Buddhist monks worshipping in Phitsanulok, Thailand
Reincarnation is the belief that the human soul never perishes or dies, it simply passes through a succession of lives. In its basic concept, it had its origin in India sometime near 800 B.C. Reincarnation is vital to classical Buddhism and Hinduism. Although reincarnation has ancient roots, its more modern, popular versions are modifications of the ancient, eastern beliefs of Hinduism.
In the original forms of reincarnation, it was believed that souls transform from life to life in never-ending cycles. It was believed that it was even possible to reincarnate into the form of an animal or plant. Most modern, popular versions of reincarnation limit this never-ending process to the transmigration of the soul into human bodies.
The concept of karma is closely associated with reincarnation. Karma is essentially the law of cause and effect. Those that profess belief in karma teach that the deeds (good or bad) of one's past lives affect this present life. Further, ones present deeds will have ramifications for future lives.
In other words, the law of sowing and reaping is not limited to this present life but rather continues throughout eternity.
In much of the Orient, this strict belief in karma has resulted in a hopeless, pessimistic view of life. Their lives are seen as dreary, endless cycles of suffering and rebirth. 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. In modern, western reincarnation, the objective is to join with “ultimate reality,” merging with God and becoming God. Modern reincarnation often promotes the divinity of the soul and denies the biblical concept of a sovereign, personal God.
The Bible also contradicts the belief in karma by emphasizing grace. According to the Bible, atonement and forgiveness may be gained only through the death and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. Salvation is based solely upon the work of Jesus Christ, not upon our own merits. The concepts of reincarnation and karma are in clear contrast to Hebrews 9:27,
“For it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.”
Paul clearly states that the soul does not transmigrate into another living body, but goes to await judgment.
For 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. It is clear that the Bible does not allow for the concept of reincarnation.
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Mark Spence: “Reincarnation is the teaching that after death, the soul goes to a holding place and then enters a new human body. Some believe we are incarnated into animals, plants, and even inanimate objects. 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.
Belief in reincarnation is a central tenet within the majority of Indian religions such as Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism. In the West, some New Age movements, along with followers of Spiritism, also adhere to reincarnation. For the Christian, however, there can be no doubt: reincarnation is unbiblical and must be rejected as false. If reincarnation is true, then there is no Day of Judgment, no need for the cross, and no need to trust in Christ.
Hebrews 9:27 clearly tells us that we die once and then face judgment. The Bible never mentions people having a second chance at life or coming back as different people or animals. Jesus told the dying criminal on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise,” not, “You will have another chance to live a life on this earth.” The Bible teaches that believers go on to eternal life while unbelievers go on to eternal punishment.
People need Jesus because reincarnation does not remove sin. It works with karma, the idea that your past lives of “goodness” or “badness” affects the quality and position of your next incarnation. The purpose of reincarnation is to help you develop perfect karma by which you might achieve a union with the “divine consciousness” after you have learned whatever it is you are supposed to learn.
That might sound good, but it makes no sense. Think about it: if this is true, each person had a first incarnation. That means that each person then had perfect karma since he had no previous life and had done nothing wrong. So, if he had perfect karma and didn’t learn what he was supposed to learn in his first life, what makes him think that after hundreds of incarnations with accumulated bad karma that he will be able to achieve the perfect state of union with the divine consciousness? And then there’s the issue of final authority. When it’s time to reincarnate, who or what is the cosmic authority figure that decides whether you’ve been good or bad? These religions have no God who judges nor a gauge by which we are judged by. It’s like having a justice system without a judge; it makes no sense.
But what does make sense is that there is one God who has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ and the only way to have our sins forgiven is to trust in Him and not our own efforts through various lives trying to achieve perfection. That’s why you need Jesus, because reincarnation is not only false, it is empty because you just can’t win.
Aside from Jesus, no one has ever been perfect. Because of this, no one could ever be good enough to escape the supposed cycle of reincarnation. After death we face judgment, meaning that there is no second chance. That’s why you need a Savior. On the day you die, you will not go back to the end of the line to try again; you will be judged. Without the righteousness of Christ, you don’t stand a chance.”
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