping strive towards human perfection.
And,
with fervent and pure, sincere faith…may you be continuously enlightened
on the path always towards the sparkling
bright star that forever leads to God.
(A beautiful spirit
communication from spiritually advanced spirits received by Juan Diaz Rojas from
Spain, and translated into English by Yvonne Limoges).
THANKS, YOU WHO
MADE ME SUFFER!
A spirit named Samuel
Philippe communicates after his death, at Allan Kardec’s Spiritist Society to explain
why he thanks those who did not treat him well while he was upon the earth:
“Oh! You who made me suffer when I was upon the earth, who
were harsh and unkind to me, who humiliated me and filled my cup with
bitterness, whose treachery often reduced me to hardest privations, I not only forgive you, I thank you, for all you did!”
“You thought little that, intending to do me harm, you were
really doing me such good! It is to you that I owe, in great measure, the
happiness I enjoy [in the spirit world]; for you gave me the opportunity of
forgiving and returning good for evil.”
“The Divine Providence placed you upon my road in order to
try my patience and to exercise me in the practice of the most difficult branch
of charity – the love of our enemies.”
(As a man,
this spirit when alive, although suffering many troubles, fatigue and sacrifices
of all kinds, willingly helped others. He died in 1852 at the age of 50 after a
long and painful illness. Excerpt is from Anna Blackwell’s English translation
of Kardec’s book in French - Heaven and
Hell.)
REMEMBER – GOD IS
ALL LOVE
Written by Yvonne
Limoges
We chose through
freewill all those who are in our pathway that may cause us difficulties in
life.
God is All Love. Therefore, all suffering has a divine and
just cause – lessons for our soul’s evolution and final purification.
So have patience, courage and hope.
JESUS SAYS:
“Discover God; you
may already know how to worship Him. Discover your destiny and you shall
love one another, and God will love you. Study the morality to be gained from the law of God, and shatter the weapons of murder, in
the name of the brotherhood of
peoples.”
“Lay
down your arms and love one another.
A single knot exists
to link the entirety of humanity: and that is love. There is only one way
out of degradation: repentance,
and if in the last hour of repentance the head of
the guilty bows, the Justice of God, imbued
with mercy, leans upon that
head.”
“God of the
Universe, our All-Powerful Merciful Father, may the light of your sight shine
down on your children. Send down on their spirits, the glory,
the grandeur, and the perfection of your nature, so that they bow to your decrees, and
enjoy hope in the midst of trials
and human suffering; [and] all
proportionate tranquility and forgiveness. Bestow all abundance of consolations.
May your light of justice illuminate
the gift of fraternal
alliances and may your mercy help the wayward!”
“Only through
love will man be saved.”
(NOTE: It is the month of Easter and as always I put an article in our newsletter
regarding Him. The above is an excerpt from the 1931 book Life of Jesus Dictated by Himself from the Spanish – - translated into
English by me - edited and annotated by scientist Dr. Ovidio Rebaudi, and
published by the Metaphysical Institute
of Buenos Aires in Argentina. The book is purported to be a spirit
communication received by the use of two separate mediums, by Jesus Himself. I
consider it a very spiritual book. I leave it to our readers to make up their
own minds as to its moral and spiritual merits. - Y.L.)
************************************
Spiritist Society of Florida
5042 22 Avenue
North,
