Nine Inch Nails!

[headheart]

No, not the band.

+)Introduction(+

The seven questions that I have assembled are from a post I am presently busy with about Metempsychosis/Reincarnation.

So! Why have I brought them here?
They are questions relating to Church History, and as I am firstly really bad at History (I could never stay awake in class), and secondly most of my knowledge of Church History is too baised to answer objectively.

So firstly, let me say..."Hello, there" and now, if I may lean upon you for some answers to my questions, I would be most grateful. (btw. I had considered starting 9 seperate posts, but I am not looking for a discusssion, just some straight up answers, ... that may be asking too much ??? )

So to the question ...

Sincerely,
Eric J. Sawyer


+)Seven Inch Nails(+


1. Was reincarnation taught by the early Christian Church? (due to a bias and mistranslations, which were lost or obscured)

2. Did Origen teach reincarnation ?


( Questions 3 - 6 are being attended to in Biblical Languages 301 - 'a bucket, full of guts. )


7. Did some early Christian Gnostic sects profess reincarnation?

8. Did the Sethians and followers of Valentinus believe in reincarnation?

9. Did the followers of Bardaisan of Mesopotamia, a sect of the 2nd century deemed heretical by the Catholic Church, draw upon Chaldean astrology, to which Bardaisan's son Harmonius, educated in Athens, added Greek ideas including a sort of Metempschosis?

10. Was it possible that the followers of Basilides (132-? CE/AD), known through the criticism of Iranaeus and the work of Clement of Alexandria, taught Metempsychosis?

11. Were several 11-12th century * reincarnationist movements persecuted as heretics, through the establishment of the Inquisition in the Latin west?
( *included were, the Cathar, Paterene or Albigensian church or Western Europe, the Paulican movement, which arose in Armenia, and the Bogomils in Bulgaria.

[headheart]

Dear CH Wizards, (not the peeping sort)

I have bookmarked this post, and will return perdiodically to check on the progress.

Looking forward, in anticipation.
Sincerely,
Eric J. Sawyer

[headheart]

Dear CH Wizards, (not those who peep!) Okay, maybe I was a lilttle hard on y'all. Peeping Wizards, are MOST WELCOME to assist me with these questions.

Sincerely,
Eric J. Sawyer

[Stefcui]

1. Was reincarnation taught by the early Christian Church?

Transmigration of souls are found in Origen and Jerome. It is unlikely (IMO) that Origen taught this, as his writings were sabotaged. It is likely that Jerome believed in some form of this. (See Rufinus, Against Jerome)

2. Did Origen teach reincarnation?

As stated, transmigration of souls is taught in Origen, which roughly broaches on reincarnation.

7. Did some early Christian Gnostic sects profess reincarnation?

Yes, but not quite the same as in Buddhism.

8. Did the Sethians and followers of Valentinus believe in reincarnation?

Yes, but differently to Buddhism. See the Second Treatise of the Great Seth.

9. Did the followers of Bardaisan of Mesopotamia, a sect of the 2nd century deemed heretical by the Catholic Church, draw upon Chaldean astrology, to which Bardaisan's son Harmonius, educated in Athens, added Greek ideas including a sort of Metempschosis?

A common doctrine of gnostics was Metempschosis.

10. Was it possible that the followers of Basilides (132-? CE/AD), known through the criticism of Iranaeus and the work of Clement of Alexandria, taught Metempsychosis?

Yes.