A different pentateuch
Roni Ricardo Osorio Maia
The word pentateuch is of Greek origin, which means five parts. In religious terms, it was used to embrace all the five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. In Spiritism, it was used to represent the five books of Kardec : The Spirits’ Book (1857); The Mediums’ Book (1861); The Gospel According to Spiritism (1864); Heaven and Hell (1865); and Genesis (1868).
This article proposes to distinguish the application of the word by using it to highlight five upholders and dedicated workers for the spread of spiritism:
Allan Kardec (1804–1869): He is our foundation. On a mission on Earth, the Messenger of Light and Truth, born in Lyon, France, was a serious and observant man, an academic in the sciences. Following the spiritist phenomena in Paris, he allowed himself to act as an intermediary alongside a team of mediums, and left us the Spiritist Codification. In addition to the articles in the Revue Spirite (The Spiritist Magazine), after his passing, members of the Parisian Society of Spiritist Studies compiled his writings, which soon became the book Posthumous Works (1890).
Léon Denis (1846–1927): “The Apostle of Spiritism”. A great science and philosophy enthusiast , self-taught and without formal academic training. His first book, After Death, is a landmark in the history of Spiritism. An exceptional writer, lecturer, and medium, he dedicated himself wholeheartedly to his mission.
Cairbar Schutel (1868–1938): “The Pioneer of Spiritism.” A groundbreaker, upon moving to Matão (SP) and facing the clerical power of the time, he did not become unmotivated, on the contrary, he showed the Truth, setting an example through charitable and mediumistic practices. He founded the newspaper O Clarim, the International Spiritism Magazine, and the associated printing house and publisher. Cairbar disseminated Kardec’s works, brought from Europe, throughout Brazil, greatly contributing to the spread of Spiritism. Among his literary works, we highlight the remarkable book Parables and Teachings of Jesus (published by Casa Editora O Clarim).
Yvonne do Amaral Pereira (1900–1984): She was our esteemed tireless worker from Rio das Flores (RJ). It is important to highlight the Yvonne Pereira Collection (through the spirits Charles, Bezerra de Menezes, Leon Tolstoy, Camilo Castelo Branco, Léon Denis) for its impeccable doctrinal precision and refinement. In addition to her authored works—Memories of Mediumship and Exploring the Invisible (FEB)—she also contributed with various articles to the magazine Reformador (FEB), which later culminated in the book In the Light of the Comforter (FEB). Yvonne left us an exquisite legacy of mediumistic writings, notably the remarkable book Memoirs of a Suicide (FEB).
Francisco Cândido Xavier (1910–2002): A devoted medium from Pedro Leopoldo (MG), who was orphaned at a young age and raised by his godmother. With a prominent mediumistic ability, he faced hostility and misunderstanding but overcame adversity through the guidance of his mentor Emmanuel and the spirit of his disincarnated mother, Maria João de Deus. His work resulted in over 400 books, the first being Parnaso de Além-Túmulo (FEB), a collection of mediumistic poetry. Following this, he produced historical and instructional books (Emmanuel), short stories, chronicles, and news from the beyond (Brother X/Humberto de Campos), as well as works on life in the spiritual world (The André Luiz Collection), among many others.
This Pentateuch, in our opinion, stands apart without disregarding other great authors, writers and disseminators of the past and present. These five names serve us as an inspiration, in their wisdom, care, dedication to what they were entrusted with—making knowledge accessible to all and fostering its expansion to those in need, which includes all of us, as seekers of enlightenment and consolation.
