Have We Lived Before?

CHAPTER #1 - HAVE WE LIVED BEFORE?
In response to a question about resources relating to reincarnation, I include excerpts from my book, A New Christian: My Spiritual Journey. These two chapters are posted on my website under the title of “Reincarnation In the Bible.” There you can see the Endnotes.
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"Why does our Western culture choose to ignore the valuable contributions the concept of reincarnation can make in our understanding of life?"

"Why is the Church so hesitant to give credence to a belief in reincarnation?"

One reason is that Christian historians have failed to give reincarnation its rightful place in Church history. Western Christian historians have simply not reported the role of reincarnation. With the dawn of the New Age of Aquarius, ancient books are being translated into English. The layperson can now catch glimpses into what really happened.

The Encyclopedia of Religion concludes an article on reincarnation by affirming that the concepts of reincarnation and karma have done more to shape the whole of Asian thought than any other.56 Ancient Greece, India, and Egypt have well developed belief systems centering around reincarnation. Pythagoras, Empedocles, Plato, Plotinus, and their followers teach reincarnation.57 Pythagoras, Empedocles, and Plato predate the Christian era. Plotinus lives and teaches between 205-270 C.E., as a contemporary of the Christian Church Fathers. He is not alone in his beliefs concerning reincarnation.

The vast majority of Christians dismiss the above information with a question for which they seek no answer. What do ancient Greek, Indian, and Egyptian philosophies have to do with Christianity? A brief study of the world map provides an answer. Palestine is in close proximity to each of these countries. Trade routes between Palestine, Greece, India, and Egypt are numerous, allowing a constant exchange of products and ideas with these nations. Most of us know the Old Testament account of the Hebrew sojourn in Egypt and of the apostle Paul’s journey to Athens, Greece.58 Are we also aware that India, as a part of the Persian Empire under whose rule Palestine lived, is mentioned in the Old Testament book of Esther?59 Archaeological digs have unearthed vases, carnelian beads, and seals that attest to the trade with India dated as far back as 2500-2200 B.C.E. An Aramaic (the language of Jesus) inscription from the third century B.C.E. illustrates the contact between India and the biblical lands.60

Christianity originates in the Middle East. It grows out of the Jewish religion based in Palestine. The milieu of both the Old and New Testaments is this intermingling of Greek, Egyptian, and Indian beliefs and customs. To these, we can add the influence of Persia, Syria, and Italy (all of which periodically rule Palestine during biblical times). Reincarnation is a widely accepted belief throughout the thousands of years represented in the Bible. It is naïve to believe the concepts of karma and reincarnation, which "have done more than any other belief to shape the whole of Asian thought" are not known and accepted among the people of the Bible.

Josephus, the first century Jewish historian and contemporary of the apostle Paul (37-100 C.E.), verifies the presence of a belief in reincarnation within the Jewish community. He describes three philosophical sects among the Jews of the first century C.E.: the Sadducees, Pharisees, and Essenes. The Pharisees teach reincarnation for the good souls only: "They say that all souls are incorruptible; but that the souls of good men are only removed into other bodies, but that the souls of bad men are subject to eternal punishment."61 The Essenes teach pre-existence of the soul: "For their doctrine is this: ‘That bodies are corruptible, and that the matter they are made of is not permanent; but that the souls are immortal, and continue for ever; and that they come out of the most subtile air, and are united to their bodies as in prisons, into which they are drawn by a certain natural enticement; but that when they are set free from the bonds of the flesh, they then, are released from a long bondage, rejoice and mount upward.’"62 A belief in the pre-existence of souls is the foundation of reincarnation. Many scholars are convinced, for three reasons, that the Essenes accept reincarnation. First, they have high regard for the Jewish Kabala, in which reincarnation is taught as a basic belief. The earliest known Jews to call themselves Kabalists are the Tanaiim who reside in Jerusalem during the early third century B.C.E. Second, the Essenes come under the influence of Buddhist monks who travel, in great numbers, throughout the Middle East during the centuries before Jesus’ birth. Reincarnation is basic to Buddhism. Third, the Essenes’ doctrines and communal practices reflect a knowledge of the Pythagoreans, who are reincarnationists.63 Thus we find two of the three Jewish sects with which Jesus is familiar accept reincarnation. We also know that the apostle Paul is a Pharisee, and thus a believer in reincarnation.64

"So why does the Western Church consider a belief in reincarnation heretical?

My frustration with the church is growing. Daily, in my rehabilitation counseling career, I confront the need to provide meaningful services to my clients. I watch as they persist in self-destructive behavior, partly because their church cannot assist them in putting together the tangled pieces of life’s puzzle. The belief in reincarnation is like removing the lid from a pot of boiling water—it lets the steam out. No longer is the steam screaming to be released from the small confines of one lifetime. Knowing that we have lived before and will live again releases a tremendous amount of bottled up emotional energy.

The belief in only one physical life does more to distort our perceptions concerning life, God, and each other than any other concept. Failure in a career means failure for life: "There will be no other opportunity." Failure to meet a suitable mate cuts deeply into the self-esteem of the individual: "No one has loved me enough to marry me." The loss of a mate through divorce or death can be devastating: "I’ll never be happy again." The brilliant young person killed in an automobile accident: "His only chance at life is cut short." The person born with a debilitating physical condition has no other alternative than to believe, "God made me like this." Homosexual and transvestite persons are faced with the same conclusion. Consider what this says about God to the afflicted one. God is a God who loves some people and hates others. Think about what this says to the individual about herself. "God has to hate me; otherwise, why would God create me this way?"

