Should I Believe in Reincarnation?

arnation means once you pass away in this life, youToday, reincarnation is an accepted part of several
will be reborn as a different person. In this way, yourmajor world religions, including Hinduism and Buddhism.
soul will continue to live new lives and have newOther Reasons to Believe in Reincarnation
experiences. In this sense, death really isn't an endBesides the numerous examples in other religions and
but another new beginning - an opportunity for youthroughout human history, there are still other
to use what you have learned from consecutive livesreasons to believe in reincarnation. Below is a list of
in order to find further happiness and greatersome of these reasons:
fulfillment in your new existence.* Hypnotic Regression - Through hypnosis, many
However, not everyone accepts reincarnation as apeople have been able to uncover and remember
reality. Some believe death is the end of both ouractual experiences from their past lives. They have
body and our soul. We simply cease to exist afterbeen able to describe places or events they had
only a tiny fragment of time. Others believe ournever read about or seen anything about before.
bodies die while our souls transcend earth to liveThese memories provide evidence that at least some
eternally in some type of paradise.of us have lived multiple lives.
Regardless of your current beliefs, there are some* Past Life Recall - Although we may not trust adults
very good reasons to believe in reincarnation.who tell us stories about their past lives, most of us
The Long History of Reincarnationare more likely to believe children who have no
Reincarnation is not a "new age" concept. The beliefmotivation to lie about their memories. There are
has been with us almost since the first civilizationsnumerous documented cases of spontaneous past
and possibly even before. The Egyptians believed thelife recall in children and this further supports the idea
soul (or ka, to use their terminology) left the body atof reincarnation.
death and would move to other bodies.* Intuition - Most of us have had the experience
The respected Greek mathematician Pythagorasthey we are reliving a moment of our lives or that
taught that reincarnation (or soul transmigration) waswe know a piece of information we should have no
a reality. He believed the soul moved throughway of knowing. When we have these experiences,
different lives until it had become purified enough tothey stand out to us and stun us momentarily before
leave the reincarnation cycle.we go back to our other occupations. However,
Some would argue that the Bible and Christianity alsothese could very well be examples of our past lives
support a belief in reincarnation and that the many ofseeping into our present memories.
Jesus' teachings, such as "Unless man is reborn, heReincarnation is a serious belief with a long history
cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven." This idea mayamong respected thinkers and world religions.
suggest an agreement with Pythagoras and otherConsider this when you decide whether or not to
Greek thinkers on the purpose of reincarnation.believe.