Reincarnation and Re-cycling: Revised and up-dated.
Created | Updated Oct 11, 2012
May a Christian believe in reincarnation? After reading 256+ books on the subject, I believe so.
Leslie D Weatherhead, Tom Strong, Lynn Elwell Sparrow, Dore Deverell, Kyriakos C Markides.. these are some writers of those 200-something books, and although they are of varying quality, it's been a good search these last 14 years. Another author,I have read, is a very interesting man called Martin Israel, a South African Jew who moved to the UK and Anglicanism (be became a Priest, without 'unbecoming' a Jew). His books are a 'must read')
George MacDonald, in the book 'Life Essential' talks about an afterlife for animals (not acceptable in 19th century Scotland) although he believed in it. So, he talks about recycling animal souls. I think he's talking about reincarnation, for animals at least. Intuitively, it makes sense...
It has been said that memories, phobias, preferences and strong dislikes all may indicate 'bleed through' from a previous incarnation. Children with very marked likes and dislikes and very strong ideas may be evidence of this. Child prodigies are another indication of reincarnation, those who accept it say.
Ian Stevenson has studied children who exhibit 'past life'memories, and has published hundreds of cases, without finding what he once called the 'ideal' case. He is, it seems a Scientologist, which perhaps indicates a predisposition to believe.
Stevenson calls them cases "suggestive" of reincarnation, and has found that these children, whatever culture they come from, have several things in common. An early death of the 'past life personality' (often through violence), an emotional attachment to the past life family, persistent talk about the past life up until about 7 years old - then the gradual fading of memories and interests.
It is said that people meet again - part of the purpose of recycling is so that unfinished business can be finished. We all know people we hate on sight, or love at first sight, and sometimes we can gain an insight into why this might be. It could be that we need to have a sister who absolutely disagrees with everything anyone ever says to her, or a boyfriend who is decidedly peculiar.
The problem for the Christian of course, is Grace and faith versus works. Reincarnation and karma go inevitably with a 'works-based' theology of salvation, whereas Christianity teaches salvation by faith alone. In some Christian communities, faith can become a 'work', which is an argument those who believe in Universal Salvation use.
The question of Universal Salvation, against exclusiveness leading to the 'lost' state of most of humanity, is a question every honest Christian must face.The New Testament contains an abundance of evidence that God intends all people to find their way 'home' to God's place. In common with many other believers in Universal Salvation, I see reincarnation as the means used for this. Subsequently, 'works' in the long run, (and a very long one it can prove to be too) can become the means of Grace in the end. Not all will reincarnate, but some, perhaps most can, or may.
This is from a purely Christian. I believe, however, that's how the system works. Below, is a quote from Origen, giving a part of his way of seeing things.
"Every soul... comes into the world strengthened by the victories or weakened by the defeats of its previous life. Its place in this world as a vessel apppointed to honour or dishonour is determined by its previous merits or demerits. Its work in the world determines its place in the world which is to follow this."
Origen 185-254 AD
Leslie D Weatherhead, Tom Strong, Lynn Elwell Sparrow, Dore Deverell, Kyriakos C Markides.. these are some writers of those 200-something books, and although they are of varying quality, it's been a good search these last 14 years. Another author,I have read, is a very interesting man called Martin Israel, a South African Jew who moved to the UK and Anglicanism (be became a Priest, without 'unbecoming' a Jew). His books are a 'must read')
George MacDonald, in the book 'Life Essential' talks about an afterlife for animals (not acceptable in 19th century Scotland) although he believed in it. So, he talks about recycling animal souls. I think he's talking about reincarnation, for animals at least. Intuitively, it makes sense...
It has been said that memories, phobias, preferences and strong dislikes all may indicate 'bleed through' from a previous incarnation. Children with very marked likes and dislikes and very strong ideas may be evidence of this. Child prodigies are another indication of reincarnation, those who accept it say.
Ian Stevenson has studied children who exhibit 'past life'memories, and has published hundreds of cases, without finding what he once called the 'ideal' case. He is, it seems a Scientologist, which perhaps indicates a predisposition to believe.
Stevenson calls them cases "suggestive" of reincarnation, and has found that these children, whatever culture they come from, have several things in common. An early death of the 'past life personality' (often through violence), an emotional attachment to the past life family, persistent talk about the past life up until about 7 years old - then the gradual fading of memories and interests.
It is said that people meet again - part of the purpose of recycling is so that unfinished business can be finished. We all know people we hate on sight, or love at first sight, and sometimes we can gain an insight into why this might be. It could be that we need to have a sister who absolutely disagrees with everything anyone ever says to her, or a boyfriend who is decidedly peculiar.
The problem for the Christian of course, is Grace and faith versus works. Reincarnation and karma go inevitably with a 'works-based' theology of salvation, whereas Christianity teaches salvation by faith alone. In some Christian communities, faith can become a 'work', which is an argument those who believe in Universal Salvation use.
The question of Universal Salvation, against exclusiveness leading to the 'lost' state of most of humanity, is a question every honest Christian must face.The New Testament contains an abundance of evidence that God intends all people to find their way 'home' to God's place. In common with many other believers in Universal Salvation, I see reincarnation as the means used for this. Subsequently, 'works' in the long run, (and a very long one it can prove to be too) can become the means of Grace in the end. Not all will reincarnate, but some, perhaps most can, or may.
This is from a purely Christian. I believe, however, that's how the system works. Below, is a quote from Origen, giving a part of his way of seeing things.
"Every soul... comes into the world strengthened by the victories or weakened by the defeats of its previous life. Its place in this world as a vessel apppointed to honour or dishonour is determined by its previous merits or demerits. Its work in the world determines its place in the world which is to follow this."
Origen 185-254 AD
