Why Do We Dream |
|
|
|
Contemporary Movements and Thinkers
New Religious Movements
At the Renaissance we find the doctrine in Giordano Bruno, and in the 17th century in the theosophist van Helmont. A modified form of it was adopted by Swedenborg. During the classical period of German literature metempsychosis attracted much attention: Goethe played with the idea, and it was taken up more seriously by Lessing, who borrowed it from Charles Bonnet, and by Herder. It has been mentioned with respect by Hume and by Schopenhauer. Modern theosophy, which draws its inspiration from India, has taken metempsychosis (or rather reincarnation as a cardinal tenet; it is, says a recent theosophical writer, "the master-key to modern problems," and among them to the problem of heredity. The idea of reincarnation is also part of the New Age culture.
Today, among newer movements, belief in reincarnation is widespread in New Age and Neopagan circles. It is an important tenet of Theosophy, and central to Spiritism, founded by Allan Kardec.
Similarly, Scientology holds that the people of earth have been brainwashed into believing that they cannot exist without a physical body, and that the resulting fear of death and compulsive need to reincarnate immediately after death are responsible of much of their misery. The Church of Scientology's Sea Org has been known to issue employment contracts with a duration of one billion years and a clause specifically stipulating that the contractual obligations continue after death.
Evidence of Reincarnation
The most detailed collections of personal reports in favor of reincarnation have been published by Dr. Ian Stevenson in works such as Reincarnation and Biology: A Contribution to the Etiology of Birthmarks and Birth Defects, which documents thousands of detailed cases where claims of injuries received in past lives sometimes correlate with atyptical physical birthmarks or birth defects.
Perhaps the most significant anecdotal evidence in this regard is the phenomenon of young children spontaneously sharing what appear to be memories of past lives, a phenomenon which has been reported even in cultures that do not hold to a belief in reincarnation. Upon investigating these claims, Stevenson and others have identified individuals who had died a few years before the child was born who seem to meet the descriptions the children provided.
In the most compelling cases, autopsy photographs reveal that the deceased individuals have fatal injuries that correspond to the unusual marks or birth defects of the child; for example, marks on the chest and back of a child line up precisely with the bullet entry and exit wounds on the body of an individual who has been shot.
However, Stevenson cautions that such evidence is suggestive of reincarnation, but that more research must be conducted.
Karma
Reincarnation in Eastern religions and traditions:
Reincarnation in Western Religions and Traditions:
Contemporary Movements and Thinkers:
You Are Here --> New Religious Movements
The Other Side of the Fence:
Home ~ Edgar Cayce ~ Lucid Dream ~ Lucid Dream History ~ True Lucid Dream Experiences ~ Nightmares ~ Night Terrors ~ Sleepwalking ~ Jungian Dream Interpretation ~ Dream Facts ~ Dream Dictionaries ~ Dream Workbooks ~ Reincarnation ~ Near Death Experience ~ Resources Learn How to Make Money at Home
Why Do We Dream is hosted by Seagate Hosting
Most information on this page has been gathered from the Public Domain
All Information Presented Here Is True & Accurate To The Best Of My Ability
Any material appearing with a copyright © notice is NOT public domain.