1 Please cooperate with future projects by respecting the copyright. This electronic version was prepared with the sole purpose of the dissemination of the Spiritist Doctrine. To purchase the hard copy of this books or for more information please contact [email protected] 2 Please cooperate with future projects by respecting the copyright. This electronic version was prepared with the sole purpose of the dissemination of the Spiritist Doctrine. To purchase the hard copy of this books or for more information please contact [email protected] GENESIS ALLAN KARDEC 3 Please cooperate with future projects by respecting the copyright. This electronic version was prepared with the sole purpose of the dissemination of the Spiritist Doctrine. To purchase the hard copy of this books or for more information please contact [email protected] Translation copyright © Spiritist Alliance for Books, 2003 First edition – 1000 copies Spiritist Alliance for Books/Spiritist Group of New York http://www.sgny.org E-mail:[email protected] Original Title: La Genèse - Les Miracles et les Prédictions Selon le Spiritisme – Allan Kardec All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior permission in writing from the copyright holder. Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE< NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. The “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Cover photo: The Whirlpool Galaxy in the constellation of Canes Venatici (Photograph taken by NASA and the Hubble Heritage Team STScI/AURA) Editorial Production: Sociedade Espírita Paulo de Tarso Rua 104, Travessa Eurípedes Barsanulfo nº 140 CEP 74080-350, Setor Sul, Goiânia - Goiás - Brasil. Printed in Brazil by: Editora Gráfica Ipiranga Ltda - Brasília-DF Library of Congress number: TXu1-103-989 Main entry under title: Genesis – The Miracles and Predictions According to Spiritism 1. Religious Philosophy 2. Spiritist Doctrine 3. Christianity I. Kardec, Allan, 1804 ISBN 0-9742332-0-X The Spiritist Group of New York (SGNY) is a not-for-profit organization, which has the sole aim to promote and disseminate the Spiritist Doctrine in English, as codified by Allan Kardec. The group was officially established on April 12th, 2001. However, some of its participants have been earnestly fostering the dissemination of the Spiritist Doctrine in the United States and in the United Kingdom for about ten years. As a result, a number of its founders and participating members have founded the Spiritist Alliance for Books (SAB), which is an organization that aims to unite people from all over the world who are willing to volunteer in the effort of translating spiritist books (which were originally written in other languages) into English. 4 Please cooperate with future projects by respecting the copyright. This electronic version was prepared with the sole purpose of the dissemination of the Spiritist Doctrine. To purchase the hard copy of this books or for more information please contact [email protected] GENESIS THE MIRACLES AND THE PREDICTIONS ACCORDING TO SPIRITISM ALLAN KARDEC This English translation is based on the French original (Nouvelle Edition conforme a L'Edition Originale - Union Spirite Française et Francophone) the Spiritist Alliance for Books (SAB). 5 Please cooperate with future projects by respecting the copyright. This electronic version was prepared with the sole purpose of the dissemination of the Spiritist Doctrine. To purchase the hard copy of this books or for more information please contact [email protected] 6 Please cooperate with future projects by respecting the copyright. This electronic version was prepared with the sole purpose of the dissemination of the Spiritist Doctrine. To purchase the hard copy of this books or for more information please contact [email protected] PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH EDITION It was a heartfelt happiness, indeed, for all of us when we came upon Mr. W. J. Colville’s out of print version of “Genesis,” an English translation of the French book written and published by Allan Kardec in January of 1868. Our first discovery and viewing of this publication occurred on an exceedingly significant date for mankind, and particularly for us, residents of New York City. The date of our finding, incredibly enough, was September 11, 2002, exactly one year to date of the tragedy that struck our city and shook the world. This finding has motivated us to scrutinize the text, and has served as the basis of our endeavor to publish a new version of “Genesis” in English, thus completing the series of five books that comprise the set of the Spiritist Doctrine presented by Allan Kardec. Our commitment to this new publication stems from our intense desire to present as faithful a translation of the original French version as possible. In order to achieve this goal, we meticulously followed Kardec’s French version, to insure the accuracy and thoroughness of the final product. In spite of having included a more relevant and effective footnote support to bridge the gap between XIX Century and modern science, the reader may rest assured that the original text presented by the author has been methodically preserved. We sincerely hope that this book will help to enlighten all readers and bring joy to the many other hearts that until today had not been able to enjoy such an important work, due to its unavailability to the English speaking public. A task of this magnitude could only be accomplished through the efforts and dedication of tireless workers who we would like to acknowledge for their excellent contribution: Eliene Brito, Louis Day, Dean Whorton, Milena Whorton, Marie Levinson, Crisley Thomé, Edward Christie, Luciana dos Santos, Marcia Lacerda, Henrique de Sá, Suzanne Erickson and João Korngold. We thank our spiritual guides for being ever present at our side, through the entire process and completion of this work, as well as for the trust they have bestowed upon us in making it possible for the first English translation of Genesis to reach our hands. Jussara Korngold Spiritist Alliance for Books New York, May 2003 7 Please cooperate with future projects by respecting the copyright. This electronic version was prepared with the sole purpose of the dissemination of the Spiritist Doctrine. To purchase the hard copy of this books or for more information please contact [email protected] INTRODUCTION This new work is one step more in the advancement in the effects and applications of Spiritism. As its title indicates, its object is the study of three points diversely commented upon and interpreted even to this day, - “Genesis, Miracles, and Predictions” in their relations with the recently known laws which are revealed through the observation of spiritual phenomena. Two elements, or we may