Manifestations of Spirits - Answers to Mr. Viennet, by Paul Auguez

Mr. Paul Auguez was a great French poet and intellectual of his time, as well as one of the first defenders of Spiritism, having met Kardec through the release of his first work as such – The Book of Spirits.

Mr. Paul Auguez responds in a dignified, serious, profound and rational way to the attacks suffered, which is why Allan Kardec defends him in the Spiritist Magazine of February 1858.

By numerous citations that attest to serious study and profound erudition, he proves that if today's adherents, despite their ever-increasing numbers, and the enlightened people of all countries connected with them, are, as the illustrious scholar claims, , unbalanced brains, such a disease is common to them with that of most geniuses who honor humanity.

Allan Kardec, [RE], 1858

It is important to emphasize that Spiritism is not a theory taken from a person's head, but it is a science whose theory is supported by the logical observation of facts. It is from this observation, rational, logical and serious, that the theory arises, and not the other way around.

Paulo Henrique de Figueiredo says:

Spiritism serves, mainly, those who, for having a rational thought incompatible with mysticism, want to understand the laws of spirituality through the use of reason. Also to those who, educated by the catechism in the churches in their first formation, are disillusioned by the dogmas, accepted by blind faith, which demand submission. The Spiritist Doctrine is a theory organized by fundamental concepts that form an irreproachable logical structure, explaining the phenomena of moral life through natural laws. Those who study it deeply, and understand its original message, find strength in difficult moments, courage to face their own misfortunes, have hope for the future and gain the certainty of a better world, where they will find their place.

Figueiredo, Autonomy: the untold story of Spiritism, 2019

And he adds: “A theory based on facts is the very definition of science, because it represents what differentiates it from other ways of thinking, such as conjecture or religious faith.”