Christianity would be more loving & tolerant if reincarnation was placed back in the bible (read further).?

Question

There are many sources that prove that the belief of reincarnation in Christianity has been hush-hushed over the years and some passages of the bible referencing it were even removed by church officials. I found many websites and articles on this but this was the most well laid out that I found: http://www.atmajyoti.org/sw_xtian_believe_reinc.asp

I was thinking about it and just imagine how much better and non-judgmental Christians would be nowadays if they still believed in reincarnation. There would be no, "Repent or burn in hell!" or “Go to Jesus before it’s too late!!!”

This could actually change the world. I’m serious. The fact that reincarnation has been covered up in the bible is not a secret any longer. But next to no one knows about it.

If reincarnation returned as a Christian belief, Christianity would still exist but it would be so, so much more tolerant. It’d be a lot closer to the religion that it SHOULD be rather than what is nowadays.

To ac28: Some passages were removed! But some remain:

The episode in the Bible where Jesus identified John the Baptist as the reincarnation of Elijah the prophet is one of the clearest statements which Jesus made concerning reincarnation.

For all the prophets and the law have prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who was to come. (Matt. 11:13-14)

In the above passage, Jesus clearly identifies John the Baptist as the reincarnation of Elijah the prophet. Later in Matthew's gospel Jesus reiterates it.

And the disciples asked him, saying, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"

But he answered them and said, "Elijah indeed is to come and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also shall the Son of Man suffer at their hand."

Then the disciples understood that he had spoken of John the Baptist." (Matt. 17:10-13)

Before anyone tries to preach to me or tell me I need to speak to a pastor, I was a Christian for 18 YEARS!!!

A couple more comments:

Someone mentioned what was the point in living a good life if you have the chance to come back and try again. Well, that's like saying people are good just because they don't want to go to hell, not because they WANT to. I, actually, WANT to do good. Religion for me, though, doesn't have to enter the picture.

And once again to those telling me to read the bible, I HAVE. I used to be a Christian. Very religious, in fact.

Answer 1

You go girl! Great question.

I am not certain that it would change much at this point. To attempt to change anything in the current version of the bible would be resisted. In fact, I believe that it would cause greater tension and further divide an already divisive church.

I find the challenge with current christianity (of which I part of through the inertia of my life), is that they perceive the bible as a user's manual. .....If I am trying to do this, I read this verse. If I am trying to fix that, I read this verse....

They don't use it as a spiritual guidebook that is written using symbols and metaphors. Therefore they get no more spiritual by being christian than they would by taking a math class.

I think the change needs to occur at the spiritual level. However, I don't think any of the main sects of christianity are prepared to attend to the spiritual lives of their congregations or help them lead more spiritual lives.

Unfortunately, the editors of the bible left out many things and selected documents that could be used to prove a certain point of view. This is nothing new. It is still done by our leaders today.

To reinclude any part of the bible that was left out due to censorship (and there was a LOT) would not solve the fundamental problem that the organized churches of christian religion do not attend to the spiritual existence of their people. They attend to their outward, material existence and behavior.

Answer 2

Reincarnation has never been a teaching of Judiasm, Islam, or Christianity. There is one life and after that the judgment that leads to rewards and punishments.

The belief in reincarnation does not make people more loving. I've heard that suffering people should continue to suffer because they are paying for sins in their past lives. If you help them, you ease their suffering, then they will have pay more in the next life... excuse for not loving? or based on belief?

Also, tolerance is not always a good thing. We should only tolerate what is good and reject what is bad, not tolerate the bad. If you tolerate everything, then you have no right to express your opinion about how unloving and intolerant anyone else is... unless you're also untolerant.

Answer 3

God is all powerful. He knows and understands all things, we do not.

I have read the story of John the Baptist and I do believe it is clearcut fullfillment of prophesy.

I know that many of my study materials say the same thing the rest of this board seems to be saying that it did not happen that way or that we misinterpret the passage.

I believe in studying the bible as written and so I am standing by the bible and agreeing with you on the point of the coming of Eliajah in the form of John the baptist. Further proof of this is found in the story of Mary visiting Elizabeth during her pregnancy and upon hearing Mary's voice, Elizabeths baby began moving about exitedly in her womb. Even Elizabeth knew that Mary was carrying our messiah, and so did her baby who was born John (the baptist)

I cannot agree with you however on total reincarnation. It is a tool used by God for certain things to come to pass. It is not something that happens to all of us on a continual basis to keep trying to get it right.

This tool will be used again by God as seen in revelation when the three witnessess come. It is long held by most that these three will be Moses, Elijah, and Abraham? At any rate they will be real people who were counted rightous to GOD who come to witness to the masses who have had their eyes and hearts closed to GOD.

Answer 4

Wow! I am amazed at how many people really have something against Christianity. Christianity is very tolerant and loving. Now some sects of Christianity and certain idividual christians are not very tolerant or loving but lets not trash the entire faith due a few individuals. As for reincarnation and the bible, I'll have to look into that one. Forgive me if I want to see more than one source before buying into that one.

Answer 5

If reincarnation were true, Jesus would never have had to come and sacrifice his life for the sins of the world. I agree things would be a lot easier if reincarnation were true, but it isn't. Jesus had to come and atone for sin because every person has fallen short of the glory of God. We could never get to heaven without him. It doesn't make sense at all that he would come down from heaven, just to be mocked tortured and then crucified, if we would always come back to life again and have another shot at life. It's dumb.


PS Elijah never died, he was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. John the Baptist couldn't have been the reincarnation of someone who never died in the first place

Answer 6

It appears that you are very confident of reincarnation. I will not stand in the way of your belief, but are you seriously only going by what others say?
Please don't let me or anyone deceive you. Why don't you undertake an honest study of the passages given? Please try to verify the truth in each of what you have to say. Perhaps, I am biased, but you should not be. So I guess you would be able to take a decision based on studying the reference given in all the web sites that you quote (You have written ' I found many websites and..')
I wish you every success in your quest for the solution for tolerance.

Answer 7

Reincarnation has not been "covered" up in the Bible, it doesn't exists and it never did. Not in the Bible. And for the simple fact as you yourself stated, "There would be no, "Repent or burn in hell!" or “Go to Jesus before it’s too late!!!” Everyone would be satisfying their every lust and evil would abound more than it already does. If everyone thought they could come back a 2nd or 3rd time, what would be the point of living a decent life the 1st time? The world is already out of control with evil, I cringe at the thought of what it would be like if you could come back. Also if there was reincarnation, Christians wouldn't exist either. Evil would wipe them out, as they are trying to do today!

Answer 8

ok first you cant put back in what didnt exist, go to the mormons, theyre bible is like a white board, take out what you want and put in what you like. also i notice it didnt mention verses for its information sources so that removes a lot of credibility from it. if we came back on earth as a differant being what is the purpose on heaven or hell? there wouldnt be one, if you want to learn more go talk to a pastor with your question, he will be able to help answer you better. and what do you mean should? i dont see anyone criticizing any other religions, Hindu people believe cows are holy but i dont say thatd be better if they didnt think cows were so special. i let them have their beliefs and i have mine.

Answer 9

The scholarship on that Web site is spotty and highly suspect. Wanna know more? E-mail me at creton4 [at] yahoo.com

The Judeo-Christian scriptures are perhaps the best-guarded literary works in all of human history, with a system of priests, scribes, monks and church councils carefully defending against fraud. Let's talk.

Answer 10

This is what happens when you have never opened the Bile: The Bible teaches against reincarnation - this thinking comes about when you read someones opinion - read the Bible.