say two forces, govern the universe, - the spiritual element and the material one. By the simultaneous action of these two principles are developed some special phenomena, which are naturally rendered inexplicable if one should take away one of its two constituent elements, oxygen and hydrogen. Spiritism, in demonstrating the existence of the spiritual world and its relations with the material world, furnishes the key to a multitude of unknown phenomena, which are considered as inadmissible by a certain class of thinkers. The record of such facts abounds in the Scriptures; and it is in default of knowledge concerning the laws that govern them that commentators of the two opposing parties moving always in the same circle of ideas, - some abstracting positive gifts from science, others from the spiritual principle, - have not been able to arrive at any rational solution. The solution is found only in the reciprocal action between spirit and matter. It takes away, it is true, the great part of the supernatural character of these facts. But which is the more valuable method: to admit them have sprung from the laws of nature, or to reject them entirely? Their absolute rejection removes the base from the edifice; while their admission as facts, suppressing only accessories, leaves the base intact. This is why Spiritism leads so many people to a belief in truth, which they formerly considered utopian ideas. This work is then, as we have said before, a complement of the applications of Spiritism to this special point of a view. The materials were ready, or at least elaborated a long time since; but the moment for their publication had not arrived. It was necessary at first that the ideas which were to form the base should arrive at maturity; and moreover, it was necessary to take advantage of circumstances. Spiritism has neither mysteries nor secret theories. It can bear the full light of day so that everyone can judge of it by a knowledge of its laws; but everything has to come in its own time in order to win its way. A solution given lightly, prior to the complete elucidation of the question, would be a retarding force, rather than a means of advancement. In the matter in question the importance of the subject makes it a duty to avoid all precipitation. Before entering into the subject, it has appeared necessary to us to define distinctly the respective roles of spirits and men according to the new doctrine. These preliminary considerations, which discard all ideas of mysticism, form the subject of the first chapter, entitled “Character of the Spiritist Revelation.” We call serious attention to this point, because it is in a measure the knot of the question. Notwithstanding the work incumbent upon human activity in the elaboration of this doctrine, the initiative belongs to the spirits; but conclusions are not drawn from the personal opinion of none of them. The truth can only be the resultant of their collective and concordant teachings. Without this united testimony, a doctrine could not lawfully be called the doctrine of the spirits; it would be merely that of one spirit, and would possess only the value of a personal opinion. General concordance in teaching is the doctrine’s essential character, the condition even of its existence. It is evident that all principles which have not received the consecration of general agreement can only be considered as a fractional part of this same doctrine, merely as a simple, isolated opinion for which Spiritism cannot assume the responsibility. 8 Please cooperate with future projects by respecting the copyright. This electronic version was prepared with the sole purpose of the dissemination of the Spiritist Doctrine. To purchase the hard copy of this books or for more information please contact [email protected] It is the concordant, collective teaching of the spirits who have passed beyond which constitutes the logical criterion, giving strength to the spiritual doctrine and assuring to it perpetuity. In order to change it, it would be necessary that the universal experience and teachings of spirits should change, and that one day they would contradict what they have previously declared. Considering that it has its source in the teachings of the spirits, in order for it to fail would be necessary the cessation of the existence of the spirits. This established, it must prevail over every personal system which has not, like it, roots extending in all directions. The Spirits’ Book has seen its credit consolidate, because it is the expression of a collective thought. In the month of April, 1867, it accomplished its first decennial period. In this interval, the fundamental principles which form its base have been successively completed and developed by following progressive teachings of the spirits; but not one of its declarations has received contradiction through the trial. All without exception have remained firm, stronger than ever; while, among all the contradictory ideas with which persons have tried to oppose them, not one has prevailed, because on all sides the spiritual teaching was confirmatory. This characteristic result we can proclaim without vanity, as its merit is not attributable to us. Similar circumstances have presided at the editing of our other works. Thus we have been able in all truth to tell the public that they are in accordance with Spiritism itself, owing to their conformity with the general teachings of the spirits. In this volume we can present under similar conditions the complement of the precedents, with the exception, however, of some theories yet hypothetical, which we have taken care to indicate as such, and which ought not to be considered as other than individual opinions until they have been confirmed. If they be contradicted, the responsibility of them does not rest upon the general doctrine. Yet the constant readers of the “Revue Spirite1” will have observed that most of the ideas only outlined in preceding articles are enlarged upon and developed in this last work. The “Revue” is often for us a trial-ground, destined to sound the opinions of men and spirits upon certain principles, before admitting them as constituent parts of the doctrine. 1 “Revue Spirite,” a valuable French spiritist periodical. 9 Please cooperate with future projects by respecting the copyright. This electronic version was prepared with the sole purpose of the dissemination of the Spiritist Doctrine. To purchase the hard copy of this books or for more information please contact [email protected] 10 Please cooperate with future projects by respecting the copyright. This electronic version was prepared with the sole purpose of the dissemination of the Spiritist Doctrine. To purchase the hard copy of this books or for more information please contact [email protected]