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

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BOOK SECOND -THE SPIRIT-WORLD, OR WORLD OF SPIRITS
CHAPTER I
SPIRITS
1. ORIGIN AND NATURE OF SPIRIT - 2. PRIMITIVE AND
NORMAL WORLD - 3. FORM AND UBIQUITY OF SPIRITS
- 4. THE PERISPIRIT - 5. DIFFERENT ORDERS OF SPIRITS
- 6. SPIRIT-HIERARCHY -7. PROGRESSION OF SPIRITS
- 8. ANGELS AND DEMONS.
76. What definition can be given of spirits?
Origin and Nature of Spirits
"Spirits may be defined as the intelligent beings of the creation. They constitute the
population of the universe, in contradistinction to the forms of the material world."
NOTE. The word spirit is here employed to designate the individuality of extra-corporeal beings, and not
the universal intelligent element.
77. Are spirits beings distinct from the Deity, or are they only emanations from or portions of
the Deity, and called, for that reason, "sons" or "children" of God?
"Spirits are the work of God, just as a machine is the work of the mechanician who made it:
the machine is the man's work, but it is not the man. You know that when a man has made a
fine or useful thing, he calls it his 'child'- his 'creation.' It is thus with us in relation to God.
We are His children in this sense, because we are His work."
78. Have spirits had a beginning, or have they existed, like God, from all eternity?
"If spirits had not had a beginning, they would be equal with God; whereas they are His
creation, and subject to His will. That God has existed from all eternity is incontestable; but
as to when and how He created us, we know nothing. You may say