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Could God reincarnate humans if he wanted to?

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  • Could God reincarnate humans if he wanted to?

    I always think reincarnation is a surprisingly unpopular doctrine within Christianity, given how many diverse issues it's a useful tool for dealing with:

    1) Abortion. If the fetus is aborted, God could just reincarnate the soul into another fetus until it lives a decent life. No need for "limbo" or "what do we do with all the fetuses in heaven?"

    2) Lived before Jesus / never heard the gospel preached? Simple, God reincarnates you until you get a chance to hear and be saved.

    3) Heard the gospel but didn't accept it? No problem, perhaps given another go at it, in life number 2, or 3, in a different family / denomination / country / culture, you'd accept Christ as Lord.

    4) God ends up having to send some people to hell, but doesn't really want them to suffer unduly. Fine, create another world like this one and reincarnate the people endlessly in it. Some Christians think that God doesn't "send" anyone to hell and rather people "choose" to go to hell rather than heaven / "heaven would be hell for them because of the presence of God" etc, well giving people an option of this world plus reincarnation seems a lot better than the burning fires of suffering in hell.


    Given that reincarnation seems to be a useful tool for God to use on a range of theological issues, yet given it's standard Christian belief that this is not a tool he uses, is that because he can't use it? Does something prevent the omnipotent God from being able to reincarnate people? Or is this just a case of God having a useful method at his disposal but choosing not to solve a whole lot of issues?

    With regard to point 4 itself, if a Christian wants to assert that 'hell' is worse than our current lives in the world (as most Christians do), and yet believes that God is powerful enough to create another world much like this one if he wanted (as most Christians believe he could), they have to answer as to why God would create needless suffering by sending people to 'hell' rather than to another world much like this one.
    "I hate him passionately", he's "a demonic force" - Tucker Carlson, in private, on Donald Trump
    "Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism" - George Orwell
    "[Capitalism] as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy" - Albert Einstein

  • #2
    Obviously the answer is yes. It doesn't come up because there's no biblical evidence it actually happens, and there is evidence to the contrary (Hebrews 9:27, it is appointed to man once to dieI). (Though a lack of evidence hasn't stopped theologians over the years for coming up with other ideas not mentioned in the Bible like Molinism, limbo, and the age of accountability to solve philosophical issues.)

    Putting on my philosopher's hat for a second, one could argue that allowing more people an opportunity to live is an inherently good thing as opposed to recycling the total number of lives.
    Last edited by KingsGambit; 06-04-2018, 11:39 PM.
    "I am not angered that the Moral Majority boys campaign against abortion. I am angry when the same men who say, "Save OUR children" bellow "Build more and bigger bombers." That's right! Blast the children in other nations into eternity, or limbless misery as they lay crippled from "OUR" bombers! This does not jell." - Leonard Ravenhill

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    • #3
      The unity of a specific soul and a specific body is essential to human identity. The Incarnation presupposes it. For if reincarnation is possible, the unity of Christ’s Identity with His Divine Personhood and His Sacred Humanity collapses.

      Comment


      • #4
        Wishing and hoping for more . . .

        Wishing and hoping
        Is there more?
        Then we see every day?
        Maybe there is, maybe there is nothing more.

        Hoping that the wheel will get us there
        Coming back again and again
        If we faithfully stay the course and
        Maybe here and there again, again and again.

        The Hamster runs as fast as he can
        Then gets off thinking he is there
        But he is nowhere now here.
        He gets back on and runs faster than before.

        Make it a Golden Retriever
        If I come back again
        Without skin disorders
        Again, again and again.

        Nowhere is now here
        Nothing more . . .

        Frank Doonan
        Glendower: I can call spirits from the vasty deep.
        Hotspur: Why, so can I, or so can any man;
        But will they come when you do call for them? Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1, Act III:

        go with the flow the river knows . . .

        Frank

        I do not know, therefore everything is in pencil.

        Comment


        • #5
          He could and maybe he does. The Bible is not necessarily a complete manual on God’s powers, plans, advice and so on. The chances are that it is out of date and we have forgotten how to find version 2.0 and later versions. The current batch of Religioso are hopeless ancient book worshippers; all looking the wrong way, while being very devout about it.
          “I think God, in creating man, somewhat overestimated his ability.” ― Oscar Wilde
          “And if there were a God, I think it very unlikely that He would have such an uneasy vanity as to be offended by those who doubt His existence” ― Bertrand Russell
          “not all there” - you know who you are

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          • #6
            Originally posted by firstfloor View Post
            He could and maybe he does. The Bible is not necessarily a complete manual on God’s powers, plans, advice and so on. The chances are that it is out of date and we have forgotten how to find version 2.0 and later versions. The current batch of Religioso are hopeless ancient book worshippers; all looking the wrong way, while being very devout about it.
            There is the law in logic called the excluded middle. In regards to the Bible, There are a number of possibilities. The Bible in common is made up of 66 books. They were all transcribed by men. So they all could be just the words of man and not God as claimed. Christians by in large regard the original autographs of all the 66 books to be of God given to men. There are those who believe only some or parts of those books are from God.

