Do you believe in reincarnation or do you think you get just 1 try to "get it right"?

Answer 1

I'm a Reincarnationist.

One of the biggest attractions of Christianity and organized religion in general is its unconscious familiarity to persons who were acquainted with it in past lives. Religion in particular has a strong attraction to the reincarnated individual because religion embodies the concept of the eternal soul and the afterlife. Christianity especially appeals to persons who have a vague and muddled sense of having lived before -- this is why they seem to feel a mysteriously "this is so right" bond with Jesus Christ, why they feel in some inexplicable way (to themselves) that they feel his "presence." And it's not just memories of the church in past lives they're sensing; it's also the deep empathy they feel with the concepts of dying and being resurrected (as represented by Jesus and the Christian faith), down deep in their soul.

From a Christian perspective, here is an excerpt from http://www.jjwritings.com/books/reincarnation_and_the_bible/index.html
- but please look at the entire site for an in-depth view.


Let us again quote: Hebrews 9:27: "And as it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment."

The "once to die" sounds like an absolute statement not open to debate until we realize that it is boldly contradicted by the Bible itself: "They (the dead) were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. THIS IS THE SECOND DEATH. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast (to suffer a second death) into the lake of fire." Rev 20:12-15

The book of Revelation has quotes from John, an angel, and Jesus Christ, all using the phrase "second death" so we know there has to be one. Thus it is quite obvious that if Paul were writing the truth he did not literally mean "once to die" except perhaps once per lifetime, or that there is one general mortality passed upon all mankind.

There are other scriptures that are quite deceiving if they are read with a black and white state of mind: A pertinent one was made by Paul again. He said: "I die daily." I Cor 15:31 He also said: "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience...It is a shame for women to speak in the church." I Cor 14:34-35 Paul also advised the saints to remain single as he was (I Cor 7:7) and if they were married to not have sex (I Cor 7:29).

Jesus told us to cut off our right hand if it offends us (Matt 5:30) and talked about making oneself a eunuch (literally a castrated person) for the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 19:12)

If we do not read difficult passages like these in their correct context and with some knowledge of the customs and beliefs of that ancient era we may reject the whole Bible as being the work of madmen.

Let us examine the verse that precedes the "once to die" scripture: "But now once in the end of the world hath he (Christ) appeared to put away sin by sacrifice of himself." Heb 9:26

If we read this verse laterally we are led to believe that Jesus appeared only once at the end of the world to sacrifice himself. Two thousand years has passed since then so those who thought Paul was talking about the real "end of the world" were wrong. Also, Jesus did not appear once but appeared many times to many people.

To interpret this scripture accurately one has to read it in its correct context as well as examine the Greek from which it was translated.

In examining the Greek we find that the word "world" is a mistranslation. It comes from the word AION. The modern English word "eon" is derived from this and it means "an age". Thus we see that Jesus came once at not the end of the world, but the end of the age. We realize that his "one" coming refers to his general life (with all his numerous appearances counted as one) at the end of one age and the beginning of a new one.

Here we see that Hebrews 9:26 cannot be interpreted in a black and white literal manner. How about the next verse? Does it mean what it seems to mean? Are we really appointed only "once to die" or is there more meaning here below the surface? Are there many deaths within the one death as there were many "comings" within the one general first coming of Christ? Is it talking about physical death or spiritual death? If it is talking about spiritual death, then that would leave open the possibility of more than one physical death.

In examining this scripture there are three words that are generally overlooked: "men", "but", and "judgment". We'll quote this scripture one more time emphasizing these: 'And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Men comes from the Greek ANTHROPOS which in this context indicates the human race as a whole

... It was the resurrection of life that Paul spoke of when he said that it was something he had to attain: "If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after." Phil 3:11-12.

Paul indicates that we must be "perfect" to "attain" this resurrection. He can only be referring to the resurrection of life for Jesus said that all the evil ones go to "the resurrection of correction" while they who have done good attain the "better resurrection".

This makes sense doesn't it? We are sent again and again to the resurrection of correction to live life after life on the earth and then when we have corrected our errors and become without sin as was Jesus we "attain" unto the resurrection of "life" and "this mortal must put on immortality". I Cor 15:53.

How do we avoid the resurrection of correction? The Lord tells us: "He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation (from KRISIS, the resurrection of correction): but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24

The scriptures plainly tell us that by hearing, believing, and doing the words of God so that we are perfected leads to escaping the resurrection of Krisis and "attaining" the resurrection of life.

With this knowledge in mind we can place still another interpretation on Hebrews 9:27: "And as it is appointed unto men once to die (in this present age), on the other hand after this comes the resurrection of correction" (where we will be born and die again in a future age.) ....>

The Dead Sea Scrolls do have something remarkable to offer: they are evidence that Jesus in fact was a leader among the Jewish sect known as the Essene, although Christianity as a whole reject this idea. Essenes were vegetarians who believed in REINCARNATION, healing and peace.

Of course, modern day Christianity refuses to believe Jesus was an Essene and a Reincarnationist, but their inability to accept Jesus as he really was doesn't change the truth.

http://www.essenespirit.com/wayoflife.html

Answer 2

I am open to the possibility of reincarnation. However, I note that we have no undebatable memories of our other lives. If reincarnation is a fact, I suspect there must be a reason for that, perhaps to prevent complacency (or even despair for that matter). So, we are apparently expected to focus on the life in front of us, to live one life at a time. Of course, that would mean that reincarnationists and non-reincarnationists would have to live about the same way. I don't think that's a problem.

Let's just say, you get one chance to get THIS life right.

Answer 3

I believe reincarnation because how can we all live and die and not learn anything for our mistakes. You are not born with all the "answers" Wink" Wink" so there must be something there to take with you,a lesson, some info a gut feelings that you have been here before but its not Dejvu.That help you become a better person every time maybe even god gives you a second chance...mmm...

Answer 4

Reincarnation. But then I don't believe we're supposed to "get it right", I believe we're supposed to continually learn.

Bright blessings!
)O(

Answer 5

i don't love the idea of hell, reason i imagine anybody merits a 2d threat. So when we die, and in the adventure that your good you flow to heaven with God, and in the adventure that your naughty or impartial you get reincarnated. i do not imagine we may be able to choose, i imagine God chooses that's extra proper, so if we we are spoiled and wealthy interior the previous life, he will make up center classification so we ought to study the thanks to be humble. that's tricky to describe yet that is what i believe

Answer 6

I believe the soul lives multiple lives, but the body gets only one shot.

Answer 7

You only get one try at this thing called life.

Answer 8

Get what right?

Life is not a dress rehearsal.

Answer 9

I believe that our souls live multiple lives.

Answer 10

just one...and even if there is such a thing as reincarnation how do u know?? :)))))

Answer 11

You get one shot at life

So don't blow it