To refute the previous argument by the rules of logic, we would need to demonstrate that at least one of the premises is false or that the premises do not lead to the conclusion, in other words, we would need to perform at least one of the following:

 

1. Demonstrate that 1st premise is false: We would need to demonstrate that Divine Justice is not perfect and therefore could fail to apply the criterion of proportionality. But to suppose any kind of imperfection in the Divine attributes is something inadmissible.

 

2. Demonstrate that 2nd premise is false: We would need to demonstrate that justice can be done even without the use of penalties proportional to the gravity of the offense,  which is, of course, completely unjustifiable.

 

3. Demonstrate that the premises do not lead to the conclusion: The conclusion is an automatic deduction of the premises: If Divine Justice is perfect (premise 1) and there is no perfect justice without the application of penalties proportional to the gravity of the offense (premise 2), we conclude unequivocally that Divine Justice could never possess such fail, by applying on an alleged "Judgment Day" the same penalty to all who were convicted in such a judgment. Therefore, the theory of eternal punishments is totally inconsistent.

 

Thus, the argument can be considered valid and consistent, because its premises are true and there is a logical inference between them that lead to the conclusion, demonstrating the illogicity in the application of a single eternal punishment.

 

 Reincarnation = Perfect justice with Proportionality criterion

 

By studying the doctrine of Reincarnation, we will never find situations that we could consider as unfair, as we find in the Theory of "Eternal Punishments" and we have already seen in this chapter, where all those condemned would receive exactly the same penalty, no matter the mistakes or "sins" they had committed.

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In the logic of Reincarnation, we can say that there really is the application of a perfectly proportional Justice. Although it is not appropriate to use the term "penalty" because, from the perspective of reincarnation, God does not condemn or punish anyone, we observe a perfect proportionality that results from a universal Law: the "Law of cause and effect."

 

According to this perfect and immutable Law, each person will infallibly receive in this or the next lives, in the exact proportion of their actions, whether good or bad, what they themselves have done, that is, strictly "according to their works".

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In the book "Heaven and Hell" by Allan Kardec, which is part of the Spiritist Doctrine codification, we find in chapter VII the "penal code of the future life", which talks about the consequences of the acts practiced by the spirits during their material existence. Here are some excerpts from this code:

 

“Every imperfection of the soul produces its own inevitable share of suffering, and every good quality produces, in virtue of the same law, its own natural, certain, share of happiness. The amount of a spirit’s suffering is thus exactly proportioned to the degree of his imperfection; and the amount of a spirit’s happiness is exactly proportioned to the degree of his intellectual and moral advancement.

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A spirit who has still, say, ten  imperfections to get rid of, suffers proportionately more than one who has only three of four; when he has succeeded in riding himself of a quarter, or half, of those imperfections, he suffers proportionately less, and, when he has rid himself of the whole of them, he has got rid of every source of suffering, and is perfectly happy. It is just as it is upon the Earth  with our bodily ailments and imperfections; he who has a complication of diseases suffers more than he who has but one disease; and if a man were perfectly healthy, it is evident that he would suffer no physical pain whatever. In the same way, the spirit who has acquired ten good qualities has a proportionally greater amount of happiness than one who possesses fewer good qualities.

 

In virtue of the law of progress – each spirit having the power to acquire the good qualities which he lacks and to rid himself of his bad ones, according to his force of will and the amount of effort he makes for that purpose – the gate of hope and happiness is open to every creature. God repudiates none of His children; He receives them all into favor as they attain to the perfection of their being, thus leaving to each of them the merit of his deeds.”

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As we can see, according to the Spiritist Doctrine, through Reincarnation there is the application of a perfect proportionality between the acts committed by the spirit during the life on Earth and the consequences resulting from these acts. Both "heaven" and "hell" are not specific places, but states of mind of each one.

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There is a small parable that perfectly illustrates this concept, the "Parable of the master and the samurai":

 

"There was, in ancient Japan, a samurai who was very famous and respected because of his achievements in the art of war. Already very old, the samurai, concerned about the arrival of death, heard of the existence of a great master, who lived in the mountains. So he decided to look for him, and went up the mountain, along with his loyal soldiers, who always accompanied him.

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When he arrived where the master dwelt, watching him meditate serenely under a tree, the samurai dismounted his horse and addressed him, asking him to explain about "heaven" and "hell." The master, however, concentrated on his meditation, did not even pay attention to him. The Samurai then, accustomed to being always promptly obeyed, was angry by the master's indifference and asked him once more, not getting any answers again.

 

The samurai then, completely enraged, quickly drew his sword and lifted it over the master's head, preparing to behead him when the master told him: "look ... this is hell!". The Samurai, then, astounded by the master's wisdom and courage, sheathed his sword and knelt before him with respectful reverence. Then the master told him: "... and this is heaven!" "

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This simple parable presents us with a very profound vision of a great truth: We ourselves create, through our thoughts, words and deeds, our own "heaven" and our own "hell", and we reap, along successive lives, the results of everything that we plant, but we will always have the chance to redeem ourselves from our mistakes, because we are eternal spirits and God is infinitely merciful.

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Therefore, we realize that, from all points of view under which we look at the issue presented in this chapter, the concept of Reincarnation represents a much fairer and far more perfect system than the concept of eternal punishments, as we can see in the summary below:

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 With regard to Divine Forgiveness:

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• Eternal punishments: Finite Forgiveness. God would never forgive those who were condemned, punishing them with eternal suffering.

• Reincarnation: Infinite Forgiveness: God infinitely forgives, giving infinite chances to spirits through new lives.

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With regard to proportionality in the application of penalties:

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• Eternal punishments: Imperfect justice, without the principle of proportionality: God would punish all the condemned with exactly the same penalty, eternal punishment.

• Reincarnation: Perfect justice, rigorous application of the principle of proportionality through the Law of Cause and Effect, where everyone will actually receive "according to their works", both in this and in future lives.

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In conclusion, besides representing the application of a strictly proportional Justice, Reincarnation also represents the infinite Divine Mercy and Benevolence, which grants to all people infinite possibilities for the reparation of their errors and the consequent evolution of their spirits. God can then be considered not a "vengeful Judge", but a loving and absolutely Perfect Father, because His Forgiveness is Infinite and His Justice is exempt from any kind of imperfections.

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