Reincarnation not so beautiful and comforting?

[Bini]

There are beliefs of reincarnation and if Googled, you can find many tales of the beauty of being reborn again in this here life. I recall one that I heard long ago about a little pond fish that longed to soar in the skies and see the world. Something like that. I know that there are those that look forward to being reincarnated after death into a better life than the last but for me the idea just brought sadness. I guess that the thought of being reborn into a new body and new life without memory of who I was and my family, just sticks me like a knife. The sadder thought is that one could already be reincarnated hundreds of times, losing their past of each life, and not even know it. I suppose that if life were miserable, it might not be so bad but what about all the joys? For the record, I don't believe in being reborn in the sense of reincarnation. I was just vocalising that the idea of it isn't a comforting one for me but that it's interesting how some feel that it IS comfort.

As LDS we don't subscribe to this notion but thinking outside the box, how does reincarnation sound to you?

[Backroads]

I personally find the idea kind of cool (though not believing in it). There is something appealing about being able to literally return.

[Guest]

I much prefer the idea of being who I am for Eternity and having lasting relationships and memories.

[annewandering]

Have you ever noticed that people are never reincarnated from being a serf who was responsible for cleaning the pig pens? Maybe those people are never reincarnated?

[Dravin]

What reincarnation tradition are we discussing? Personally, I find the Hindu monist traditions concerning reincarnation to be more palatable than the Theravada Buddhist traditions. Admittedly that's because I'm not a fan of the Anātman doctrine.

Edited March 4, 2013 by Dravin

[livy111us]

The Encyclopedia of Mormonism says this about reincarnation

In Latter-day Saint doctrine, mankind is on the road to immortality and eternal life. One moves from one type of existence to another along the way. But this teaching is distinguishable from reincarnation on several counts:

1. In Latter-day Saint belief, there is only one physical death for any one person (Heb. 9:27). Amulek, in the Book of Mormon, taught that man can die only once (Alma 11:45). Reincarnation posits many deaths, but in Latter-day Saint thought, the resurrection (incarnation) follows death (cf. D&C 29:24-25).

2. In LDS theology, the physical body is sacred, and its elements are imperishable. The body is prerequisite to becoming like God. In reincarnation, the present physical body is of little or no consequence.

3. In LDS theology, mortality is a time to be tested and proved "to see if [people] will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them" (Abr. 3:25). In reincarnation, there are many future lives, so there is no urgent need to repent now. Reincarnation contradicts Amulek's admonition that "this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God" (Alma 34:32). The Prophet Joseph Smith said that transmigration of souls (spirits) was not a correct principle (TPJS, pp. 104-105).

4. In LDS theology, there is one single, unique historical act of redemption made by Jesus Christ. Through it, Christ becomes the only name under heaven "whereby man can be saved" (D&C 18:23). Reincarnation denies the absolute centrality of Christ's Atonement by affirming the theoretical existence of an abundance of equally miraculous deities, who appear in a variety of forms, born again and again.

Reincarnation - The Encyclopedia of Mormonism

[bytebear]

I've been thinking about the concept of reincarnation, but intermixed with a timeless existence. Imagine we are all just one person, who is reincarnated as everyone, so although your consciousness is in the body you currently inhabit, you have lived and will live as every single person who ever lived or will live. It certainly changes the perspective on loving your neighbor, since every action you give and receive is essentially being done to yourself in another life.

[Vort]

I've been thinking about the concept of reincarnation, but intermixed with a timeless existence. Imagine we are all just one person, who is reincarnated as everyone, so although your consciousness is in the body you currently inhabit, you have lived and will live as every single person who ever lived or will live. It certainly changes the perspective on loving your neighbor, since every action you give and receive is essentially being done to yourself in another life.

Funny. I've thought about this, too. Another version is that there is Man and Woman, and Man lives the life of every man while Woman lives the life of every woman. I once watched part of the movie version of Bradbury's The Illustrated Man, and it reminded me of this idea.

[Anddenex]

1. In Latter-day Saint belief, there is only one physical death for any one person (Heb. 9:27). Amulek, in the Book of Mormon, taught that man can die only once (Alma 11:45). Reincarnation posits many deaths, but in Latter-day Saint thought, the resurrection (incarnation) follows death (cf. D&C 29:24-25).

Unless of course you are the dead man that was placed on Elijah's dead body 2 Kings 13:21Â*, or if you were Lazarus and after four days of physical death the Lord said, "Lazarus come forth."

:)

[Dravin]

What's so funny Anne?