The question I should have started with
Yesterday I asked a question that really relates to another question, at least in my mind. So here it is: Do you believe in reincarnation? Do you think you personally have lived before and will live again?
Technorati Tags: Reincarnation
February 21st, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I don’t know about reincarnation at all… I used to believe in it when I was a kid, but now… I’m pretty much agnostic. I might have lived before. I used to like the fantasy that I was Abigail Adams in a previous life.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:53 pm
I hate to say it, but no. Not even one teeny-tiny bit.
February 21st, 2008 at 6:02 pm
I didn’t answer the soulmate question yesterday because all of you answered it so well before I even read the post. I agree with several people in that a soulmate can be anyone with whom you share a deep, unique connection–a kindred spirit indeed. I consider probably three people my kindred spirits. One of those is my husband.
As for reincarnation, I think the idea is fabulous in fiction. It’s also intriguing in real life, but I personally do not believe in it. My reason is likely based on my faith. I believe we are all incredibly unique and completely loved by God (or Higher Power if you prefer). The idea of cycling through this earth lifetime after lifetime leaves me feeling a little empty, but maybe that’s because I hope beyond hope that there’s another place we go after death. Of course, that place may very well be right back into this challenging world. Maybe there really isn’t a place like Paradise. Even so, I am willing to place my hopes on it.
I am very interested to hear everyone’s ideas on this topic. Thanks for posing the question, Robin! Will you tell us your own thoughts when we finish sharing ours? (:
February 21st, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I’ll tell you right now, Kelley: I do believe in it. Heart and mind and soul. And that’s even with my Baptist background. I think we come back time and again to learn what we need to learn to progress along our soul journey and eventually reach the point where we’re evolved enough to move on to another plane.
If that sounds all woo-woo and trippy, you can look away and pretend I didn’t say it.
Kelly, I figured you’d be a “no” on this one. That’s why we all get our own minds, no?
Felicity, love the Abigail Adams idea!
February 21st, 2008 at 6:30 pm
yes
February 21st, 2008 at 7:06 pm
yes. it’s complicated, but yes. not the shirley maclaine stripe of reincarnation, but yes.
February 21st, 2008 at 7:14 pm
I am shirley maclaine.
February 21st, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Thanks for chiming in, David.
Patrick, that explains the haircut.
February 21st, 2008 at 8:15 pm
While I do believe in soul mates and kindred spirits (I’m one of those three people right Kelley Sis ;>?). However, I don’t really believe in reincarnation. I must confess to never giving it much thought before although it is an intriguing notion. I have wondered what will happen once I reach heaven and what it will look like and all that jazz.
February 21st, 2008 at 8:27 pm
I remember reading the horror novel Audrey Rose many years ago(which used reincarnation as the menace afflicting the little girl of the title)and having a bit of a mental debate with one of the characters,the dad who insisted that Audrey Rose was the instant reincarnation of his daughter who only died a few years ago and that her flashbacks to her untimely death grew worse whenever he was around(or in the same city). That just made me say “Then why don’t you STAY AWAY FROM HER?” What a yutz.
My father believed in reincarnation but according to him,the soul couldn’t return until 66 years after it’s last departure. He did read alot of reading on the subject but my beliefs are rather looseleaf.
I think that reincarnation is an option in the next world,one of many possibilities offered up to the soul. I also believe that free will stays a part of you,even when facing The Powers That Be(my dad didn’t quite see it that way,so we agreed to disagree).
Weird thing is,my household didn’t subscribe to any particular religion(I went to Catholic school as my junior high and had First Communion,along with
Confirmation)but we’ve had alot of interesting discussions about God and faith over the years. Some folks on my father’s side of the family consider us to be pagans,which is fine with me.
Back to the topic at hand,one of the things I like about author Jennifer Donnelly is her take on the subject(this from her essay on what inspired her first novel,The Tea Rose):
” Funny, isn’t it, how most people who believe in reincarnation are convinced they were once queens and kings, priestesses, generals, artists and shamans?