            The excluded middle, either something is or it is not true. So either the Bible as a whole was given as the word from God or not as a whole. (Even if only parts, then it is not as a whole.)

            Two things to note: 1) Christians know this God. 2) They know this God though the good news of salvation being a free, cannot be merited, gift, through the death, burial and bodily resurrection of the man Jesus Christ - being also the Son of God through whom men do come to know God.
            Last edited by 37818; 06-05-2018, 08:40 AM.
            . . . the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; . . . -- Romans 1:16 KJV

            . . . that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: . . . -- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV

            Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: . . . -- 1 John 5:1 KJV

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            • #7
              Originally posted by firstfloor View Post
              He could and maybe he does. The Bible is not necessarily a complete manual on God’s powers, plans, advice and so on. The chances are that it is out of date and we have forgotten how to find version 2.0 and later versions. The current batch of Religioso are hopeless ancient book worshippers; all looking the wrong way, while being very devout about it.
              You do amuse me at times. And I say that with all sincerity.
              The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

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              • #8
                It could be that since God knows all, he knows how your soul will do in this life, and since he wants as many saved as possible, if you are not saved in this life then giving you more chances won't change anything. And I think that children and aborted babies who die already are saved so there would be no reason for another life.

                But if he wanted to have set up reincarnation, he could have. He is God.

                Comment


                • #9
                  I don't think the idea of reincarnation has a very good explanation for the massive population increase in the last century (or population increase at all, for that matter). Are all the excess people newly created souls starting from scratch? Doesn't seem fair that they get fewer shots to 'get it right' before the end.

                  Besides, the whole idea of reincarnation is to keep going around the wheel until you make a perfect trip, and the Bible makes it fairly clear that no one will reach perfection in life. IMO the idea raises more questions than it answers.
                  Enter the Church and wash away your sins. For here there is a hospital and not a court of law. Do not be ashamed to enter the Church; be ashamed when you sin, but not when you repent. – St. John Chrysostom

                  Veritas vos Liberabit<>< Learn Greek <>< Look here for an Orthodox Church in America<><Ancient Faith Radio
                  sigpic
                  I recommend you do not try too hard and ...research as little as possible. Such weighty things give me a headache. - Shunyadragon, Baha'i apologist

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    The only reincarnation there will be will be the bodily resurrections of the dead.
                    . . . the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; . . . -- Romans 1:16 KJV

                    . . . that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: . . . -- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV

                    Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: . . . -- 1 John 5:1 KJV

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by 37818 View Post
                      The only reincarnation there will be will be the bodily resurrections of the dead.
                      And that can't strictly be described as reincarnation. It will be MY body and MY spirit, not a different one.

                      Just better.


                      Securely anchored to the Rock amid every storm of trial, testing or tribulation.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Dimbulb View Post
                        I always think reincarnation is a surprisingly unpopular doctrine within Christianity...
                        It surprises you that Christians reject a religious belief for which there is zero biblical support?

                        You once again live up to your nickname.
                        Some may call me foolish, and some may call me odd
                        But I'd rather be a fool in the eyes of man
                        Than a fool in the eyes of God


                        From "Fools Gold" by Petra

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Moron Man View Post
                          It surprises you that Christians reject a religious belief for which there is zero biblical support?
                          Christians have historically managed to be all over the place in relation to the bible.

                          You once again live up to your nickname.
                          Thanks, they don't call me "most intelligent person on earth" for nothing.
                          "I hate him passionately", he's "a demonic force" - Tucker Carlson, in private, on Donald Trump
                          "Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism" - George Orwell
                          "[Capitalism] as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy" - Albert Einstein

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by One Bad Pig View Post
                            I don't think the idea of reincarnation has a very good explanation for the massive population increase in the last century
                            You're assuming everyone is constantly reincarnated. What I was asking about was the possibility that God choose to reincarnate certain people for certain reasons.

                            Are all the excess people newly created souls starting from scratch?
                            Yes.

                            Besides, the whole idea of reincarnation is to keep going around the wheel until you make a perfect trip
                            So rather than address the specific points in the OP, you're just going to talk vaguely about other people's ideas of reincarnation? Not helpful.
                            "I hate him passionately", he's "a demonic force" - Tucker Carlson, in private, on Donald Trump
                            "Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism" - George Orwell
                            "[Capitalism] as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy" - Albert Einstein

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Rushing Jaws View Post
                              The unity of a specific soul and a specific body is essential to human identity. The Incarnation presupposes it. For if reincarnation is possible, the unity of Christ’s Identity with His Divine Personhood and His Sacred Humanity collapses.
                              So you are essentially saying it is impossible for God to reincarnate anyone in a different body? Why did you Amen KG's post that said it was possible for God to do this?
                              "I hate him passionately", he's "a demonic force" - Tucker Carlson, in private, on Donald Trump
                              "Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism" - George Orwell
                              "[Capitalism] as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy" - Albert Einstein

                              Comment

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