The Dark Side of Reincarnation
Several days ago, I had the chance to interview a man from India named Premdas. I was given the task of trying to get his entire life story in just three days. It was a great experience; and going in, I didn’t know much about India, so whenever I got the chance, I’d ask him questions about things like the caste
system, spiritual practices, arranged marriages, and more.
One of the subjects we veered onto was reincarnation. Premdas was very intrigued by our country’s fascination with reincarnation. When I explained that many Americans fancy that they were Egyptian princesses or Medieval warriors in a past life, he frowned.
"As far back as I can remember I have unconsciously referred to the experiences of previous existences… As the stars looked to me when I was a shepherd in Assyria, they look to me now as a New Englander." Henry David Thoreau
"Reincarnation is a terrible burden," he said, because each new generation must pay for the sins of their
ancestors. In other words, the way that you live your life determines the ultimate fate of your deceased
family members. To Hindus, the cycle of reincarnation can be a source of great suffering, if your karma
determines that you must live out a life suffering in poverty, abuse, or disability. It’s even worse if you’re reincarnated as an animal or insect.
"…the individual Soul is constantly reborn into the world, rising or falling in fortune according to its deed and their consequences, which is karma … touching the highest possibilities of pleasure and the lowest depths of pain…" Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad (Eckankar: Book 2)
So it’s difficult for Indians to choose to follow Christ because it means they are renouncing this whole belief system and, according to Hindu beliefs, abandoning their ancestors who will then descend to ever lower levels in the cycle of reincarnation. Reincarnation is an endless cycle of pain and suffering, with no guarantee of escape.
Most witches and others who worship the goddess believe in some form of reincarnation, where it is
viewed as a gift, not a burden. But I know for Indians, at least, reincarnation is a fearful thing.
How blessed we are that Jesus offers hope, that we are free from guilt and shame and the burden of
paying for the sins of those who have gone before. We are free.
"But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people" Hebrews 9:26-28
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SUSY FLORY is a New York Times best selling author, speaker, and journalist who searches out big stories with happy endings. She's I'm always looking for true stories that inspire and challenge her readers to embrace a life of passion, boldness, & adventure. 
When I took my theology degree some years ago, a Buddhist nun gave a lecture to the class on her beliefs.
Teh class were mostly not Christians or at least very theologically liberal. They would have been interested in Buddhism.
However, most of the class were shocked and horrified by what the nun said about karma.
The class had recently had some lectures on the Holocaust and they asked her why it happened.
She explained that those who suffered in Auschwitz were paying for the negative thoughts of their previous lives.
The class were disgusted by this and argued with her to the teeth.
I felt rather sorry for the poor young woman; she had not really prepared her lecture and she was really nervous.
Needless to say, the class were thoroughly inocculated agaist Buddhism.
This is a really good blog. Well done.
Susy,
I just discovered your site and already I am in love with it. I can’t wait to come back and read more when I have the time.
I was completely entranced by all things New Age, and reincarnation was one of them, before I chose to follow Christ.
You are doing the work of my heart here and I wish you well on your journey–
Many blessings,
Merrie