#83 – The Bible on Reincarnation | Heart of Jesus – Ep. 13
Reincarnation (and thus, karma) was taught by Jesus as well as the early fathers of Christianity. When that concept was removed, several strange concepts were put into place – that are still being taught. For example, the eternal damnation that follows if you don’t take the one and only chance you have in this lifetime, the creation of the soul at the time of conception, and the idea that our suffering is not really due to our past actions – but due to the original sin committed by Adam and Eve.
In this episode of Breaking Trail, we discuss the concepts of karma and reincarnation and their relationship with Christian teachings. We explore the idea that actions influence future outcomes, supporting this with Paul’s words from Galatians 6:7-9, “A man reaps what he sows,” which serves as a cornerstone for understanding spiritual laws of cause and effect.
We examine the historical decision by Justinian in 550 AD to remove reincarnation from Christian doctrine, a decision that introduced major theological shifts and inconsistencies. Life is really a continuous journey of spiritual evolution, which aligns with teachings from both the Vedas and early Christian texts.
Highlights:
- (8:16) How new concepts were introduced, such as original sin from Adam’s disobedience in Garden of Eden
- (20:39) All religions teach we’re children of God, so what about animals?
- (28:18) Reincarnation makes sense from different angles, given the contradiction of a loving God with a single lifetime chance
- (34:21) Blaming God for one’s suffering
- (40:35) Following the rules for spiritual life: obedience to a higher authority
- (51:15) Freedom from karma through spiritual service
Recorded on January 22, 2024.