Namaste Silvia, I too never heard of any atheists believing in reincarnation. But after reading your post yesterday, I realized that Buddhists do not believe in any kind of deity or god, and yet they believe in reincarnation. My conclusion is that it seems possible for an atheist to believe in reincarnation. I do not see why it is an either-or choice. In my opinion, atheism and reincarnation are not mutually exclusive. Why should they be?
Yes, agreed. Good point. The Eastern religions are more like philosophies, psychologies, and mythologies. Less emphasis on being a revealed religion and more emphasis on thought experiments. Buddhism has no gods, but Hinduism has thousands of gods and goddesses. However, my understanding of these Hindu deities is that each is a personal metaphor for a different characteristic of Brahman, the one and only true Hindu God. For instance, the elephant god Ganesha is a metaphor for overcoming obstacles in your search for truth. The destroyer god Shiva is a metaphor for challenging your current assumptions about the truth. My bottom line: I think there is a lot to be learned from some study of the Eastern thought. Their ideas of reincarnation, karma, and other explanations may get us closer to the truth.
John, I have to disagree, I don't see much Karma going on, too many innocents suffer, and bad people don't. Look at children in hospital wards. Reincarnation doesn't make sense either. Its too un-equal.
Namaste Marie, Hi Marie, you have raised two solid issues here: karma and reincarnation. I have been studying Hinduism for about six months. So, I can only give you my current understanding of what is going on with the problem of evil and the unfairness of reincarnation. Let's start with reincarnation. One of the key things I have learned is that between lives each of us plans what we intend to learn in our next reincarnation. We plan it, agree to it, and sign a soul contract affirming that we well try our best to carry it out. The soul contract is primarily about the growth of the soul. The soul is not after money, fame, or pleasure. It is in search of how it can grow spiritually. The key point is we each have agreed to do it. And what the soul is after some kind of spiritual growth that it needs at this time. So, when you say reincarnation doesn't make sense, I say why not? The soul is here for a spiritual purpose. It is following its own contract. There is some spiritual learning involved that cannot be learned in any other way. Next is the karma issue. In general, if you make good choices in some area, you build up good karma in that area. That good karma will then have good effect on your later life and carry forward into your next life if necessary. Similar for bad choices in another area of your life. The bad choices have an effect one way or another in this life or the next. So, when an innocent person suffers, it may be the result of karma. But maybe not. Another possibility for the suffering of an innocent person may be part of that innocent person's soul contract. The person may have agreed to take on that suffering for the growth of the soul. That's about all I can think of right now. The religions of the world also come up with reasonable answers to the problem of evil. I think the Hindu answers are of some help too.
John thank you for the explanation but at this time in my life I stick to what I know. I have no problem with anything someone believes as long as it doesn't affect my life or the things, I hold dear. I do realize what I had far as culture and freedom is over now. "Nothing new under the sun". I believe in the God of the Bible. I don't expect others to, but I do. I'm not a religious person but have studied enough to be comfortable with that.
I’m going to ask this question again just as I have asked it in the past and never once have I gotten a decent response. Why, if Atheists do not care what Christians believe, do so many of ya’ll show up trying to refute what we believe in the religion threads? Rarely if ever does the word Atheist even come up when we Christians are talking about some theological premise but ya’ll sure do show up and start up with the anti-religion stuff right in the middle of our conversation. Personally, I am taught that if someone doesn’t wish to hear the gospel, let ‘em go and say no more. Shake the dust off the feet so to speak. That said, the very title of the thread and your first statement served as bait for any to have a conversation with someone who doesn’t converse about religion which you are obviously conversing about. Kind of an oxymoron. adios…
I could be mistaken, but I believe @Ken Anderson created this thread by moving some posts here from another thread. So he titled it. I'll go back to my hole now.
Okay, thanks for the questions on reincarnation and karma. They are both tough questions. Glad to get them because they helped me to clarify my understanding of both issues. Namaste Marie.
Enjoyed the debate,but since there is so much going on these days, I may try to mostly stay away from politics and religion, but I do like the humor post you put up at times and other topics.
By yimminy I think you’re right. Yvonne said something about the move but I guess my brain had not soaked in enough caffeine at the time.