Why did the Christian Church "outlaw" the belief in reincarnation in 533 AD?

Question

Before you say it is not in Scripture, Read the below site:

http://www.comparativereligion.com/reincarnation3.html

Peace and Love

Answer 1

I've heard that it had something to do with confusion. Christians didn't understand how reincarnation would work, in conjunction with the ideas of heaven and hell. My personal opinion is that Most religions of that time period (and even today) believed in reincarnation, and it was something that would distract people from living a life controlled by the church. It was outlawed to prevent people from knowing that they could have a second chance.

Answer 2

I browsed through that text... interesting!
I like this quotation, though it is off topic now:
"And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell."
How true.

Now, about the question. If Christianism claims that Jesus came back to life after his death, IMMEDIATELY ... and there are people who believe in this (not me, cause my faith says he was a man and he simply died on the cross, and Pentecost is the celebration of the rebirth of his IDEAS only), then I find it totally illogical that they reject the idea of reincarnation - it is the same story as the Jesus phenomena, just the soul takes a new shape in the new life!
I think that Christianism was already way too overcomplicated and over-dogmatised by the year 533 AD, therefore the idea of reincarnation would just not "fit" into the whole picture any more.
Or was it one of the early popes or spiritual leaders who simply was "against it" and they dropped the issue?
Let's be honest... during the evolution of religions in history, many decisions were taken based upon the lobbying of some interest groups. If there was someone who feared the idea of reincarnation... who knows..... people coming and claiming your fortune "that piece of land was mine in my previous life and I want it back"... so if there was someone who feared these things, they would naturally make it impossible for the idea of reincarnation to enter the Christian belief system.

You are asking very interesting questions. :-)

Answer 3

Jesus taught reincarnation, absolutely.

Verily, verily (truly, literally) you must be born again. I repeat for the hard of reasoning: two verilies -- 'this is a literal truth.'

Jesus was an Essene. Essenes believed in reincarnation. Jesus was a Jew. Judaism believes in reincarnation. Jesus was a rabbi and a wise man who spoke at length about karma.

Christianity was kidnapped by a Greek and Roman influenced Jew who never discussed Jesus's teachings with Jesus, who in fact never even met Jesus. Paul wrote most of the New Testament and edited what little he didn't compose himself, and took this foundling faith to Greece and Rome, where it was Hellenized and Romanized. Along the way it adopted the mythological ideas of Hades as a punishment place and a hierarchy made up of deities (the trinity, popes, cardinals, bishops, saints, etc.)

Like early Judaism, early Christianity (which is actually Paulism) began as a political power, gaining strength and riches through its tyranny over the lives of all mankind, from kings to common men.To permit the truth of reincarnation to be known would mean losing control over the destinies of man's soul. And losing control would mean losing money, property and absolute authority.

Unfortunately, the damage they did in tampering with the teachings pertaining to reincarnation leaves us with a biblical 'God' who is depicted as monstrously unfair deity as well as an unwise one.

Answer 4

Reincarnation is not real. We come form Heaven and after we die, we go back to Heaven.
2 Corinthians - Chapter 5:8 " We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord. "

Answer 5

The people who believed John the Baptist was Elijah or Jesus was John or one of the other prophets were not disciples or clergy but common folk, not spiritually educated. Jesus asked Peter, Who do YOU think I am? And Peter said The Messiah son of the living God. And Jesus said(paraphrased) Flesh and blood didn't reveal this to you but my Father that is in Heaven.

Answer 6

I don't know why Christianity outlawed it, but it is still part of Jewish mysticism. All Hasidic Jews and many others believe in it. you can read sample Hasidic stories from a book called "Jewish Tales of Reincarnation" at:

http://www.pinenet.com/~rooster/stories.html

Answer 7

If you want true answers read a Bible from beginning to end, with the scriptures in context.
It is easy to take one verse and twist it to fit another theory or opinion.

Always seek the truth with an open heart & mind. :)

Answer 8

don't mean to be offensive but don't give me a site to look at if you are trying to proove something give me scripture because that's the only thing that I and many other believers believe in.

Answer 9

They were promoting the idea of Heaven and Hell at the time.
Reincarnation just confused the issue.

Answer 10

from what i remember in theology class, they felt that if people believed they had another chance at doing life again, and that went on indefinitely, they could commit whatever sins they wanted in this life, and they'd just die and start over without needing to hold themselves to any moral codes. if you believe you only get one shot, you need to make it count. if you believe you have many lives to live, you can screw up royally over and over and always get another chance.