These tragic conclusions are the result of believing in only one physical lifetime. We are forced to blame God. No other choice exists. We may try to come up with options, but buried in the depths of our being is an ugly demon who continually whispers, "God hates you; God created you different, requiring you to suffer." God as Creator is the bottom line for the majority of humanity. Thus, God is to blame.

The church has thus far been unable to provide therapeutic alternatives to these disastrous life experiences and deductions. Openness to the natural laws of reincarnation will allow the church to truly spread the gospel of God’s love. The church can then offer the healing balm of questions satisfactorily answered.

"Why? Why? Why? Why put band-aids on our sores when the church can offer healing?" The answer can be found, at least in part, through a study of the early church ecumenical councils.

Jesus incarnates into a very cosmopolitan environment. His public teachings are simple and straightforward. However, after his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, his followers find themselves in a defensive position.

The disciples face a multitude of questions from the diverse peoples living within the Roman empire. "Why choose to follow a common criminal? After all, the Roman government put Jesus to death." Their answers vary, according to their understanding of Jesus. As the years go by, various teachers develop their own explanations and groups of followers.

Jesus’ good news, "the Kingdom of God is within you,"65 is quickly shoved backstage and replaced with theories concerning the identity of Jesus. Listen to the apostle Paul’s reaction when some of his followers turn to another teacher: "I am astonished that you are so quick deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ."66

Paul’s reaction to differences is the exact opposite we see in Jesus’ response. "John said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterwards to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us.’"67 Within the sphere of God’s love, there is room for variation.

Many of the Church Fathers follow the example of Paul, instead of Jesus. They disagree vehemently. All sorts of human motives cloud the issues. Their ultimate goal, according to Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, is "the real Church has one and the same faith everywhere in the world."68 Found in Irenaeus’ Selections from the Work Against Heresies, this quote and the book’s title speak volumes.

Church historians and I can only surmise why Paul and the Church Fathers are so insistent upon one and the same faith. Actually the word faith is misleading. The controversies and heresies concern doctrines. The above quote sheds more light on the Ecumenical Councils if translated, "the real Church has one and the same doctrine everywhere in the world." Whatever the reason, the negative results have been numerous.

One of the most negative repercussions of attempting to have one and the same doctrine everywhere in the world is the church’s declaration of heresy whenever a scholar, minister, or teacher disagrees with the standard doctrine. To be judged a heretic is a sentence of excommunication from the church, loss of teaching position in a church affiliated institution, or loss of job as a minister or priest. For hundreds of years, the sentence for heresy can also be death by burning at the stake. Thousands of writings are burned, or otherwise destroyed, when the author is declared a heretic. Remember the word heresy simply means a point of view that differs from "the one and same doctrine."

The early Church Fathers are particularly vigilant in their search for heresies. As they strive to create a worldwide church with one and the same doctrine, persons with differing beliefs are ruthlessly condemned. Among those groups declared heretics are the Christian Gnostics, all of whom are reincarnationists.69 Some scholars are convinced that the Christian Gnostics are the descendants from the original followers of Jesus and the inheritors of Jesus’ secret teachings.70 In Mark 4:11, Jesus confirms a secret message given only to his closest disciples. When the disciples ask Jesus why he speaks to the crowds of people in parables, he answers, "To you has been given the secret [or mystery] of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables." All open display of Christian Gnosticism is suppressed by both popes and emperors, often by inflicting the death penalty. Gnosticism is forced underground.71 Of the thousands of actual writings by the early Gnostic Christians, few survive the destructive zeal of those who condemn them as heresy.72

Individuals are also included in the relentless search for heretics. Origen (185-254 C.E.) is a most influential Christian thinker. Saint Jerome declares Origen to be "the greatest teacher of the Church after the apostles." Saint Gregory of Nyssa calls him, "the prince of Christian learning in the third century."73 Origen teaches pre-existence of souls and reincarnation. In 553 C.E., the Fifth Ecumenical Council condemns Origen and his teachings as heretical:
"If anyone does not anathematize Arius, Eunomius, Macedonius, Apollinarius, Nestorius, Eutyches, and Origen, as well as their heretical books, and also all other heretics who have already been condemned and anathematized by the holy, catholic, and apostolic church and by the four holy synods which have already been mentioned, and also all those who have thought or now think in the same way as the aforesaid heretics and who persist in their error even to death: let him be anathema."74

Anathema, as defined by Webster, is a "curse solemnly pronounced by ecclesiastical authority and accompanied by excommunication."

In this way (and I give only two examples) the church stifles belief in reincarnation. Though believers in reincarnation continue throughout history, only as the New Aquarian Age dawns does this ageless wisdom gain open recognition.

Will the traditional church re-consider? Will the traditional layperson permit and encourage its ministers to recognize these valuable explanations of a God of love?

These are questions only time can answer. Meanwhile I encourage those of you who are restless and seeking deeper meaning in life to read for yourselves. Do not take my word or anyone else’s word. Search out the original text for yourselves. Listen to your heart. Allow your intuitive mind to lead you into Truth. Prove for yourself that God truly is love.

Have I lived before? For me the evidence is overwhelmingly in favor of "yes."