CONTAINING
THE PRINCIPLES OF SPIRITIST DOCTRINE
ON
THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL: THE NATURE OF SPIRITS
AND THEIR RELATIONS WITH MEN; THE MORAL LAW:
THE PRESENT LIFE, THE FUTURE LIFE, AND
THE DESTINY OF THE HUMAN RACE.
ACCORDING TO THE TEACHINGS OF SPIRITS OF HIGH DEGREE,
TRANSMITTED THROUGH VARIOUS MEDIUMS,
COLLECTED AND SET IN ORDER
BY
A L L A N K A R D E C
Translated from the Hundred and Twentieth Thousand
BY
A N N A B L A C K W E L L
TO
THE DEVOTED WIFE
OF
ALLAN KARDEC
THIS TRANSLATION
IS
AFFECTIONALITY INSCRIBED.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
AUTHOR'S
PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION
INTRODUCTION
PROLEGOMENA
BOOK FIRST
CHAPTER I
GOD
God
and infinity
Proofs
of the existence of God
Attributes
of the Divinity
Pantheism
CHAPTER II
GENERAL ELEMENTS OF THE UNIVERSE
Knowledge
of the first principles of things
Spirit and
matter
Properties of
matter
Universal
space
CHAPTER III
CREATION
Formation of
worlds
Production of living
beings
Peopling of the earth:
Adam
Diversity of human
races
Plurality of
worlds
The
Biblical account of
the creation
CHAPTER IV
THE VITAL PRINCIPLE
Organic and inorganic
beings
Life and
death
Intelligence and
instinct
BOOK SECOND
THE SPIRIT-WORLD, OR WORLD OF SPIRITS.
CHAPTER I
SPIRITS
Origin and
nature of spirits
Primitive and
normal world
Form and
ubiquity of spirits
Perispirit
Different orders
of spirits
Spirit-hierarchy
Progression of
Spirits
Angels and
demons
CHAPTER II
INCARNATION OF SPIRITS
Aim
of Incarnation
The
soul
Materialism
CHAPTER III
RETURN FROM CORPOREAL TO THE SPIRIT-LIFE
The
soul after death
Separation
of soul and body
Temporarily
confused state of the soul after death
CHAPTER IV
PLURALITY OF EXISTIENCES
Reincarnation
Justice
of reincarnation
Incarnation
in different worlds
Progressive
transmigrations
Fate
of children after death
Sex
In spirits
Relationship-Filiation
Physical
and moral likeness
Innate
Ideas
CHAPTER V
CONSIDERATIONS
ON THE PLURALITY OF EXISTENCES
CHAPTER VI
SPIRIT-LIFE
Errant
or wandering spirits
Transitional
worlds
Perceptions,
sensations, and sufferings of spirits
Theoretical
explanation of the nature of sensation in spirits
Choice
of earthly trials
Relationships
beyond the grave
Sympathies
and antipathies of spirits-Eternal halves
Remembrance
of corporeal existence
Commemoration
of the dead-Funerals
CHAPTER VII
RETURN TO CORPOREAL LIFE
Preludes
to return
Union
of soul and body-Abortion
Moral
and Intellectual faculties of mankind
Influence
of organism
Idiocy
and madness
Infancy
Terrestrial
sympathies and antipathies
Forgetfulness
of the past
CHAPTER VIII
EMANCIPATION OF THE SOUL
Sleep
and dreams
Visits
between the spirits of living persons
Occult
transmission of thought
Lethargy-Catalepsy-Apparent
death
Somnambulism
Trance
Second-sight
Explanation
of somnambulism, trance, and second-sight
CHAPTER IX
INTERVENTION OF SPIRITS IN THE CORPOREAL WORLD
Penetration
of our thoughts by spirits
Occult
influence of spirits on our thoughts and actions
Possession
Convulsionaries
Affection
of certain spirits for certain persons
Guardian-angels-Protecting,
familiar, and sympathetic spirits
Presentiments
Influence
of spirits on the events of human life
Action
of spirits In the production of the phenomena of nature
Spirits
during a battle
Pacts
with spirits
Occult
power-Talismans-Sorcerers
Benedictions
and curses
CHAPTER X
OCCUPATIONS
AND MISSIONS OF SPIRITS
CHAPTER XI
THE THREE REIGNS
Minerals
and plants
Animals
and men
Metempsychosis
BOOK THIRD
CHAPTER I
MORAL LAWS
DIVINE OR NATURAL LAW
Characteristics
of natural law
Knowledge
of natural law
Good
and evil
Division
of natural law
CHAPTER II
THE LAW OF ADORATION
Aim
of adoration
External
acts of adoration
Life
of contemplation
Prayer
Polytheism
Sacrifices
CHAPTER III
THE LAW OF LABOUR
Necessity
of labor
Limit
of labor-Rest
CHAPTER IV
THE LAW OF REPRODUCTION
Population
of the globe
Succession
and improvement of races
Obstacles
to reproduction
Marriage
and celibacy
Polygamy
CHAPTER V
THE LAW OF PRESERVATION
Instinct
of self-preservation
Means
of self-preservation
Enjoyments
of the fruits of the earth
Necessities
and superfluities
Voluntary
privations-Mortifications
CHAPTER VI
THE LAW OF DESTRUCTION
Necessary
destruction and unjustifiable destruction
Destructive
calamities
War
Murder
Cruelty
Dueling
Capital
punishment
CHAPTER VII
SOCIAL LAW
Necessity
of social life
Life
of isolation
Family
ties
CHAPTER VIII
THE LAW OF PROGRESS
State
of nature
March
of progress
Degenerate
peoples
Civilization
Progress
of human legislation
Influence
of spiritism on progress
CHAPTER IX
THE LAW OF EQUALITY
Natural
equality
Inequality
of aptitudes
Social
inequalities
Inequality
of riches
Trials
of riches and of poverty
Equality
of rights of men and women
Equality
in death
CHAPTER X
THE LAW OF LIBERTY
Natural
liberty
Slavery
Freedom
of thought
Freedom
of conscience
Free-will
Fatality
Foreknowledge
Theoretic
summary of the springs of human action
CHAPTER XI
THE LAW OF JUSTICE, OF LOVE, AND OF CHARITY
Natural
rights and justice
Right
of Property-Robbery
Charity-Love
of the neighbor
Maternal
and filial affection
CHAPTER XII
MORAL PERFECTION
Virtues
and vices
The
passions
Selfishness
Characteristics
of the virtuous man
Self-knowledge
BOOK FOURTH
HOPES AND CONSOLATIONS.
CHAPTER 1
EARTHLY JOYS AND SORROWS
Happiness
and unhappiness
Loss
of those we love
Disappointments--Ingratitude--Blighted
affections
Antipathetic
unions
Fear
of death
Weariness
of Life--Suicide
CHAPTER II
FUTURE JOYS AND SORROWS
Annihilation--Future
life
Intuition
of future joys and sorrows
Intervention
of God in rewards and punishments
Nature
of future joys and sorrows
Temporal
sorrows
Expiation
and repentance
Duration
of future penalties
Resurrection
of the body
Paradise--Hell-Purgatory--Original
sin
CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION 
These pages are lightly edited excerpts from The Spirits by Allan Kardec
[Leon Rivail] A download (acrobat
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