Though reincarnation is very commonly believed by many people around the world, Christianity is one religion that denies its reality despite the huge amount of evidence uncovered by many researchers over decades of studies in many countries. It has been said said that there is not enough scientific evidence to be able to say it’s “scientifically proven”. However, how can you get tangible evidence about something that isn’t tangible?
The basic premise is that the spirit of a person, at a certain time enters into the body of an embryo or a fetus in the mother’s womb. When that baby is born the spirit that inhabited another body has a brand new body and brain. Since there is a completely different brain than the one previously used by the spirit now inhabiting a new body, it has little or no memory of a past life. The spirit also has memory, but this memory is to a great extent, blocked so that the spirit will have a completely new experience, largely unhindered by memories of past lives.
There are some children that up unto a certain age are able to retain memories of a past life. Many children spontaneously give the names of parents, siblings and friends and even addresses where they lived. They sometimes will know many details about the lives of others that would have been impossible for them to know, especially since the person they claimed to be had been dead for several years. Many times they would know the names of friends who they had known in previous lifetimes. Not everything could be corroborated, but there was such a significant amount of information that could be verified, and seeing it would be almost impossible for a child of such a young age to have known so many details, this made the reality of Reincarnation very credible. In fact, thousands of stories have been researched and studied over the span of decades, by people who are educated and experts in their fields.
Besides all that, thousands of people have had what is known as Near Death Experiences, and have met with loved ones and friends on the other side and were revived and returned to tell their bodies to tell what they saw and learned on the other side. Their stories are all different, but most all have a lot in common. Almost all the experiencers expressed that the trip to the other side after separating from their bodies that their lives were changed. They learned a lot of things that showed them that they had been wrong about and that their schools and churches had taught them lies. One thing that many of the had in common was that they referred to former lives and people that they had known in another life. Even some near death experiencers who didn’t believe in Reincarnation began to believe. However, all these who made references to their former lives, spoke as though it was a common everyday occurrence; as if it were a general law of nature which they take for granted, not even giving it a second thought.
Several have said that much that they learned in church was wrong.
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For the first 500 years of Christianity, reincarnation was a vital component of Christian doctrines.
In fact, early Christians and church fathers firmly believed in reincarnation. Prominent theologians and church personalities who believed in reincarnation included: Origen, Clement of Alexandria, St Jerome, Synesius, Maximus of Tyre, Johannes Scotus Erigena, just to mention a few. According to Clement of Alexandria, a faithful disciple of the Apostle Paul, Jesus imparted certain secret and sacred Teachings upon Saint Paul, one of which was reincarnation.
The Roman Emperor Justinian I, banished the Teachings of reincarnation from Christian doctrines because he was of the view that belief in reincarnation, posed a severe socio-political threat to the Roman Empire. Belief in reincarnation entails the pre-existence of a soul before it enters the physical body during conception. If a soul existed in a spiritual realm prior to taking birth on earth, it means such a soul is somewhat, already aware of its Divine nature and Divine origin. Such a soul could undermine the authority of the emperor, and even belittle the attributed supremacy of the church, as the one and only agency of salvation. Such individuals who are aware of their Divine nature might not even see the need for an emperor. They might even refuse to pay taxes, a scenario that could threaten the political and economic stability of the Roman Empire. The emperor conspired with certain bishops, to foster the belief that only the soul of Jesus came from Heaven and descended onto earth.
All other souls are created at the time of conception and had never existed before. Such souls can only enter Heaven through Jesus Christ, alongside the guidance of the church and the wise leadership of the Roman Empire.
Thus, Emperor Justinian I conspired to remove the Teachings of reincarnation from Christian doctrines,
in order to stop people from conducting serious spiritual inquiry about their Divine origins, and the ultimate purpose of life on earth.
In 553 AD, Emperor Justinian I summoned a Council of prominent religious leaders known as the Fifth Ecumenical Council or the Second Council of Constantinople. It was presided over by the incumbent Patriarch of Constantinople, Eutychius. The Council was attended by 165 bishops.
Pope Vigilius who himself was a believer in reincarnation, was summoned to the Council but refused to attend. Emperor Justinian I pressurized the attendees to banish reincarnation from the doctrines of the church. The statement of banishment read: If anyone asserts the fabulous pre-existence of souls, and shall assert the monstrous restoration which follows from it: let him be anathema. From then henceforth, reincarnation became foreign to the Christian belief system. This book begins by providing a concise definition of the twin law of karma and reincarnation. The book then supplies a brief historical review of the Ancient Roman Empire. Thereafter, it highlights the means by which Christianity made its way from Israel to the Roman Empire, followed by reflections on how Christianity was established in this powerful Empire. The book then identifies verses in the Bible that support karma and reincarnation, before spotlighting evidence of prominent early Christians, who advocated the doctrine of reincarnation. The book then provides a strongly convincing account of how Emperor Justinian I, abolished belief in reincarnation in Christianity. Finally, the book solidifies the elements discussed, with a succinct and empowering conclusion.