Glossary - exWitch Australia (formerly 'Born Again Pagan')

REINCARNATION

Reincarnation, the return to life in a new body after death, has a long history. In primitive shamanic belief (see SHAMANISM), a dead shaman might take over the body of a young pupil, with terrific struggle and stress, and so live again. The belief in reincarnation is found in many parts of occult lore.

The 20th-century American Clairvoyant Edgar Cayce went from scepticism about it to complete belief, affIrming that he had once been a prince in Atlantis. Another occultist, Rudolf Steiner, elaborated a whole series of future Incarnations awaiting humanity.

A Biblical Perspective:

The entire concept of Karma is based on the theological belief in reincarnation. It is sort of a "you reap what you sow" idea with the reaping to take place in your reincarnated life. The Bible does not agree with the idea of reincarnation, so therefore, it does not support the idea of Karma.

In Hebrews 9:27 it states, "And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this (cometh) judgment." This Bible verse makes clear two important points which, for Christians, negate the possibility of reincarnation and Karma. First, it states that it is "appointed unto men once to die..." Meaning that humans are only born once and only die once. There is no endless cycle of life and death and rebirth that is promoted in the reincarnation theory. Second, it states that "after this (cometh) judgment..." Meaning that there is no second chance, like there is in reincarnation and Karma, to live a better life. You get one shot at life and living it according to God's plan, and that's it.

The Bible talks a lot about reaping and sowing. In Job 4:8 it says, "Even as I have seen they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same". And in Psalms 126:5 it says, "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy". And in Luke 12:24 it says, "Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?"

In each of these instances, as well as all the other references to reaping and sowing, the act of receiving the rewards of one's actions (reaping) takes place in this life, not in some future life. It is a present-day activity and the references make it clear that the fruit one reaps will be commensurate with the actions one has performed. In addition, the actions or sowing one performs in this life will affect one's reward or punishment in the afterlife.

This afterlife is not a rebirth or a reincarnation into another body here on earth. It is either eternal suffering in hell (Matthew 25:46), or eternal life in Heaven with Jesus, who died so that we might live eternally with Him. And it is this life that our actions of sowing should be oriented towards. The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 6:8-9, "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

Finally, we must always remember that it was Jesus whose death on the cross resulted in the reaping of eternal life for us, and that it is faith in Jesus that will gain for us this eternal life. It says in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast". Therefore, we see that the concept of reincarnation and Karma is incompatible with what the Bible teaches about life, death, and the sowing and reaping of eternal life.

see also: KARMA

RESOURCES FROM OTHER CHRISTIAN SITES:
(Opens in a New Window)
WICCA: A BIBLICAL CRITIQUE and
THE MYSTERY OF REINCARNATION at Probe Ministries

PLEASE NOTE:
One of the major problems with 'defining' Paganism and/or its beliefs and practices is that it is an 'organic' movement, in that it is undergoing constant change and re-evaluation from within, and as such any 'one-size-fits-all' approach to understanding Paganism will be found wanting.

Due to the very 'organic' nature of Paganism, and the many differing Paths and Traditions within it, in many cases no one definition may be universally accepted by all Pagans. Therefore, where such cases of possible conflicting and/or contradictory meanings of certain terms occur I have endevoured to give not only the generally accepted meaning, but also any major 'variations' in belief and/or practice.

Christians who believe this difference in meaning of certain key terms, beliefs and practices to be unique to Paganism need to remember that such conflicts also arise within the Body of Christ - the Church. Take for instance the differing practices amongst Christians concerning Baptism and the different attitudes towards women in the clergy.

- Jean-Luc