continuous life cycles, while growing spiritually- evolving, ascending. is this the missing link- the misinterpreation that seperates Buddhism and Christianity?
2007-06-02 04:59:32 · 34 answers · asked by zentrinity 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No, life eternal is spent in heaven or hell.
2007-06-02 05:01:48 · answer #1 · answered by Fish <>< 7 · 1⤊ 5⤋
I think eternal life is of the soul. I think we come here to incarnate in the flesh to learn things that can not be learned in our native existence - that of soul or energy beings. I think that existence is unalterable and that is the safety we are meant to understand.
Now I believe the soul does come back here time and again to learn more and more lessons. I mean, there are so many perspectives, so many points of view to understand and learn from, that I think that reincarnation is absolutely a part of our eternal life - much like school is a part of our physical life. I think the promise of eternal life reminds us that we will go home after the school year is over, but that doesn't mean we cease to exist.
I don't really think there is much seperation between any of the religions. I think that each interpretation of the Divine Energy that powers this existence are based upon cultural and geographica differences, but they are all telling the same story at their base.
Peace!
2007-06-04 04:33:56 · answer #2 · answered by carole 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Life eternal is like a piece of wood in the sea. If you observe it you will see it rise and fall with each wave(life cycle). It appears to be part of that wave but as the wave passes it becomes part of the next wave. It essentially does not move other than up and down. It can be part of a nearly unlimited number of waves. Sometimes the waves quiet and there are no waves, only quiet or peace.
Will the waves ever cease completely? I don't know. Different religions are only different waves. Are they really that different? Peace and stillness are not found by finding the right wave but by finding a place where the waves are no more.
2007-06-02 05:21:48 · answer #3 · answered by stedyedy 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I think that the eternal life is both life on earth via reincarnation and life on the Other Side of this dimension as we call Heaven. Matter on this plane never dies, it is only recycled. There is no time, we perceive existence from this earth, and that gives us days and seconds (via the degradation process of cesium).
Our spirit never dies, but the human body does have a lifespan. This plane of existence is very different in terms of physics. The place we reside without death and with all love is our Home, not earth. We just come here to learn, and we get as many chances to get it right as we need to perfect (i.e. reincarnation).
2007-06-04 07:53:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Life Eternal promise is given to anyone who re-finds the truth we lost, that we are immortal beings incarnated in human bodies (or clothed in them - as expressed in the story of Adam and Eve, who "saw" they were naked rather than wearing human bodies when they brought into the first lie, that we are "only human after all").
When we understand this, our whole vision changes from that of a human animal which has a short life-span, to that of an immortal being who's life spans space and time. We then realise we are living in eternity now.
Sedata became the Buddha (the enlightened one) when he realised this fundamental truth. From hence came the Buddhist teaching of reincarnation.
2007-06-05 12:03:50 · answer #5 · answered by Matthew. 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Zentrinity, Your question is a good one people have wrestled with this question throughout the ages. Even Jesus had to handle this question carefully because in his time the two major religious groups was the Pharisees and the Sadducee's. The bible says that the Pharisees believed in life after death but the Sadducee's did not even though both groups claimed to believe in God.
The highest spiritual evolution any human can attain is to be "Born Again". Becoming one with the Almighty, Becoming legitimate Children of God.
2007-06-02 05:27:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Buddhism is a philosophy more then a religion. They also don't believe Jesus was the messiah which is what defines a Christian, a Christian.
Eternal life is only one the big missing links on that.
2007-06-02 05:07:16 · answer #7 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A great deal more separates Christianity and Buddhism in Christianity's current incarnation as the religion of separation and judgment of all and any that do not agree with its constantinain teachings.
Reincarnation was one of the tenants of the early christian faith, but this truth was purged from the christian teachings by careful choice and amendment of scripture that was allowed into the bible.
Second chances did not instill the fear into the believers nearly as well as the idea of a judgmental God and eternal damnation.
Love and blessings Don
2007-06-02 23:10:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Life eternal is a characteristic of soul, which never ceases to exist. Reincarnation relates to "the wheel of 84" whereby soul must continue to incarnate back to the physical plane until it achieves self and god realization. At that time, soul is ready to reunite with the Divine.
2007-06-02 18:30:36 · answer #9 · answered by MyPreshus 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you're refering to the Christian concept of "life eternal" then, no, it's definitely not reincarnation.
"man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" (Hebrews 9:27)
To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8)
"Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)
The point of all these verses is that they have an underlying premise of one life, one death, one judgment, one eternal life for each person. To be dead is to be with God, not to be alive again as another person (or animal or plant or object).
Of course you're free to believe what you will. The point is that you cannot bring together biblical Christianity and reincarnation by claiming that the Bible has been misinterpreted (any more than you could say that Buddhism is really teaching that Jesus is the only path to eternal life, but that it has been misinterpreted).
2007-06-02 05:15:03 · answer #10 · answered by Craig R 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
"BORN again" kinda gives it away doesn't it? Jesus traveled to east and west with his uncle Joseph of Arimathea a spice trader . He (the late teens and 20's Jesus) studied with a druid sect called the Eloi in Britain and a Lama Sabachthani (more likely Sabutani) in Tibet. He came away with many new concepts which he tried to explain to his fellow Jews. On the cross he called out to his teachers " Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani?" Some among Islam secretly believe Mohammed was Jesus reborn and the Hasidim in private say the Ba'al Shem Tov. Jesus attained enlightenment and after his "death" (not on the cross but in North America many years later) became a Buddhasatva
2007-06-02 05:33:55 · answer #11 · answered by hairypotto 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