The Bible never mentions people having a second chance at life or coming back as different people or animals. Hebrews 9:27 clearly tells us that we die once and then face judgment. If reincarnation is true, then there is no Day of Judgment, no need for the cross, and no need to trust in Christ. For the Christian, however, there can be no doubt: reincarnation is unbiblical and must be rejected as false. In the West, some New Age movements, along with followers of Spiritism, also adhere to reincarnation. This cycle continues over and over again for thousands of years until the person supposedly learns what he or she needs to learn, and then the reincarnation process ceases.īelief in reincarnation is a central tenet within the majority of Indian religions such as Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism. Some believe we are incarnated into animals, plants, and even inanimate objects. Mark Spence: “Reincarnation is the teaching that after death, the soul goes to a holding place and then enters a new human body. It is clear that the Bible does not allow for the concept of reincarnation.Īuthor: Mark Van Bebber of Christian Answers. Paul clearly states that the soul does not transmigrate into another living body, but goes to await judgment.įor the Christian, Paul promised that death is the means to being in the presence of Jesus, “we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord (heaven)” 2 Corinthians 5:8. “For it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” The concepts of reincarnation and karma are in clear contrast to Hebrews 9:27, Salvation is based solely upon the work of Jesus Christ, not upon our own merits. According to the Bible, atonement and forgiveness may be gained only through the death and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Bible also contradicts the belief in karma by emphasizing grace. Modern reincarnation often promotes the divinity of the soul and denies the biblical concept of a sovereign, personal God. In modern, western reincarnation, the objective is to join with “ultimate reality,” merging with God and becoming God. Because of this endless chain of karma, reincarnation does not resolve the problem of evil, but simply points toward the impossible goal of perfection and self-salvation, the ultimate freedom from reincarnation. Their lives are seen as dreary, endless cycles of suffering and rebirth. In much of the Orient, this strict belief in karma has resulted in a hopeless, pessimistic view of life. In other words, the law of sowing and reaping is not limited to this present life but rather continues throughout eternity. Further, ones present deeds will have ramifications for future lives. Those that profess belief in karma teach that the deeds (good or bad) of one's past lives affect this present life. Karma is essentially the law of cause and effect. The concept of karma is closely associated with reincarnation. Most modern, popular versions of reincarnation limit this never-ending process to the transmigration of the soul into human bodies. It was believed that it was even possible to reincarnate into the form of an animal or plant. In the original forms of reincarnation, it was believed that souls transform from life to life in never-ending cycles. Although reincarnation has ancient roots, its more modern, popular versions are modifications of the ancient, eastern beliefs of Hinduism. Reincarnation is vital to classical Buddhism and Hinduism. In its basic concept, it had its origin in India sometime near 800 B.C. Reincarnation is the belief that the human soul never perishes or dies, it simply passes through a succession of lives. Buddhist monks worshipping in Phitsanulok, Thailand
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