What are your thoughts about concepts regarding reincarnation?

Answer 1

It's true. Jesus - among many other wise men - taught reincarnation and karma. It's not necessary to believe in it. It is the nature of human existence.

Below is an excerpt from http://www.jjwritings.com/books/reincarnation_and_the_bible/index.html
- but see 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 Revelations 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.) ....>

Jesus was an Essene rabbi.

The Essene Jews developed a Messianic religion, giving birth to the ideas which were to play a dominant role in the ideas of John the Baptist and Jesus. They believed in the divinity of a Messiah who they called the "Teacher of Righteousness", and who had died a violent death at the hands of the sons of darkness. They called themselves the "elect of God", and their religious community the "New Covenant".

The Essenes were initiated through baptism. It's unclear when the group was oringinally formed. Coming out of the time of the Maccabees, many remained true to their Law, earning the name of the pious ones, or Hasidim. Out of this group the origins of the Essenes and Pharisees can be traced.

The Essenes practiced the seventh day sabbath, believed in reincarnation, non-violence to all living creatures (they were vegetarians) and the sharing of all material possesions

Answer 2

Well, I seem to be one of the only non-Christians answering this question, so please, no one jump on me. These are my beliefs, and if you truly believe I'll go to hell for them, by the same token I believe it's worth it.

I think spirits are born at different times throughout the ages. Some might be born in the Renaisance, some during the rise of the Roman Empire, some not until this day and age. These are old and new souls- old souls have been around longer and have a better idea of how the world works, new souls are just starting to learn. I don't really have a specific belief for how or why this happens; it's enough for me just to believe it does.

I hope that helps.

Answer 3

Holy Hell! The first actual spiritual question in this forum.

Reincarnation is the passing of one soul to another human body, as in, a soul experiencing multiple human bodies, and not simply a process of matter evolving or shifting from different bodies.

In all honesty, the most valid sources state that when a man does not understand God, he comes back as another human being. But when he/she understands there connection to the divine, they no longer come back as a human body, but merge with the infinite spirit.

Peace

Answer 4

It's an interesting concept to think about. But I've never seen any evidence or heard any satisfactory arguments that reincarnation is real.

Answer 5

Of course we're reincarnated (or we should be if we're not stuffed full of chemicals and buried 6 feet underground in a metal box). The ancients observed that when things (people, animals, plants) die, they provide nourishment for the remaining life around them. The energy that was once a living thing is transferred into other life over a period of time, and so we are all reincarnated.

Answer 6

Sounds good to me, but just like Christianity, the proof is in the pudding. Show me the proof. It certainly makes more sense than the Christian heaven/hell concept -- one chance to "believe" or it's off to hell's fire for eternity!
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Answer 7

As with all religion or other spirituality, it's just so much mental masturbation. You're only here once, folks, and not going anywhere else, so make your peace with your fellow man now while you have the chance.

Answer 8

No body ever came back, the proof is in the pudding

Answer 9

Let's see what Christian orthodoxy has hidden from people. I'll give you quotes from Christ that come from the ancient Essene records that have been attempted to be destroyed by the church after 325 AD; you decide for yourself on thoughts of reincarnation.

"The body that ye lay in the grave, or that is consumed by fire, is not the body that shall be, but they who come again shall receive other bodies, and as they have sown in one life, so shall they reap in another."

"As all creatures come from the unseen into this world, so they return to the unseen, and so will they come again till they be purified."

"So through many births will ye be made perfect."

"The soul is purified through many births and experiences."

"Blessed are they who suffer many experiences, for they shall be made perfect through suffering; they shall be as the angels of God in heaven and die no more, neither shall they be born anymore, for death and birth have no more dominion over them."

Answer 10

Do you ever notice in a past life, everybody was Cleopatra and nobody was Spear Carrier #13?

Answer 11

It is logical for those who do not believe in GOD to practice this concept being false as it is. You can not believe in GOD and believe in reincarnation.