is it a punishment to be reincarnated?

Question

or can reincarnation be a form of mercy so that people who are not worthy of heaven and yet good enough Not be sent to Hell?

Answer 1

Maybe our existence on earth is "hell" and we ascend to heaven when we die? I'm not sure where I stand on reincarnation. As a Christian, we believe you have one shot and that is it.....but, an unconditional loving God very well may give us another shot at spiritual growth in the form of reincarnation. There are several verses in the bible when taken literally or symbolically leave a distinct possibility reincarnation exists, yet, theologians over the ages have gone with the interpretation of one life, one chance, based on most of what Christ has said about heaven and hell.

If reincarnation were true, though, I would think it would not be a punishment, but rather, a gift of life and another chance to grow spiritually.

Answer 2

There are many problems with the salvation-by works doctrine of reincarnation. First, there are many practical problems. For example:
1. We must ask, why does one get punished for something he or she cannot remember having done in a previous life?
2. If the purpose of karma is to rid humanity of its selfish desires, then why hasn't there been a noticeable improvement in human nature after all the millennia of reincarnations?
3. If reincarnation and the law of karma are so beneficial on a practical level, then how do advocates of this doctrine explain the immense and ever-worsening social and economic problems - including widespread poverty, starvation, disease, and horrible suffering - in India, where reincarnation has been systematically taught through out its history?
There are also many biblical problems with believing in reincarnation. For example, in 2 Corinthians 5:8 the apostle Paul states, "We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord." At death, the, the Christian immediately goes into the presence of the Lord, not into another body. In keeping with this. Luke 16:19-31 tells us that unbelievers at death go to a place of suffering, not into another body.
Further, Hebrews 9:27 assures us that "man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment." Each human being LIVES ONCE as a mortal on earth, DIES ONCE, and then FACES JUDGMENT. He does not have a second chance by reincarnating into another body.

Answer 3

Depends on the type of car :)

Reincarnation makes little or no sense. It could not be a punishment (or anything else for that matter) unless someone could remember their previous life clearly and succinctly (by that I mean all previous life experiences gathered up and analyzed correctly as a series of lessons).

The Holy Bible denies it, unless you consider being given a new, spiritual, perfect, eternal, heavenly (not of this earth) body in the resurrection a form of "reincarnation". This will be a reward to the righteous. The unrighteous will be given a resurrected body which will be a punishment throughout eternity for they will be resurrected into the Second Death.

Answer 4

For people who believe in reincarnation (i.e. not Dze) reincarnation may or may not be punishment. Generally it's viewed as a chance to get better but the flip side of that (for those who think they can escape the cycle of reincarnation) is that to be reincarnated is, in fact, a sign that you've failed to achieve that escape - i.e. punishment. Being born a human, though, is always a good thing and it may take several turns as a human to achieve enlightenment (if your belief swings that way).

Answer 5

Guess that depends on whether you were reincarnated higher or lower on the food chain than you previously occupied.

Reincarnation itself isn't about punishment but kinda a "no passing" grade or that the person still needs more work before escaping that cycle. Even then, breaking free from the cycle isn't so much a reward as it is a graduation.

Answer 6

I see it as just the way things are, but if I had to call it either "punishment" or "mercy" I'd go with "Mercy." I think we reincarnate by choice, in some sense. In other words, we are attached to this life and have not transcended it, which is why we come back to it.

Answer 7

According to Buddhism a human birth is a positive one, most likely you did a good job in your prior life. Also according to them there is no hell and you will be reincarnated over and over until you reach enlightenment. If I remember correctly the levels of reincarnation are as follows.

God
semi-god
human
animal or insect
hungry ghost
angry demon

Don't quote me on that but each life is supposed to bring you closer to enlightenment.

Answer 8

well if it does exist, i believe its a way of experiencing life in a different view, because they say when reincarnated you are put in a completely different life, but then heaven and hell wouldnt have a meaning any way because you strat life over and over so they have nothing to do with it (if thats how after life and life works)

Answer 9

Reincarnation is the gift to the soul.....allowing it to grow in the process we call evolution so it can become enlightened and more and more likened to the Source of all creation.

Answer 10

It is more of a second chance to make good with a new opportunity (now, if we only could retain what we learned from the previous life, things would work better)