There are a host of different beliefs about the afterlife. While I don't believe in reincarnation, I do find the idea fascinating. Some belief systems posit a return as a human. Others suggest a return as an animal. So, what would one learn in that case? And if we return as a human, how much of our current life decisions will we have to atone for?There are other considerations. How much to we remember? Is there really such a thing as past life regression? Are we always the same sex? Or do we alternate from one to the other? Are we reborn in the same country? Or do we reappear on some other part of the planet? For that matter, how do we know that we're necessarily reborn on this planet and not in some other part of the universe? Or possibly another dimension entirely?
After all, if one believes in a supreme being, the Creator of all life in the universe, then what would prevent the Creator from placing us in some new environment or in the body of creatures that are wondrously strange? I admit that there is something attractive in a second chance at life... a second chance to make new decisions. But I find myself skeptical that we would really be afforded that opportunity--and even given the opportunity, I'm not sure that we would make any better choices the second time around.
Anny
and the whole "I'm my own grandpa," thing would come up, wouldn't it? Like you, I have my doubts, but it IS fun to ponder.
ReplyDeleteI totally believe in it. I believe in the theory that we keep coming back until we get it right. I also believe that the same people we are connected to now are those that we have been in past lives. And no, I don't believe humans come back as animals.
ReplyDeleteI had way too much fun in previous lives since I'm clearly being punished in this one. Wish I could remember. Hopefully next time I'll do better.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I have no desire whatsoever to come back and try again. It just seems cruel to me to make us do this life thing over and over. Getting through once is hard enough. And saying we have to get it "right" before we can move only makes it worse. We're human--we'll never get it completely right. It's a Sisyphean punishment. IMHO.
ReplyDeleteBut if I do have to do it all over again, could I please do it as a house cat?
While I love stories about reincarnation, I don't believe in it. How could there be salvation if we keep getting brought back to mess up again? Ditto for time travel.
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