how do we know if we get reincarnated or we go to heaven?

Question

my little nephew asked this question i cant think of anything

Answer 1

I'm sure you don't want a lecture, or biblical quotes, so to put it simply:
Tell him he'll get a nice new body and live in a place where there are no bad people and everyone is loving, but not here on Earth. He will be with people he knew in life, so he won't be among strangers.

Answer 2

I will not lecture you, but I have to agree with the pagan that answered somewhere up above here. The best thing you can do is present the child, as objectively as you can, an array of the options of what other people believe around the world, and allow him to explore it further when he is older and more mature. To put it simply, the only way anyone can be entirely sure, is to die. We are all aware of that, and I ask myself this question too. It is something we all wonder about. Most people settle of some idea, between some odd combination of reasoning and faith, and stick to that. I have seen a lot of evidence to lead me to entertain the belief in reincarnation, but I am still searching too. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

With children things like that are hard to explain. You have to take into consideration the belief system of the parents or the people he is exposed to more often, the social and societal stigmas attached to someone who has an "unconventional" spiritual belief and other factors.

I am a pagan and do believe in reincarnation but don't think my children (ages five and ten) are ready to delve into the topic of spirituality. I also know that to explain it to them would take more than a passing conversation and that they would need to learn the basis for ALL types of life after death ideas...that takes years to learn and explore. I allow them the freedom of going to a drum circle, a pagan gathering as well as any Christian (or other faith) church if they ask. So far they haven't but I'm not going to stiffle their curiosity because personally i believe that someone's spirituality is a very personal thing and is the key to happiness and someone feeling complete. I would never deprive my kids of thinking for themselves so I give them the opportunity to seek out answers but do have to admit that it gets hard answering questions. I do my best.

I just simply explain things of that nature with the precursor of "Some people believe" with several examples of how different people view the world of life after death. Then I let them know that when they're old enough to decide what they feel is best for them spiritually, the answers will come. Until then, offer them a chance to explore the belief systems of others.

I know that probably didn't help much, but good luck!!

We would have a far more peacful world if every child was taught to learn and respect the beliefs of others without being swayed at a young age with fear, intolerence and ignorance and you are to be commended for offering (or even being willing to discuss) several scenarios with your nephew.

Answer 4

Study a book by Harvard prof Harold Bloom called, Where Shall Wisdom Be Found? It trawls many of the great religious and philosophical texts worldwide. Search the terms, Harold Bloom, at the Roll & Shuffle for links and excerpts: http://pokerpulse.com/news/viewforum.php?f=12.

Consider, too, the popular but unprovable notion that some people are 'old souls'. And how many of have wondered why some people seem to know so well where they're going at least in some circumstances.

John Prine has an old song that goes something like:

Father forgive us for what we must do -
You forgive us; we'll forgive you.
We'll forgive each other till we both turn blue
then we'll whistle and go fishing in heaven.

There's a reference in the song to "doing all this AGAIN?" It's an amusing starting place for a discussion with a four-year-old, but don't expect him to be satisfied with a pat answer. They think about this stuff much more than all but the great Victorian novelist Charles Dickens gives them credit for.

Answer 5

I have had several experiences that prove to me that I am the life of the body(spirit) and I lived before i had this body and i will live after it is gone. Jesus taught reincarnation, I believe most information of this was deleted from the bible but there are several things still in it. See matthew 11-14/15, matthew 17-10/13 and matthew 22-32 this is where Jesus told his diciples that John the baptist was Isias reincarnated.

Answer 6

Wow that depends on what beliefs you were brought up with. Some religions believe one thing and others something else. How can we know for sure when we have proof of nothing in this matter and only our faith to guide us. You could tell him to just try and be the best person he can be and keep a good conscience so that no matter what happens to his body when he dies he will be assured that he lived his life the best he could and surely will be looked upon with favor by the heavens above...

Teaching children to have a conscience is always a good thing!!!

Answer 7

The Bible contains the answer. A really fine source of information is found in the book "What Does The Bible Really Teach?" published by Jehovah's Witnesses. Chapters 6 and 7 in that publication address the question you pose. The answer is too lengthy to answer here.

Answer 8

You can't know... it is impossible. Personally I think you die and your dead... there is no reincarnation and ther is no heaven or hell. You should live life to its fullest because when you die you become fertilizer. And in response to the Jehovah's witness guy, faith is all you can have in respect to god and an afterlife you can't know and the bible sure can't tell you because its just a book.

Answer 9

if you're reincarnated, you'll probably remember what had happened in your life & who were the people in your life in your second life. you may help them lift their burdens but as someone different & not actually you. if you go to heaven, you'll watch over your loved ones and may help them for being you.

Answer 10

We don't . . . but I believe in both heaven and reincarnation.