When did the idea of reincarnation start? What religions embrace it?

Answer 1

Reincarnation is a componant part of Vedic understanding, it was not conceptualised or started by anyone, the only way to understand it, is to understand your real identity as an eternal spirit soul, rather then the material body. Vedic understanding must be learned in its entirity to gain knowledge of the science of reincarnation and release from the cycle of the repetition of birth and death.

With this in mind, there is no question that reincarnation is a reality, we, as individual spirit souls are reincarnating within these very bodies, the material body is composed of gross molecules and atomic particles,that are constantly changing, every seven years each cell is completely replaced, so the body we had seven years ago is different to the body we have now, this is reincarnation, even within this life.

At the end of this life when the gross material body is no longer operational, being simply a temporary biological machine, then the subtle material mind replays the events of one's life, those events in one's life that are most prominant propel the spirit soul, the real self, to the next destination, the basis for this to happen is by the activities that we perform and the desires that are most prominant, man proposes and God disposes.

If we live a spiritual life, with activities and desires to please the Supreme, then the original spiritual body is revived and we can return home, back to Godhead, however if the desires are more worldly then we will attain another material body perfectly suited to the mentality that we have developed whilst being in the human form of life, therefore the knowledge of the science of reincarnation is of paramount importance to understand.

The early Christian church also taught reincarnation, up untill the 6th century A.D., in 553 A D when the Roman empire started to collapse, the emperor Justinian at the 5th Ecumenical council at Constantinople removed and altered the teachings of Jesus to gain more social control over the uneducated masses, by establishing the "scare tactic" of a singular life, as anyone who opposed these types of alterations was considered a heretic, it is not difficult to understand how these gross misconceptions came to be accepted.

Fortunately we are now able to discuss real knowledge openly, without fear of an inquisition, aside from a shrinking group of "text book" fundamentalists and some who are afflicted by a covering of ignorance, the science of reincarnation is being accepted unopposed by many intelligent people.

To discuss further:-Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari ([e-mail])

Answer 2

There are a surprisingly large number of religions that embrace reincarnation. Surprisingly it's hard to find a religion that didn't. Even Christianity believed in it until after the Council of Nicaea (I know I spelled it wrong, please don't comment) decided that the Human spirit was eternal and that reincarnation was not possible in the world. I must admit though I don't know the Islamic point of view on the issue though.

As far as where it was started, that's hard to call on, but there is strong evidence the the idea of reincarnation may have been with us since our earliest of times when humanity was relegated to tribal peoples living in Africa.

Answer 3

The Egyptians and the Hindus were the first religions that had a written doctrine involving reincarnation....Judaism and Christianity also have some references to reincarnation but most Christains will adamantly deny this.....It doesn't jibe with their whole guilt and sin ...go to hell or else dogma. The kabala and some Judaic scriptures speck of reincarnation.

Answer 4

Reincarnation is not "Idea". But a fact, Science.
And there is no "date" for Facts. It is alwways True. Its like asking when did the idea of Fire being Hot start ?

The soul is eternal and its reincarnation is its nature in this material world.

The Modern Society gives Award's to Scientists who document a natural fact, but that does not mean that this facts exists and where Idea of some Scientist.

Ya if you want to learn it Clearly, you can read it online from Bhagavad Gita. God Says
" Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be." 2.12
" As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death." 2.13

Bhagavad Gita does not belong to any religion. But to all Living Entity.

Answer 5

Ancient saints, who researched on the mystery of Universe, found the reason behind different type of people, to be re-incarnation.

Otherwise there is no reason why there are poor/rich, idiots/wise, religious/atheists... even children of same parents with same environments did not progress same... reincarnation is the reply

As per Hinduism, the soul has to undergo millions of lessons in pain and sufferings, joys and happiness, illness and strength to reach the divinity...and this is not possible in one birth.

As per Gita as we change the clothes, the soul changes bodies after the body has been worn out, or the lessons of that birth have been completed.

Answer 6

It started with oldest religion HINDUISM and now Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism and millions of people in west also believs in reincarnation.

Answer 7

No one knows exactly when it started, but it is embraced by Celtic and Gaelic Paganism, Wicca, Hindu, Buddhism, and various other religions as well.

Answer 8

the date may be unknown but plenty is : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reincarnation