Discarnate Enemies
5. Spiritists have yet other reasons for being tolerant of their enemies. First of all, they know that wickedness is not a permanent state for humans; that it is due to a momentary imperfection, and that just as children correct themselves of their faults, evil people will someday acknowledge their wrongs and become good.
They also know that death frees them only from the physical presence of their enemies, and that their enemies can pursue them with their hatred even after having left the earth behind; that their vengeance thus fails in its objective, and, to the contrary, has the effect of causing a greater anger that can continue from one existence to the next. It is Spiritism’s responsibility to show through experience and the law that governs the relations between the visible and invisible worlds that the expression, “extinguishing hatred with blood” is radically erroneous, and that what is, in fact, the truth is that blood preserves hatred even beyond the grave. Consequently, Spiritism must present a positive reason and a practical usefulness for forgiveness and Christ’s sublime maxim: Love your enemies. There is no heart so perverse that it would not be touched by good behavior, even without being conscious of it. Through good conduct, one removes at the least any pretext for reprisals, and can turn enemies into friends both before and after his or her death. Through bad behavior we anger them, and it is then that they serve as instruments of God’s justice for punishing those who have not forgiven.
6. One can therefore have enemies among both incarnates and discarnates. The enemies of the invisible world express their malevolence through the obsessions and subjugations of which so many persons are the target, and which are one variety of life’s trials. Trials like these, just like other trials, help one to advance and should be accepted with resignation and as the result of the inferior nature of the terrestrial globe. If there were no evil people on the earth, there would be no evil spirits around it. Consequently, if one must have indulgence and benevolence for one’s incarnate enemies, one must also have them for those who are discarnate.
In times past, blood victims were sacrificed to placate infernal gods, who were none other than evil spirits. These infernal gods were succeeded by demons, who are the same thing. Spiritism has come to show that these demons are none other than the souls of wicked humans who have not yet gotten rid of their material instincts; that nothing can placate them except the sacrifice of one’s hatred, that is, by showing them charity; that charity not only has the effect of stopping them from practicing evil, but it also can lead them to the path of the good and contribute toward their salvation. It is thus that the maxim, “Love your enemies” is not limited to the narrow circle of the earth and the present life, but is part of the great law of universal solidarity and fraternity.