May a Christian Believe in Reincarnation?
5/5
()
About this ebook
A growing number of people are open to the subject of past lives, and the belief in rebirth—reincarnation, metemphsychosis, or transmigration—is becoming commonplace. But it often thought that belief in reincarnation and Christianity are incompatible. But is this really true? May a Christian believe in reincarnation? The answer may surprise you.
Reincarnation–also known as the transmigration of souls–is not just some exotic idea of non-Christian mysticism. Nor is it an exclusively Hindu-Buddhist teaching. In orthodox Jewish and early Christian writings, as well as the Holy Scriptures, we find reincarnation as a fully developed belief, although today it is commonly ignored. But from the beginning it has been an integral part of Orthodox Judaism, and therefore as Orthodox Jews, Jesus and his Apostles would have believed in rebirth.
This historical study of reincarnation in both Judaism and Christianity cites many authorities of both traditions, including many Christian saints and Fathers of the Church, as well as both Old and New Testaments. In our opinion the testimony of orthodox Judaism, ancient Christianity, and the Bible is sufficient to answer the question: May a Christian believe in reincarnation?
Included in this second edition is Annie Besant’s article on various scientific, moral, and historical aspects of reincarnation from a Christian perspective.
Read more from Abbot George Burke (Swami Nirmalananda Giri)
The Upanishads for Awakening: A Practical Commentary on India’s Classical Scriptures Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFoundations of Yoga: Ten Important Principles Every Meditator Should Know Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Brief Sanskrit Glossary: A Spiritual Student's Guide to Essential Sanskrit Terms Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Om Yoga Meditation: Its Theory and Practice Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Spiritual Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Bhagavad Gita: The Song of God Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Light of Soham: The Life and Teachings of Sri Gajanana Maharaj of Nashik Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBio-Magnetic Therapy: Healing In Your Hands Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Inspired Wisdom of Lalla Yogeshwari: A Commentary on the Mystical Poetry of the Great Yogini of Kashmir Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Christ of India: The Story of Original Christianity Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Gospel of Thomas for Awakening: A Commentary on Jesus' Sayings as Recorded by the Apostle Thomas Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRobe of Light: An Esoteric Christian Cosmology Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Read the Tarot: A Practical Method Using the Rider-Waite Deck Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAll Is One: A Commentary On Sri Vaiyai R. Subramanian’s Ellam Ondre Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Unknown Lives of Jesus and Mary Compiled from Ancient Records and Mystical Revelations Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Inspired Wisdom of Sri Gajanana Maharaj: A Practical Commentary on Leading an Effectual Spiritual Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Gospel of Thomas for Awakening: A Commentary on Jesus’ Sayings as Recorded by the Apostle Thomas Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPerspectives on Yoga Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Dhammapada for Awakening: A Commentary on Buddha's Practical Wisdom Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Odes of Solomon for Awakening Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Tao Teh King for Awakening Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWandering With The Cherubim: A Commentary on the Mystical Verse of Angelus Silesius–The Cherubinic Wanderer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDwelling In The Mirror: A Study of Illusions Produced by Delusive Meditation and How to Be Free from Them Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to May a Christian Believe in Reincarnation?
Related ebooks
Yes, Jesus Taught Reincarnation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUnpacking The Parables: The Wisdom Teachings Of Jesus Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsReincarnation: The Missing Link In Christianity Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Christ of India: The Story of Original Christianity Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Aquarian Gospel for Awakening: The Aquarian Gospel for Awakening, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJESUS' YEARS IN INDIA: FACTS REVEALING THE TRUTH Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSummary of Paramahansa Yogananda's The Second Coming of Christ Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWas Jesus Really In India?: Final Verdict On The Age-old Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Aquarian Gospel for Awakening: The Aquarian Gospel for Awakening, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Gospel of Thomas for Awakening: A Commentary on Jesus' Sayings as Recorded by the Apostle Thomas Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe New Heaven And The New Earth Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Greatest Story Never Told: An Advanced Understanding of Christianity Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsReincarnation and Rebirth of the Soul: A Christian Study of its History and the Bible Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Light of the Christ Within: Inspired Talks by Reverand John Laurence, a Direct Disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsInterview with Jesus: Jesus' Life & Purpose Session 1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Yoga of Jesus: Understanding the Hidden Teachings of the Gospels Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Perspectives on Yoga Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Christ of India: The Story of Original Christianity Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRevelations of Christ: Proclaimed by Paramhansa Yogananda by His Disciple, Swami Kriyananda Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Amen and Jesus' Revelation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBabaji - I am You Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRobe of Light: An Esoteric Christian Cosmology Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSearching for Reincarnation in Christianity Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEscaping Boot Camp Earth: The Mystical Path to Freedom and Ascension Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Unknown Life of Jesus Christ The Original Text of Nicolas Notovitch's 1887 Discovery Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsI See Buddha in Jesus-Years in Kashmir Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsConversations with G: A Physician's Encounter with Heaven Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Christianity For You
The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex: Creating a Marriage That's Both Holy and Hot Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Holy Bible (World English Bible, Easy Navigation) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table: It's Time to Win the Battle of Your Mind... Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Your Brain's Not Broken: Strategies for Navigating Your Emotions and Life with ADHD Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Law of Connection: Lesson 10 from The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book of Enoch Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Winning the War in Your Mind Workbook: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mere Christianity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries Workbook: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wild at Heart Expanded Edition: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Jesus Calling Morning and Evening, with Scripture References Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Screwtape Letters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Undistracted: Capture Your Purpose. Rediscover Your Joy. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for May a Christian Believe in Reincarnation?
