5 replies to this topic

[Gan]

Something I've reading on and wanted to share a bit.

A lot of you all might find it weird as I'm assuming most of you all have a very heavy Christian mindset when I mention the word Biblical. However, there is an idea of reincarnation among the other religions, including Judaism but also the other smaller groups of Abrahamic faiths. Sorry in advance if it sounds a little preachy or dogmatic but bear with me a bit and you all can tear it apart. I don't mind.

Some basics. The primary belief is that everyone comes here on Earth to perform a specific mission.

Relationship between man and God is more of a partnership. Although God is in total control, we humans do have the gifts and power to change the material world. Sometimes our lives are shorten due to our choices in life, in which God respects to a certain point as He gives us free will. Sometimes life is shorten for some individuals because of accidents and other causes beyond their control. Some people interpret this as God gives and God takes. There are some attitudes that the reason why some people's lives are shorten is because either one, God wants to spare the righteous from being hurt by the wicked or two God wants the wicked to stop his/her ways. This is all speculation though.

Let me add in real quick that the words righteous and wicked don't really carry their weight in English. It can be interpret this way as the righteous are those who keep trying to do good and make an effort to repent if they make mistakes, the main meaning of the word sin. The wicked are those who don't try or know but keep on sinning, in other words, they keep hurting others and themselves. The idea is that everything in this world is good as it is said when the Creator made the world, all is good. So, depending on what you all believe in, there are those who don't believe the fall of man in the same manner as Christianity.

So with all that being said, when life is shorten and the individual doesn't complete his/her mission, sometimes God will give that person a second chance to be reborn. Don't know what criteria it's just speculation according to these religions. An example is a fire burning on a candle. When the candle stick hasn't melted yet but the fire seems to be dying, the flame will be transfer to another candle stick. The imagery is a little hard for me to picture, but I comprehend a little bit. Some people use this as an explanation for those who appear to be remarkably talented at young age or those who appear to have a strong drawing or calling to certain activities and mindsets.

There's also the generational blessings and curses as mentioned in the Bible. One is mention where the mistake of idolatry will affect to the 3rd and 4th generation. However, some religious traditions believe that the soul of a person (the couple actually, as a person isn't consider complete if he/she is not married, something different than the celibate attitudes of other beliefs) travels along their descendants. Therefore, for those who commit idolatry, it will take that soul at least 3 or 4 generations to fully repent for this mistake. Some people believe that reincarnation is mainly achieve through their descendants. However, sometimes, God will allow the souls to be reborn into bodies that are not related in any sense, as this is a way to make all human beings aware of the Creator. It's also another way of connecting with people of different backgrounds. This too is used as an explanation for those who feel strongly being drawn to a particular culture or place that has no relation with their own upbringing.

This is just something I've been reading lately, and thought it would be interesting to share. Not of everyone of these particular faiths believe in the same thing.

[qrasy]

As far as I have read, I have not found anything suggesting reincarnation inside the bible.
There are mentions of resurrection, though, including "in this life" like Lazarus, and also "in the end of the era".
Of course, for the one "in the end of the era" it won't be the same body; however, it should be the same personality otherwise there can't be a fair judgment.

There's no mention either, of anything like "soul" transferring to biological offspring.
If you claim that "it needs more than 1 generation to repent for idolatry", that would only appear to be parents' influence on the behavior of children.

Edited by qrasy, 14 May 2010 - 02:58 PM.

[Gan]

As far as I have read, I have not found anything suggesting reincarnation inside the bible.
There are mentions of resurrection, though, including "in this life" like Lazarus, and also "in the end of the era".
Of course, for the one "in the end of the era" it won't be the same body; however, it should be the same personality otherwise there can't be a fair judgment.

There's no mention either, of anything like "soul" transferring to biological offspring.
If you claim that "it needs more than 1 generation to repent for idolatry", that would only appear to be parents' influence on the behavior of children.

It doesn't mention the idea explicitly, these are some of those side beliefs that some of the very old Levant communities have in their traditions and other literature. I don't claim anything per se, just something I want to share.

Here's some links, just one of many places I read on occasion.
http://www.chabad.or...incarnation.htm

http://www.chabad.or...in-Gds-word.htm

http://www.chabad.or...od-and-Evil.htm

http://www.aish.com/...t/48959181.html

http://www.aish.com/...c/48943926.html

They are not the only religious group that uses the biblical origin for that belief I think. I was surprise when I read about other groups beyond the big 3, like there is this one group that believes they are descended only from Adam, not Eve. Another one is kind of similar but a little more rational, maybe because they're younger in existence.

Speaking down to Earth, I also think that a lot of these beliefs used a lot of figurative language to explain the world. Parent's influences, the danger of doing certain activities, why some individuals in different generations of the same family look similar, etc.

Edited by Gan, 14 May 2010 - 05:03 PM.

[Gan]

I should probably mention that for some of these smaller religious groups, a lot of the beliefs applied mainly to them. It's not the same as the other religions where they seek to convert as many people as possible. Which is why I try to make the distinction in my earlier comment about the word Biblical. The smaller groups don't have much strong opinion regarding if other people worship idols, as long as their own members don't. It greatly depends on who you ask though, some believers are adamant about everyone should worship God, some think it's a personal matter and can only be regarded as such. There was something I read that some people regard atheism even worst than idol worship because the distance between idol worship and monotheism is shorter, at the very least the worshipers are aware of a greater power.

Just something I like to share about attitudes from other non-traditional Chinese religions.

[Honam]

I totally agree with qrasy. There is no trace of reincarnation in the Bible, and most of Christianity would be contrary to the idea of "having another chance". For example, in the Middle Ages, there was this calculation that pointed to 1600 something as the End of the Days, and they even believed the time will be shortened in order to please the good souls (which I guess where somewhere floating awaiting for the judgement, not reincarnating, not yet in Heaven).

However, I would say that the resurrection of the flesh in the Last Day would imply a physical resurrection also. How can our physical rotten and long gone body resurrect? God's omnipotence, I guess.

(From the Catholic Encyclopedia)

the resurrection, like the creation, is to be numbered amongst the principal works of God; hence, as at the creation all things are perfect from the hand of God, so at the resurrection all things must be perfectly restored by the same omnipotent hand. But there is a difference between the earthly and the risen body; for the risen bodies of both saints and sinners shall be invested with immortality. This admirable restoration of nature is the result of the glorious triumph of Christ over death as described in several texts of Sacred Scripture: Isaiah 25:8; Osee, xiii, 14; 1 Corinthians 15:26; Apocalypse 2:4.

Of course, with imagination you can stretch any interpretation. For example, in the aforementioned entry of the Catholic Encyclopedia, someone actually believes Isaiah is talking about Christ.

[Gan]

Like I said a couple of times already, this is why I've made and making a distinction regarding the word Biblical. When I use that word, the main thing that pops out in most minds is Christianity, however other religious groups use the Bible as well.

Even within the Christian scope, there's a lot of things that aren't mention but believed strongly by Mormons, Jehovah witnesses, Christian Scientists (not Scientology), etc. that's not as explicit in the Bible or some of their literature.