Reincarnation

[Blizzard]

Who here believes in Reincarnation? Can anyone prove that it is true? What exactly do you completely believe about reincarnation? Does it say that it is possible anywhere in the bible? I haven't been able to find it anywhere, only it says in Hebrews 9:27 that it is only for man to die once, then comes judgement. Please clarify your belief. Thank you.

[ANDY-J]

Blizzard.
I have a firm belief in reincarnation and it was one of the doctrines of the early christian church.Given that many of the things recorded in the bible are figurative the true meaning of any given passage is open to interpretation.However I regard many of christ's statements as referring to reincarnation and Karma.An individual who is wealthy in this life will be obliged to endure poverty in a future incarnation(and vice-versa)-thus Jesus stated'those who are first shall be last and the last first'.Those spirits which are enlightened will deliberately choose lives of hardship and suffering in order to help others attain spiritual growth thus Jesus states'whoever is least among you is the greatest'.Similar statements are found in Bhuddism.Above all however I base my belief in reincarnation upon an observation of the dynamics which operate within the world.In nature life is a continuous cycle of birth,death and regeneration.I believe that this cycle occurs also within human existence and that the purpose of life is spiritual evolution until such times as an individual soul attains nirvana when it can ascend to higher realms of existence.

[TireGuy]

Originally posted by ANDY-J

Above all however I base my belief in reincarnation upon an observation of the dynamics which operate within the world.In nature life is a continuous cycle of birth,death and regeneration.I believe that this cycle occurs also within human existence and that the purpose of life is spiritual evolution until such times as an individual soul attains nirvana when it can ascend to higher realms of existence. [/b]

Andy,
I don't understand where you see a cycle of birth, death and regeneration in the world. Everything that I see that dies on earth is gone, never to return. You can't mean the seasons, as they are not living things. Trees lose their leaves in the winter, but do not actually die. They are more like sleeping. When a tree dies, it is done and not coming back. Can you give me an example of something that was living, died and returned?
thanks

[TireGuy]

Originally posted by ANDY-J
Blizzard.
"An individual who is wealthy in this life will be obliged to endure poverty in a future incarnation(and vice-versa)-thus Jesus stated'those who are first shall be last and the last first'.Those spirits which are enlightened will deliberately choose lives of hardship and suffering in order to help others attain spiritual growth thus Jesus states'whoever is least among you is the greatest'."

After reading your quote, I do not understand why people in poverty have always outnumbered the wealthy by 100 to 1. If the wealthy will endure poverty and vice-versa, why have the wealthy never outnumbered the poor? Could it be Jesus was not refering to reincarnation when he spoke those words?

[ANDY-J]

Tire Guy.
In the western world today the majority of people enjoy a standard of living which previous generations could not have imagined.While certain people are relatively more wealthy than others few people experience genuine poverty.It is my belief that people must experience hardship and poverty to develop the spiritual insight which is necessary to gain enlightenment,for as it says in Bhuddism'I am made perfect through suffering'.I do not believe that there is any virtue in suffering but I do believe that for many individuals it can help in the process of spiritual growth.The nature of Karma is such I believe that those who endure suffering and hardship will also experience lives which are free from suffering.The bible is open to interpretation and I concede that Christ may indeed not have been referring to reincarnation,however it is my belief that given that he was an enlightened spiritual being with an awareness of the workings of Karmic law he was in fact referring to reincarnation.

[mrbody]

I believe in Mr Andy's teachings.

I am of no religion myself, but I believe in Karma, Nirvana and Reincarnation.

If the path of one soul's life can be described as a 2-D geometric figure............it would be a circle(Andy), and not a ray(TireGuy), and certainly not a line segment(Rabbi).

mrbody

[TireGuy]

Originally posted by mrbody
I believe in Mr Andy's teachings.

I am of no religion myself, but I believe in Karma, Nirvana and Reincarnation.

If the path of one soul's life can be described as a 2-D geometric figure............it would be a circle(Andy), and not a ray(TireGuy), and certainly not a line segment(Rabbi).

mrbody

Hello mrbody,
If you are of no religion, what do you base your belief of reincarnation on?
Are you sure the path a one soul's life can be described as a circle? A circle has no beginning or end. I have trouble with the no beginning part.
tireguy