No one ever says, “I was a garbage man. I just know it.” Or “I’m certain I was a hooker.”
I’m not really sure if I believe in reincarnation. Maybe a little bit. I am sure about one thing though: if I did live a previous life, I was no queen. I was a slum dweller.”
February 21st, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I have a difficult time wrapping my head around reincarnation. I think it is a great fictional tool, but regardless of the possibility that it could be fact, focusing on the next life detracts from focusing on the current moments of our lives.
February 21st, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Katie Sis, I’m sure you’re one of Kelley’s soul peeps–is there any question?
Heather, I see your point. But for me it actually makes life even richer–I like the idea that it’s a long road, and I have lots of time to fix things.
Lady T, Audrey Rose scared the PEE out of me. Man oh man, why did you have to bring that up? Nightmares now. Please make the bad images go away.
Aside from that, thanks for sharing your family debate. So interesting! And I agree with Jennifer Donnelly about the king and queen thing. Obviously most of us must have been the rabble, since there were more of those.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:08 pm
I really, really hope there is no reincarnation. I just want to take a nice long nap after I die, you know? But as far as what I really think, if there is reincarnation, we’re supposed to have worked things out in the past life and not bring it into the next, ergo, there’s no point in dwelling on it except as something theoretical. I’m really operating on an “as if” basis. I’m living as if there is no reincarnation. I don’t know if I’ll make it to heaven (whatever heaven may be), but I sure hope so, and I am making sure everyone comes too. If we can’t all make it there, it’s not heaven.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Why not? It’s a big universe. I remember reading one theory once that the things people think happen happen — so if you believe in reincarnation, you get reincarnated, if you believe in heaven or hell, you could wind up there. After that, I decided that after death, I would arise in a universe over which I had absolute and total control. Skies made of cotton candy. Seas of freshly squeezed orange juice. Filled with puppies. You know, the usual.
Seriously, though, I like the idea of variety of experience. Reincarnation doesn’t necessarily exclude heaven, etc. Like in ELSEWHERE — you have both. Ditto Defending Your Life.
The thing that bothers me about reincarnation STORIES is that usually people believe they were Cleopatra or whatever. I’m also not sure I believe there’s any connection with reincarnation and soulmates, like we’re stuck with the same people over and over, the same situations, etc. That wouldn’t be as interesting to me as reincarnation where you explore the vastness of the universe.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:23 am
Thanks for your thoughts on this, everyone! I can say I don’t personally believe in something, but that certainly doesn’t make it untrue. It’s intriguing, and perhaps after reading your new book, Robin, I’ll be inspired to learn more. (: Any expected publication date?
February 22nd, 2008 at 7:03 am
What’s wrong with the hair? The hair is perfect! Don’t tell me you prefered the long hair.
February 22nd, 2008 at 9:34 am
Well, if I’m to believe in reincarnation, I want to go with Diana’s variant!
(And, yes, Robin. We can always disagree, and still be friends.)
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Such an interesting question!
I agree with you, Robin. I like thinking that I am learning lessons in this life for a reason. I also believe that some people are “old souls.” My theory is that there are many new souls as the population skyrockets, while most of us are somewhere in between, on our journey to wisdom.
I hate to kill bugs, even annoying ones. It makes me wonder if perhaps I was a bug in a past life, if that is even possible. Who knows?
I think it’s funny that others have commented that people usually think they were a king or queen in a past life, but I think that I was a bug. Should I be concerned?
February 25th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
I like Diana’s thoughts on the subject–I remember hearing that idea, too, that whatever you think is going to happen will happen to you. I have to say, though, that I’m a completely uncommitted agnostic on the subject–I don’t claim to have any knowledge or even beliefs whatsoever about what might happen after we die (although Alkelda’s nice long nap sounds pretty okay to me!).
I did have a friend once, several years back, who believed in reincarnation wholeheartedly–and that a female friend of his was his reincarnated soulmate from that previous life. I never quite knew what to think about that, but he believed it absolutely.
I personally am a little afraid of the idea of reincarnation, after all of the insects I’ve massacred in this life…