Allan Kardec-THE Spirit's Book_ The Principles of Spiritist Doctrine (1989)

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ALLAN KARDEC
that ought never to have entered into enlightened minds. I say 'enlightened,' because, however
dense the veil of materiality in which they were enveloped, their free-will sufficed, even then,
to give them a glimmering perception of their origin and their destiny, and many among them
already understood, by intuition, the wickedness they were committing, but which they none
the less accomplished for the gratification of their passions."
671. What should be thought of the wars styled "religious?" The sentiment that induces a
nation of fanatics to exterminate the greatest possible number of those who do not share their
belief, with a view to rendering themselves acceptable to God, would seem to proceed from
the same source as that which formerly led them to immolate their fellow-creatures as
sacrifices.
"Such wars are stirred up by evil spirits; and the men who wage them place themselves in
direct opposition to the will of God, which is, that each man should love his brother as
himself. Since all religions, or rather all peoples, worship the same God, whatever the name
by which they call Him, why should one of them wage a war of extermination against
another, simply because its religion is different, or has not yet reached the degree of
enlightenment arrived at by the aggressor? Not to believe the word of Him who was sent by
God and animated by His spirit is excusable on the part of peoples who neither saw Him nor
witnessed the acts per-formed by Him; and, at all events, how can you hope that they will
hearken to His message of peace, when you try to force it upon them by fire and sword? It is
true that they have to be enlightened, and that it is your duty to endeavour to teach them the
doctrine of Christ; but this must be done by persuasion and gentleness; not by violence and
bloodshed. The greater number among you do not believe in the communication we have
with certain mortals; how could you expect that strangers should believe your assertions in
regard to this fact, if your acts belied the doctrine you profess?"
672. Was the offering of the fruits of the earth more acceptable in the sight of God than the
sacrificing of animals?
"It must evidently be more agreeable to God to be worshipped by the offering of the fruits of
the earth, than by that of the blood of victims. But I have already answered your question in
telling you that God's judgement is directed to the intention, and that the