19 November 2012

The Existence of Reincarnation


Reincarnation has been the subject of debate for many years. Through various theories presented by science and religion, it becomes difficult to believe anything considered “credible information.” Some people have proof that it exists, some don't. It all comes down to that big battle between science and religion. Which one proves that this supernatural phenomenon is the real deal?

Reincarnation could be proven to be a myth based on religious theories. Some people don't believe in religion, believe in one religion, or deny any ideas that do not pertain to their own. According to a reference of reincarnation in the Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the opposing arguments are, “...the concept of emergent characteristics obviates the difficulty in explaining the cause of psychical states...the argument depends on the plausibility of arguments for the eternity of the soul” (332). 

 
There is proof through physiological research. Memory, behavior, and mannerisms are the keys to reincarnation. It also depends on certain behaviors and mannerism of the reincarnated person. It seems that the best time to do scientific research for reincarnation is during early childhood, when the brain is still developing. Take it from Ian Stevenson, a professor at the University of Virginia. Over the years, he's done substantial research on various cases of children remembering events that did not happen to them.

 
As mentioned earlier, it is better for research to be done on children rather than adults, mainly because of the development of a child. Scientifically speaking, children have better memories than most adults. If they can remember anything that has not happened to them in this life but they remember things that did not actually happen to them, than that could be a possibility of reincarnation. People might be lead on the misconception that it is part of a child's imagination. If people were to observe and investigate the imagination of a child, they may be able to draw parallels to a person who had lived long before them. There would need to be communication between the child and the researcher; enough to get them to tell them what they are thinking. Therapeutic techniques that are practiced in regular therapy could help associate a child with their past life. 

Different religions also show signs of proof of reincarnation. Various religions practice the belief of reincarnation. Hinduism, for example, heavily bases it's caste system on rebirth. When someone dies, they are reborn into another caste. Hinduism may be the most well-known religion for the belief of reincarnation, but other religions such as Buddhism, Judaism, and even Christianity, are known for some belief in rebirth as well.

People often turn to seek guidance in religion, to find a meaning or purpose of living. Through understanding many concepts and certain theories, religion is a way for people to find truth in life. Religion is also associated with spiritually, or just a belief in something. People often question why they were born, and what they must do with themselves. Some people even question if they had lived before, and if they were given a second chance if their previous life took a wrong turn.

 (A graphic of the reincarnation cycle in Buddhism)
To refer back to earlier, Buddhism is one of the many religions that has theories of reincarnation. According to an article in the journal Death Studies, an increase in death anxiety might be believed to be based on a belief of reincarnation in Chinese Buddhists. Buddhism holds the belief that, “...one’s existence spans through many lifetimes depending on one’s karma...” (Hui, Coleman 950). According to article, karma in Buddhism is a concept in which “...a person’s wholesome action will improve his or her future whereas an individual’s unwholesome action will diminish his or her subsequent well-being” (Hui, Coleman 950).

This wouldn't be just the basis for Buddhism, but any sort of spiritually can be associated with it. The concept does not have to be the same, but in some ways they can be very similar. In modern Europe, especially in England, the belief in reincarnation has increased over the years. It wouldn't seem likely in England, since there is a high belief in Christianity, but according to the chart below and the article“A Very Private Belief: Reincarnation In Contemporary England,”, it seems to be proven otherwise.

As stated in the article , “Belief is so private that no need to belong to a congregation is perceived: the English believe without belonging.” (Walter, Waterstone 189). Reincarnation isn't taught in church, but people who are Christians can also believe in certain things that are not even a part of the bible. This proves reincarnation can be a spiritual belief, as well as religious one.

Reincarnation is one of the biggest divisions between science and religion, but both sides hold an argument to why it exists. It is proven through points coming from both major belief systems, but at the same time, there are points that could diminish that belief. If one thing is certain, it is that there is a very slim, but significant chance that reincarnation could, in fact, be a part of our everyday lives.

Works Cited

Coleman, Peter G. Hui, Victoria Ka-Ying. “Do Reincarnation Beliefs Protect Older Adult Chinese Buddhists Against Personal Death Anxiety?Death Studies, Vol. 36 Issue 10
      (2012): 949-958. Academic Search Complete, Web, 7 November. 2012

Smart, Ninian. "Reincarnation." Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Ed. Donald M. Borchert. 2nd ed. Vol. 8.
       (2006): 331-333. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 7 Nov. 2012.

Walter, Tony. Waterhouse, Helen. “A Very Private Belief: Reincarnation in Contemporary England.” Sociology of Religion, Vol. 60 Issue 2.
       (1999) 187-197. Academic Search Complete. Web. 7 November. 2012.

2 comments:

  1. Reincarnation is something that has caused me to ponder thoroughly on occasion. I find it to be an endlessly fascinating subject and I’m always open to hear what people say on the matter. I found your post to be very interesting and it was very entertaining to read as well. Unfortunately, after reading your article I still find myself rather neutral on the subject. I’ve always believed that when we die, something happens to us and we don’t just sleep in darkness for eternity. I firmly believe our spirit goes elsewhere, but many others and I don’t know exactly where. Stevenson’s study with children remembering events that didn’t happen to them was highly engrossing, but I didn’t find it to be fully conclusive. I have also had instances where I feel I remember something that didn’t happen to me, but later remember that wasn’t the case. These children could’ve easily been suffering from the same problem I was. There was no solid proof in the study to persuade me to believe that reincarnation was to blame for these unknown memories. Also, the use of the chart in England pertaining to the level of belief in the subject did little to enhance your argument. All it expressed was how many people in the country believed in reincarnation and how many were opposed to the subject. No concrete evidence was shown in the graph and it felt a bit insignificant in your post. I did like how you went in depth with how the subject is highly relevant in the realm of religion and how many religions believe in the concept of reincarnation. I, like many other individuals out there, do believe in the possibility that our spirits might be born again in another person after we pass on, but there is simply no valid evidence that the concept is an actual reality. Your post makes a pretty convincing case for the subject, but you couldn’t fully win me over unfortunately.

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  2. I will start out by making note of how you said that some have ‘proof’ that reincarnation exists, while some don’t. In actuality, it would be called evidence, not proof. If there were proof that reincarnation did in fact exist, then all critics and non-believers would be proved wrong. I am, however, intrigued by the thought of reincarnation. In fact, I want reincarnation to be real. The diagram showing high and low belief in reincarnation also surprises me, and I wonder why most belief exists in Great Britain, and why belief is lowest in Norway. I also agree with the idea the belief in reincarnation is spiritual and does not have to be tied down to any certain religion. Like Tom said above, I too wonder about the possibility of reincarnation from time to time.

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