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Obstacles to reproduction. — Improvement of races. — Celibacy.

— Marriage. — Polygamy. (Questions 328 to 337 b.)

Is the reproduction of living beings a law of Nature? [Question 686.]

“Evidently. Without reproduction the corporeal world would perish.”

If the population always follows the increasing progression we observe, will there come a moment when it becomes excessive on Earth? [Question 687.]

“No; God provides for this and always maintains the equilibrium.”

There are, at this moment, human races that are evidently diminishing. Will the moment come when they will have disappeared from the Earth?” 117 [Question 688.]

“Yes, it is true. It is because others are taking their place, just as one day other races will take the place of yours.”

a. Are present-day men a new creation, or are they improved descendants of the primitive beings?” 118 [Question 689.]

“They are the same Spirits who have returned, to perfect themselves in new bodies, but who are still far from perfection.”

Thus the present human race, which by its growth tends to invade the whole Earth and to replace the races that are dying out, will have its phase of decline and disappearance. It will be replaced by other, more improved races, which will descend from the present one, just as the civilized men of today descend from the brutish and savage beings of primitive times.

Are the laws and customs that have as their purpose the creation of obstacles to reproduction contrary to the law of Nature? [Question 693.]

“Yes.”

a. Nevertheless, there are species of living beings, animals and plants, whose indefinite reproduction would be harmful to other species, and of which man himself would end up being the victim. Would he commit a reprehensible act by impeding that reproduction? [Question 693 a.] “No; God granted to man, over all living beings, a power of which he must make use for good, but not abuse. He may therefore regulate reproduction according to needs, but must not oppose it unnecessarily.”

What should one think of the practices whose effect is to impede reproduction, with a view to the satisfaction of sensuality? [Question 694.]

“That proves the predominance of the body over the soul and how much man is attached to matter.”

Is the improvement of races by Science contrary to natural law?” 119 [Question 692.]

“No; everything should be done to attain perfection, and man himself is an instrument of which God makes use to achieve His purposes.”

Perfection being the goal toward which Nature tends, to favor that perfection is to correspond to the designs of God. Man acts in conformity with the Law of God when he calls upon Art or Science for the improvement of races.

Is voluntary celibacy a state of perfection meritorious in the eyes of God? [Question 698.]

“No, and those who live thus out of selfishness displease God and deceive everyone.”

a. Does celibacy not represent a sacrifice made by certain persons with the aim of devoting themselves more entirely to the service of Humanity? [Question 699.]

“That is very different. Every personal sacrifice is meritorious when made for good. The greater the sacrifice, the greater the merit.”

God cannot contradict Himself, nor find fault with what He Himself made; He cannot, therefore, see any merit in the violation of His law. But if celibacy, in itself, is not a meritorious state, the same does not hold true when it constitutes, by the renunciation of the joys of the family, a sacrifice carried out in favor of Humanity. Every personal sacrifice with a view to good and without any selfish idea raises man above his material condition.

Is marriage, that is, the permanent union of two beings, in conformity with or contrary to the law of Nature? [Question 695.]

“It is a progress in the march of Humanity.”

a. What would be the effect of the abolition of marriage upon human society? [Question 696.]

“It would be a regression to the life of animals.”

Marriage constitutes one of the first acts of progress in human societies and is found among all peoples, though under diverse conditions, since the free and casual union of the sexes belongs to the state of nature. The abolition of marriage would, therefore, be a return to the infancy of Humanity, and would place man below even certain animals, which give him the example of constant unions.

Is the absolute indissolubility of marriage in the law of Nature, or only in human law? [Question 697.]

“It is a human law very contrary to the law of Nature. But men can modify their laws; only the laws of Nature are immutable.”

Is the approximate numerical equality between the sexes an indication of the proportion in which they should unite? [Question 700.]

“Yes.”

a. Which of the two, polygamy or monogamy, is more in conformity with the law of Nature? [Question 701.]

“Polygamy is a human law whose abolition marks a social progress.”

b. In what way does the abolition of polygamy mark a social progress?

“Marriage, according to the views of God, should be founded on the affection of the beings who unite. In polygamy there is no real affection, but only sensuality.” [Question 701.]

If polygamy were in conformity with the law of Nature, it should be able to become universal, which would be materially impossible, considering the numerical equality of the sexes. Polygamy should be considered as a particular usage or legislation appropriate to certain customs, and which social improvement makes disappear little by little. [Question 701.] [117], [118], [119] N. E.: See “Explanatory note,”

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