Religion and Reincarnation

Diva_01 · #1 06-28-2003, 01:57 AM

Religion is such a touchy subject for some people, as is reincarnation. What are some of your beliefs on the subjects, and why?

Also: Do you believe in Hell or the Devil? This has sparked many a discussion for me...

REIKI · #2 06-28-2003, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Diva_01
Religion is such a touchy subject for some people, as is reincarnation. What are some of your beliefs on the subjects, and why?

Also: Do you believe in Hell or the Devil? This has sparked many a discussion for me...

Well. . . I am not afraid. . . . so here goes:

Religion has it's place and has greatly enhanced our appreciation for life in some ways. On the other hand, it has been misused. It has been misused to control and manipulate people, oppress people (i.e., early American Christian's justification of slavery through scripture), and can harm people more than help them in such cases. Radical and obsessive practices often separate us from, more than unite us with our higher power, divinity, God, or whatever you choose to call it. For this reason, I am very critical of various denominations, including the one I left. For me, engaging in the practices of that denomination was like being a hamster on a spinning wheel going no where, but constantly and feverishly trying to get there in a hurry. For this reason, I am also very cautious about the practices I engage in, and what (spritually focused) group of people I associate with and let influence me. Religion is not bad in my opinion, and like I said has it's place, I just think for the most part many people don't have a clue about what it really is to be a functional, healthy, practicioner of their religious faith. Religion is something that many people dread and fear, feel obligated to and push on people, and for no good reason other than that is what some spiritual leaders promote as being holy, dedicated, in proper place/order, etc., which is ludicrous.

As far as reincarnation goes. . . I don't know. I have sort of mixed feelings on that. I think that a part of us never really dies, but just sort of diffuses, so I don't necessarily believe that anyone was say Elvis in a past life and came back, but maybe has a little bit of Elvis in them, and more than one person can have a part of him in them. . . . if that makes any sense.

I believe hell is a state of mind, and that there is no worse hell that you could ever go to than the one right between your ears.

Historically speaking the devil has been a very controversial figure. According to many traditions/mythological accounts, the devil was not an evil being originally, but became villified for various reasons, some including religious takeovers, misunderstanding of foreign religious practices, the biblical 'fall' account of an angelic being rebelling against God thus becoming evil, etc. Do I believe there is some synthesized being that embodies all evil, goes around perpetuating that evil, and is as powerful as some faiths profess it to be... no. I do believe there are not so good and good things all around and in us that always fight to be dominant. In some people, evil dominates, in others, good dominates. Opposites are necessary for life to exist, so, if there is one, I just think it's a 'necessary evil', but nothing to fear, and darn sure nothing to talk about every Sunday morning

That is one thing that really turned me off about the denomination I left; every other sentence was about the devil. I think maybe if the church talked more about God than the devil maybe people wouldn't have so many issues all the time. Even right now I am cringing at the thought of even paying homage in my sentence to a personification of evil. It is just really repulsive and unsettling, but I could write an entire book about that issue in the church, so I will leave it be. I believe you are what you think about, occupy in your mind. In Iyanla Vanzant's book "One Day My Soul Just Opened Up", she talks about how fear can make you see and hear things that are not there. I think that in the denomination I left, they instill this unnatural fear in people that subsequently becomes a reality. It is really sad. The Bible states in 2 Tim 1:7 that '..God has not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind'. If something makes me fearful, renders me powerless, does not love, and compromises my sanity, it is not of God... simple as that. To believe in the power of evil or a devil is contrary to the Bible, a questionable practice at best, and will do nothing but stunt your spiritual growth.

Eclipse · #3 06-28-2003, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Diva_01
Religion is such a touchy subject for some people, as is reincarnation. What are some of your beliefs on the subjects, and why?

Also: Do you believe in Hell or the Devil? This has sparked many a discussion for me...

For me, my faith, more than "religion" really, is such a strong force in my life that it challenges me, affirms me, strengthens me and corrects me all at the same time. I would actually have it no other way. I don't see religion or faith as a crutch any more than I would see friends or family being a crutch. Both are about looking outside of your self.

Reincarnation....don't believe in it. Haven't seen or read anything that would make me believe it. Plus, as a Christian, there is nothing in the Bible that states reincarnation is possible. I think all of us would like to have a second change, but reality is, you get one shot at life and if you don't do it right...it leads to your 3rd question.

Yes, I believe in hell and the devil. I don't believe the devil has power over those who profess and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but I do believe that we sometimes give him too much credit or allow him and his agents too much access in our lives which cause us too much trouble. I believe evil is, for lack of a better word, a necessary evil in our lives. If there was no rain, could we really appreciate the sunshine?

Diva_01 · #4 06-28-2003, 06:31 PM

Wow...Reiki, you took the words right out of my mouth on religion, and the "good vs. bad" topic.

I also do believe in reincarnation. I think that you live and live again until you find out your true purpose, because life is too short to find it. You may either miss the opportunity, or just not get to it. Plus, I think it allows you to live life in someone else's shoes. Interesting...

I do not believe in the devil or hell as the bible or many religions describe it. One reason I do not believe in hell is because I think of God as my father, my loving me unconditionally father, with a love greater than my father has for me, which is hard to fathom, because my dad worships the ground I walk on, Daddy's little girl...
If god loves me in this way, there is no way that he could send me to a place of eternal damnation. No way...it's just not possible. The devil is just a scapegoat of evil, since everyone always blames it on him or his demons. I believe God created everything, good and bad, it's neccesary to learn life's lessons. Like Eclipse said, how can we appreciate sunshine if not for rain?

D.COM · #5 06-29-2003, 07:11 PM

Very good point of views

I see denominations as "different perspectives" of the way people interpret or 'explain' the Bible. I do not feel that one is "more correct" or "better" than the rest. I think that all of them are trying to explain the same thing in different ways.
So it's up to you to find out what you believe in and go from there.

lovelyivy84 · #6 06-30-2003, 02:37 AM

REIKI I am with you 108%

I do not believe in organized religion as anything but a social system. I don't believe in reincarnation. I don't believe in some ultimate malignant force labeled as the Devil. The Devil is in man- it's in the evil that we do to each other, not something to be anthropomorphicized. I believe that there is a higher power/creation force- I feel this very strongly. I grew up weaving in and out of toooo many different denominations for me to believe that any of them have the right/all of the right idea.

The belief system that has always appealed the most to me is the Buddhist concept of Nirvana- our souls leaving us to become one is a great ideal to me (Although maybe that's just because Herman Hesse's Siddartha is one of my favorite books). I dont know that it's true, but it feels right. The idea that we have to be reincarnated to reach that point....is interesting but once again, not something I can believe in.