DrRockdapuss said:

Based on simple arithmetic, there are more people on Earth now than there have ever been. So reincarnation either

A) fails utterly, because there isn't enough of the animus to go around. China would have eaten up all the early souls alone. So that means we'd need more and if they've all been recycled, it couldn't work.

or

B) explains why the human condition is in constant decline, because the souls are divided up into more bodies, leaving space for darker influences i.e. quite literally, The Void.

So it's one of those two.

You're assuming only humans reincarnate.

Nikademus said:

DrRockdapuss said:

Based on simple arithmetic, there are more people on Earth now than there have ever been. So reincarnation either

A) fails utterly, because there isn't enough of the animus to go around. China would have eaten up all the early souls alone. So that means we'd need more and if they've all been recycled, it couldn't work.

or

B) explains why the human condition is in constant decline, because the souls are divided up into more bodies, leaving space for darker influences i.e. quite literally, The Void.

So it's one of those two.

You're assuming only humans reincarnate.

Are you suggesting that the number of life-forms on the planet has remained largely constant (actually, it should be declining with the lucky few gettting off the merry ground)

Believing in reincarnation is meaningless if you don t know how to live.

RodeoSchro said:

Absolutely, in some form.

When our son was three or so, he told us he was a tailgunner on a B-17 and was killed when it got shot down. He went to Heaven, and God told him to choose a new set of parents. He looked and looked for many years until he found us.

There's another kid who had the same story but in incredible detail. They wrote a book about him called "Soul Survivor". He too told his parents he'd previously died in WWII. But this young man knew details about that incident that only the pilot would have known. Oh, and he knew the pilot's name, and the name of his plane, which was only known to the few guys that flew with him.

It's absolutely incredible.

I wish we'd have thought to ask questions of our son like that when he told us his story, but we were so blown away that we didn't think about it.

I don't think everyone gets reincarnated, but I'm positive it's happened at least twice.

I believe there are more mysteries to life and death than we will ever know. I also believe there are too many unexplained phenomena in this world to attribute it all to swamp gas, bad lighting, demons, or camera malfunctions. I've seen some things in my lifetime that I still cannot explain.

So, yes...I believe there's too much energy in our brains and bodies to just disappear for all time when our bodies die. But like I said before, none of us will really know until we pass through that door.

Number23 said:

Not to condense millennia of theologians' and philosophers' sweat and tears into Jared's spinning balls, but what would be the purpose? To be judged as good enough to pass on to some nirvanic ideal? Does time exist as a dimentional constant in this nirvanic ideal? Bloody hell, I'd hope not. You need yang to appreciate the yin - bliss needs hell to stand against - it simply cannot be recognized or appreciated otherwise. I think it's fairly obvious - especially in this relatively knowledgeable age - that this is it and you are the result of billions of years of natural gene adaption on a stable host rock. I find that truth humbling, fascinating and the gateway to true mental freedom. It's obvious to me the so-called self-awareness which differentiates us from other species is the same illusional construct which allows the brain to delude itself into stuffing a pillow for its own head, held in the loving, guiding hands of some forever changing father figure, Zeus to Allah to whomever's next. Do any of you truly feel your personality, beliefs and actions aren't just instinctual constructs? Does anyone truly think they deserve to live forever? Man, that's ego I'll never comprehend. If you're right, which you're not, I'll see you all in hell.

i think what number 23 is saying in his eloquent but long winded way is no.... and neither do i......be happy we have all tasted life.....it is short and hard going sometimes but i am glad i was born......we go back to being what we were before once life leaves us again.....nothing......it wasnt so bad before i was born so we have nothing to fear......anyway time itself is not forever....it can be bent and stopped in the very universe we live in now....enjoy it while you can....

[Edited 6/30/10 1:11am]

Yes

Nikademus said:

Yes, I do.

I also think reincarnation is one of the ways that phobias develop. For example, if in a previous life you fell off a cliff or a building, in you next life, you'd be afraid of heights. If you drowned, next time around you'd be afraid of water.

I must have fell out of a plane

it is a nice train of thought to have sometimes.

I wonder what happened to me in a previous life that i hate crowds

DrRockdapuss said:

Based on simple arithmetic, there are more people on Earth now than there have ever been. So reincarnation either

A) fails utterly, because there isn't enough of the animus to go around. China would have eaten up all the early souls alone. So that means we'd need more and if they've all been recycled, it couldn't work.

or

B) explains why the human condition is in constant decline, because the souls are divided up into more bodies, leaving space for darker influences i.e. quite literally, The Void.

So it's one of those two.

Not necessarily. I don't think reincarnation precludes the belief in brand-new souls being created.

Plus, reincarnation could entail all life forms on earth, which might help the math. Or maybe there's life on other planets and in parallel universes, and maybe we bounce in between all of them.

Not that I believe in it. But there are more than just those two options for those who do believe in it.

I guess it depends on the faith and what they believe in regarding reincarnation.

We have to remember that a Buddhist does not view incarnated life as only having happened here on earth, but anywhere in this Universe (or any other Universe) for that matter. Nor is one reincarnated specifically into this iteration of the Universe (which has died and been reborn inumerable times in the past).

Nor does reincarnation actually mean a 'soul' is being passed from one lifeform to another. Rebirth is a bit messier in the Buddhist view.

That being said, I like the atheist way of thinking on this one.

Of course not. No objective evidential basis for it whatsoever. Simply becuase there are things we can not instantly explain is no reason to insert [whatever you like the idea of] in that gap. To actively believe something (anything) without objective basis is always irational and indicative of personal wont. It is an instinct to be fought, not embraced.

Insatiable, pick up this book. Quick easy read.

Many lives, many masters by Dr. Brian Weiss.

I'm a skeptic but this book made me believe a little bit more. If he didn't have all the credentials then I would have just thought he was a phony or crazy. But it's very interesting....give it a read and let me know what you think.

hell no.

I believe the energy that runs our bodies just meets the universe, assimilates, and that's the end of that.

ConsciousContact said:

Believing in reincarnation is meaningless if you don t know how to live.

um, yeah. thanks for that.

HamsterHuey said:

vivid said:

I want my body to be thrown on the serengeti nationa park and devoured by lions I always wanted blonde hair...

Do you want to be dead for this?

CarrieLee said:

Insatiable, pick up this book. Quick easy read.

Many lives, many masters by Dr. Brian Weiss.

I'm a skeptic but this book made me believe a little bit more. If he didn't have all the credentials then I would have just thought he was a phony or crazy. But it's very interesting....give it a read and let me know what you think.

thanks!! absolutly i will!!

ok let me explain a little more because this thread wasnt intended to disgust or offend anyone..

i dont know nessasarily what i believe .. i'm just interested in the examples of other people who have said they experience this...

its just a interesting experience to ponder..

i in know way meant for anyone to doubt there beliefs.. it just has always made me curious just like the supernatural does..

i myself believe that when i die this most likely will not happen .. (reincarnation) but u never know i could be wayyyy wrong too...

i dont believe im put in the ground and thats the end though.. i believe the soul finds light or it finds darkness whatever you have over seen in your human life time... but just hearing stories because there is endless religion and endless beliefs out there astound me..

i hope i cleared this up and none of you are upset with this thread.. it was just supposed to be a carefree read and opinion...

all of your opinions mean alot cause it breaches out all the knowledge of what one person can see for themselves... theres so many endless things i guess in time we will all some day know...

much luv,

insatiable3