Can an atheist believe in reincarnation?

Answer 1

Funny how people here have no grip on the concept of atheism, even funnier is the person who thinks their personal definition is the one that defines what atheists think.
atheism is merely belief in a God or Gods, and does not preclude the belief in reincarnation or other spiritual concepts.

EDIT: no, Tim. Websters defines atheism as:
Atheism
Noun
1. The doctrine or belief that there is no God.
2. A lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.

But I love the blatant display of your ignorance, and your quoting of a source that you clearly did NOT even bother to read.

Answer 2

I'm an agnostic, leaning atheist, and I have a fascination with all things spiritual. One could believe in reincarnation, but it would probably have some sort of universal application or implication. Reincarnation does seem to fit better with a belief in a supreme being.

I do not believe in reincarnation. But, I do believe in other beings and other important creatures and processes in the universe. There's a misconception that atheists don't believe in anything. Actually we believe in a lot, foremost I would say is love and nature, achievement and joy.

But, it all depends on the individual. Some people believe it just to be different or think it's cool.

Answer 3

I believe an Atheist can still believe in reincarnation. An Atheist is one who doesn't believe in God, but this isn't necessarily a requirement for reincarnating. If you go the scientific route and understand that we are made up of energy, and energy doesn't die, but only changes, then reincarnation can easily be accepted as a possibility. Our "soul", or "life force" will go on...can't this happen with or without a God?

Answer 4

Atheists don't believe in any gods, but can a person be an atheist and still believe in a soul or a heaven of some sort? I've encountered a number of people who don't believe in any gods, but nevertheless believe in things that qualify as ghosts, spirits, afterlife, reincarnation, etc. Sometimes this is part of an organized belief system, like Buddhism

Atheists on Souls and Heaven
Atheists don't believe in any gods, but can a person be an atheist and still believe in a soul or a heaven of some sort? I've encountered a number of people who don't believe in any gods, but nevertheless believe in things that qualify as ghosts, spirits, afterlife, reincarnation, etc. Sometimes this is part of an organized belief system, like Buddhism, while other times a person simply believes in ghosts because of personal experiences.
Some argue that since atheism means nothing more than “disbelief in the existence of gods,” then an atheist can logically believe anything else at all — including souls and some sort of heave — even if the belief is irrational. There’s nothing about “atheism” which requires that all of one’s beliefs be materialistic, naturalistic, or rational. Others, however, argue that atheism means not believing in anything supernatural; since souls and heaven are necessarily supernatural and belief in them is irrational, then anyone who believes in such a thing can’t possibly be an atheist.

What do you think? Does atheism somehow exclude irrational beliefs, including belief in anything supernatural? Are atheists necessarily rational people in whatever they believe?

Answer 5

Well believing in reincarnation would imply that you believe in a higher power, not necessarily God, but something bigger than you. So, if you do then yes it is possible. If you're an atheist and you believe in reincarnation then why are you asking? Hopefully you'll come back as someone smarter in your next life.

Answer 6

Atheists don't believe in Gods, and you can believe in reincarnation without believing in Gods, so yes, an atheist could believe in reincarnation.

However, most atheists, in addition to not believing in Gods, subscribe to a rational, scientific and naturalistic world view. Reincarnation assumes a supernatural soul, which is inconsistent with a naturalistic world view. So although atheists *could* believe in reincarnation, I don't know any atheists who actually do believe in reincarnation.

Answer 7

Absolutely! I'm an athiest, and because I believe in Philotic theory, I believe in reincarnation - plus I'm a big fan of the Buddha's teachings, so reincarnation fits in to that as well.

Answer 8

Yes (not all of us do, though). Atheism just means not believing in a god. Religions such as Buddhism (which does not have a "god" as such) believe in reincarnation.

FYI, I am an atheist, but subscribe to some Buddhist teachings. I do not believe in reincarnation, but I am open to the possibility and could change that belief.

Answer 9

I'm acquainted with only a few atheists, but to my knowledge none of them believes that the human spirit can exist independently of the human brain, which of course cannot survive outside of an intact skull attached to a functioning body. (And neither do I.) That would seem to rule out the possibility of reincarnation.

Answer 10

I believe that atheism is the lack of belief in anything spiritual... so no he couldn't be an atheist..... why would he believe in reincarnation if he doesn't believe in God or any other form of spirituality ??