False Prophets in the Spirit World
10. False prophets are not found only among incarnates. They are also, and in much larger numbers, found among proud spirits, who, under the false appearance of love and charity, sow disunion and retard the work of humankind’s emancipation, infiltrating it with their absurd theories, which they make their mediums believe. And to better fascinate those they want to exploit in order to give more weight to their theories, they unscrupulously adorn themselves with names that humans do not pronounce except with respect.
These are the spirits who sow the seeds of antagonism among groups, who compel them to isolate themselves from each other and to look at each other with suspicion. This alone should be enough to unmask them because by acting in such a manner they themselves offer the most categorical denial of who they claim to be. Blind are those persons, therefore, who allow themselves to fall into such a blatant trap.
Furthermore, there are many other means for recognizing them. Spirits of the order to which they say they belong must not only be very good, but eminently rational as well. So then, pass their theories through the sieve of reason and common sense and you will see what remains of them. You will agree with me that every time a spirit indicates as a remedy for the ills of humankind, or as a means of achieving its transformation, utopian and impracticable things or childish and ridiculous measures, or when it formulates a theory contradicted by the most basic notions of science, it can only be an ignorant and deceitful spirit.
On the other hand, you can be sure that if the truth is not always appreciated by certain individuals, it is always appreciated by the good sense of the masses, which is one more criterion. If two principles contradict each other, you will have the measure of their intrinsic worth by seeking out which one enjoys greater significance and more sympathy. In fact, it would be illogical to believe that a doctrine that saw the number of its adherents diminish could be truer than another that sees its number increase. In wanting the truth to reach everybody, God does not confine it within a closed circle: he makes it appear at different points so that everywhere the light may be alongside the darkness.
Mercilessly shun all spirits who present themselves as exclusive counselors, preaching separation and isolation. They are nearly always vain and mediocre spirits, who tend to impose themselves on weak and credulous individuals, lavishing exaggerated praise on them in order to fascinate them and keep them under their domination. They are usually spirits eager for power, and who as public or private despots during their lifetimes, once more want to have victims to tyrannize after their death. In general, distrust communications that entail a mystical or peculiar character, or that prescribe rituals and bizarre actions. There is always a legitimate motive for suspicion in such cases.
On the other hand, you may be sure that whenever a truth must be revealed to humankind, it is, so to speak, communicated instantaneously to all serious groups that have serious mediums, and not to this or that group to the exclusion of all others. No one is a perfect medium if obsessed, and there is manifest obsession whenever a medium is able to receive communications from only one particular spirit, no matter how high it tries to place itself. Consequently, all mediums or groups who believe themselves to be privileged by communications that only they can receive, or who are subjected to practices that emphasize superstition, are undoubtedly under the influence of a well-characterized obsession, especially when the dominating spirit adorns itself with a name that everybody, both spirit and incarnate, should honor and respect, and not allow to be degraded at any time.
It is incontestable that, by submitting all spirit phenomena and communications to the crucible of reason and logic, it will be easy to reject absurdity and error. One medium can be fascinated and one group deluded; however, the strict assessment by other groups, the knowledge acquired, the high moral authority of group leaders, the communications of the principal mediums who receive a stamp of logic and authenticity from our best spirits, will render rapid justice to these deceitful and cunning communications originated by a horde of deceitful or evil spirits.
Erastus, Disciple of St. Paul (Paris, 1862)