Why do you say that life would be "pointless' without reincarnation?   Perhaps, after one earth life, the novelty and fresh challenges of very different  "worlds" in spiritual dimensions provide different, even better, opportunities for spiritual adventure and growth.  Personally, I think the arguments AGAINST reincarnation are compelling. Might not reincarnationists often be too "earthbound" in their mentality?

Berserk

Quote:


I used to be against the idea of reincarnation.  Now I am open minded to it, and believe it probably happens at least in some cases.

One reason why I changed my mind is that there are so many people who simply don't live long enough to get anything whatsoever out of their one life in this world.  For example, stillborn babies and babies who die in infancy.  If they don't reincarnate, then it seems like they forever miss out on the full earth experience and whatever lessons it can provide.

Another reason is because I learned that reincarnation was a commonly accepted idea among many Jews of Jesus's time, and Jesus did not refute this view; in fact, it seems like he may have endorsed it, at least in one specific case.

Jesus said of John the Baptist, "he is Elijah, if you are willing to accept it." However, John the Baptist himself denied being Elijah when he was asked, but this doesn't really rule it out because Jesus's words override John's, and also people don't usually know their past lives. Luke's Gospel says that John the Baptist came "in the spirit and power of Elijah," which could mean reincarnation or something other than reincarnation.

There are two ways to interpret this issue. Either John the Baptist was the return only of characteristics of Elijah in some special way short of total reincarnation, or else his soul or spirit was actually the return of the same soul/spirit of Elijah. Traditional Christianity takes the first view, but many of the earliest Christians probably would have understood it the other way, as reincarnation. Reincarnation has been a popular belief historically among Jews, including at the time of Jesus. Even today, when Judaism has mostly purged itself of any belief in the afterlife, reincarnation is still taught among some Orthodox Jews.

I think it's an open question whether Jesus was saying that John the Baptist was the literal reincarnation of Elijah. I tend to believe he was. One thing that's for sure is that Old Testament prophecy required the reappearance of Elijah before the coming of the Messiah. That means if John the Baptist was not the reincarnated Elijah, then the prophecy could legitimately be considered false.

I do not think that the famously quoted verse in Hebrews that "man lives once, and then the judgment" necessarily rules out reincarnation. People who believe in reincarnation generally believe that the judgment occurs immediately after death for each soul, so it would be true that you only live one life before being judged -- it's just that you might live again on earth after that too, or else you might live in heaven or hell or any number of possibilities.

It's a difficult issue and I do not think the Bible is very clear about it, either affirming reincarnation or denying it. A lot of Jews in Jesus's time definitely believed in it, because they were expecting the return of dead Biblical prophets in the form of new people walking the earth -- we know this from historical and literary evidence. That is by definition, reincarnation. We may possibly have an example of Jesus giving credence to this belief with his comments about Elijah and John the Baptist.

For this reason, I think Christians should keep an open mind to the possibility of reincarnation.  Also, common sense tells me that babies who died without getting to live a real life on earth would feel shafted if they never get another chance to tackle this world.  And I don't believe God shafts anybody! 

Freebird

Beware of using the bible in your argumentation for it was traduced and changed in the process.

Also don't use the bible to say what jesus said or want for it wasn't him that wrote it.

Hi all,

It seems like Yeshua or his disciples also supported the concept of Karma.   I believe there is a part in the bible where Yeshua had healed a blind man, who had been blind from birth.  After the healing, some of the Disciples went to Yeshi and asked him something like, "Who did sin, this man or his parents that he should be born blind.."  Yeshua replied simply that this soul was born blind to help show forth the glory of God.

It raises the interesting question...  How could a person, who had been born blind since birth, have committed some kind of sin?

ParanoidAndroid

In fact we are much more than what we think we are when reincarnated. Our real “self” is the sum of all our previous experiences and knowledge. I wouldn’t talk about sins. What I said is that due to our nature always we act consciously against our self or the others it will cause us “injuries” that will be stored in our Data bank (over soul) and due that we wont feel in harmony we will feel guilty and will carry along several other consequences of such behavior. Due that its necessary come back to the “scenario” after a planning time and try again in order of transforming enemies in to friends and guilty in to joy. But it’s not an easy subject. It would be necessary many pages to explain it.

Take care.

Of course we are guided by the ones who are a step ahead. Usually the obstacles that a Spirit will go through in its next lifetime are defined by more developed spirits. There are certain cases were the spirit is developed enough to plan it by it self but at most it’s guided by others.

About the physical aspect it is done unconscious usually. Of course it can be managed to be designed to a specific situation depending on the need of the spirit.

I, myself, do not want to reincarnate.  I am young and I love so many unconditionally that I see reincarnation as a downside to the afterlife.  In essence, I never want to live another life on the earth plane after I reach the afterlife because I love some too much to do so.  I can understand, however, how many who have died before reaching fullfillment spiritually would want to reincarnate.  I do not think that reincarnation is "necessary" if one is where they want to be spiritually.
*****************
How do you know that you'll like the "spirit world" better than C1? Have you been there? (Or are you relying on anecdotes..?)
Or even if you DO like it better, sooner or later you might desire a "change of venue" from "heaven" perhaps? (You'll have to admit that even your favorite flavor of ice cream would get tedious, if you had to eat it EVERY day..!)
AND... even if reincarnation is not "necessary", why would it be ILLEGAL for those who desired it? Different strokes for different folks, man! Even if you wanted to stay in the "spirit world" forever, I hope that wouldn't be a LAW, but just an option.
If the afterlife lacks OPTIONS, if we are like peasants living under a tyrant... then I don't want it, give me obliteration instead. (Maybe if I'd spent my life as some garlic-stinking peasant/villager from Transylvania or other such dictatorial cess-pit, I might accept living under those conditions... but NO, damn it, I'm an AMERICAN, and I don't consider living under a "king" to be acceptable. Sorry 'bout that!) But if we're REALLY lucky there WILL be options. If there AREN'T options, I think I've just described "hell", not "heaven." (Who could disagree with that?)

B-man