1 rating1 review
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Makes a great case with solid diverse references. Especially the first half.
Book preview
May a Christian Believe in Reincarnation? - Abbot George Burke (Swami Nirmalananda Giri)
Published by
Light of the Spirit Press
Light of the Spirit Monastery
P. O. Box 1370
Cedar Crest, New Mexico 87008
www.OCOY.org
Copyright © 2014 Light of the Spirit Monastery.
All rights reserved.
Contents
image.jpgPreface
May a Christian Believe in Reincarnation?
Necessity for Reincarnation
Did you enjoy reading May a Christian Believe in Reincarnation?
About the Author
More from Light of the Spirit Press
Preface
image-2.jpgHow this study came about
You might find the history of this study interesting and amusing.
Quite some time ago we became very good friends with an Eastern Orthodox archpriest who not only believed in reincarnation, but had engaged for years in research into methods of past-life recall. One afternoon he phoned and told me that several guests were coming from an Orthodox seminary to visit him and he planned to bring up the compatibility of reincarnation with Christianity. The reason for his call was to ask if the monks and I could research the subject of reincarnation in early Christianity to give him material to prove that Christians could believe in reincarnation. Certainly we would! For the next few days several of us went through our library and finally reported back to our friend that we had a lot of material for him to use.
Then he revealed to us that what brought this on was the discovery of a small boy in our state that remembered being his own uncle! And the priest had been asked by the local television station to comment on this at the end of their broadcast of the story. Were we ever excited. An Eastern Orthodox priest advocating reincarnation on television! So we delivered the material and awaited the broadcast.
The segment on the boy was very well done and very believable. Then suddenly there on the screen we saw our priest friend in full vestments standing at the front of his church. This was it!
No, it wasn’t.
He began a tirade (no other word for it) about how Christians cannot believe in reincarnation and how incompatible the belief is with Christianity.
For us, the bottom dropped out. But when life hands you lemons, make lemonade, so I just worked all that researched material into a small book I named May a Christian Believe in Reincarnation? But the story was not finished.
I was working on one of the first PCs, a Franklin Ace with a floppy disk and a primitive dot matrix printer. Nobody had told me to save my work every day, so I did not. Nor had anyone told me to make a hard copy on the printer each day. So no hard copy.
Finally I felt I was done, so I did a save. The computer spewed everything over the disk and I had gibberish.
More lemons called for more lemonade, so I wrote the whole thing again, and it turned out better. But I still did not save or make a hard copy, and when I saved at the end…. It was the end. The same disaster happened.
It took a while to take it in, but–well, you know: lemons. So I wrote it a third time, and yes it was actually better. But the third time was not a charm: it was the same destruction. I did not make lemonade, I cried. Really. And then consoling myself with the idea (but no proof) that the third version had also been an improvement, I wrote it for a fourth time. No, I did not save. No, I did not make a printout.
I saved. The computer made the usual hash. Then a cynical thought came to me: What if this computer was lying to me? What if the text was not scattered all over the disk like the directory showed? What if it would print out?
It did. So now you have the book. The lemonade come from some very sour lemons, but I hope you will find it sweet.
May a Christian Believe in Reincarnation?
image-3.jpgOur purpose in this brief study is to determine if, in good conscience, a Christian may believe in reincarnation. In ancient orthodox Jewish and Christian writings, as well as the Holy Scriptures, we can find reincarnation–also known as the transmigration of souls–as a fully developed belief. Consequently as Orthodox Jews Jesus and the Apostles would have been familiar with the belief in rebirth.
My favorite comment on the subject of reincarnation is that given by the Roman Catholic Capuchin stigmatist Saint Padre Pio. When one of his spiritual daughters was told on
for believing in reincarnation, he told her accusers very firmly: It does not matter what you believe about reincarnation. The only thing that matters is this: Are you seeking for God now?
A Catholic cardinal speaks
Just what do we mean by reincarnation? Cardinal Mercier (1851-1926) of the Roman Catholic Church, an eminent scholar and theologian of the conservative Christian Tradition, in his book Psychologie gives this definition of three views of reincarnation:
"Under the term Wiedermenschwerdung, metempsychosis, or the transmigration of souls, a