Friday, August 11, 2006

Life After Death: Reincarnation or Resurrection?

Death, a bitter truth about human life, follows us like our own shadow and has a hundred percent success rate. It is the greatest leveller - it stalks the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated, the young and the old, and the religious and the irreligious. It is no respecter of race, color or creed and brings all to the same level. Many are terrified by death and die many times in life with the fear of death, before they actually die. Many others do not even like to think or talk about death. But when some dear one dies, we are all forced to think about it. Solomon, a man of great wisdom said, “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.” Job asked, “If a man die, shall he live again?” This question should be taken seriously, because if there is nothing beyond the grave, death becomes our final destiny and life becomes meaningless. That is why there is longing in our hearts for life after death. Our ancestors in India cried out saying, “Mrithyorma Amrithangamaya,” which means “From death lead me to life or immortality” (Brihadranyaka Upanishad, I. iii. 28). But are there any good reasons and evidences to believe that there is life after death?

Click on the following link to read this complete article "Life After Death: Reincarnation or Resurrection?" written by Sudhakar Mondithoka.

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12 comments:

  1. Hi, thanks for your positive comment. I will surely check your blog out in a couple of days.
    God bless you.
    Sudhakar

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  2. Sir, yes I agree that when an activity like past life regression is done, then the person in question is taken in a trance level. Hence there is a chance that the person is possessed by Spirit and maybe is not really narrating his or her Past Life but is being directed by the Spirit.

    However If I dis-regard the theory of reincarnation then it is very difficult for me to explain why different people are born in different environments(poor, rich), situations, with different people etc?

    Also when it is said that Jesus died to pay for our sins, I feel that the time when Jesus died, my sinful soul must have been present in some form. How could Lord Christ have died for the sins of a person who has taken birth recently and had no existence in the past what-soever?

    I would really love to know your views on my queries, which always keep plaguing my mind.

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  3. Thanks very much dear friend, for your comment/question.
    The fact that some of us are born to parents that are poor and others are born to parents that are rich does not make the theory of reincarnation in any way more acceptable. There are independent evidences that go against it, as I have shown in the article.
    I am the second son/child (out of nine children) to my parents who were just teachers with no ancestral property. But they worked hard, acquired a little property, got us all educated, and at least four of us own cars now (my did had only a cycle) one of my brothers gave a car to my dad. In just one generation things have changed drastically. But if Karma and Reincarnation are true, no one can/should try to alter the Karma which determines one's state in a particular life. I think it is better to believe that God has given us all freedom to choose and the ability to work hard and improve, irrespective of where and to whom we were born. This is what exactly the Bible teaches.

    When the Bible says that Jesus died for the sins of all humans in all ages, what it means is that when his life which has infinite worth was offered as the atoning sacrifice and penalty for the sins of all humans in all times, those that were actually living in the world when this was done, those who already died, and those that were going to come into existence since then are all covered. In other words, Christ's death had current, retrospective, and prospective affect and thus was the one and final sacrifice for all the sins of all humanity.
    I hope this makes sense.
    God bless you.
    Sincerely,
    Sudhakar Mondithoka

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  4. Sir Some people say that :

    Even Jesus Christ himself reveals he was knowledgeable about transmigration of the soul and reincarnation as is verified in the Bible in the book of St. Mathew, chapter 17, verses 12 and 13 where we find Jesus saying, "Verily I say unto you that Elijah has already come and they recognize him not; but have done with him whatever they wanted. Likewise the son of man shall suffer also due to them." Then the disciples could understand that Jesus was in fact referring to John the Baptist as being the reincarnation of Elijah.

    How can we answer them?

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  5. Hi, Thanks for the comment/question. The Bible makes it very clear that John the Baptist came in the spirit and manner of Elijah in that he came and ministered like Elijah. it does not mean that John was a reincarnation of Elijah. the Bible says that it is appointed for man (that is any man or woman) to be born once, then to dies and then there will be judgement that determines the eternal destiny of a person. It is resurrection and not reincarnation, according to the Bible. So these friends are misinterpreting and reading their belief in reincarnation into the Bible when the Binle does not teach that at all.
    Hope this is clear.
    God bless you real good this Christmas Season 2008 and take you into a Blessed New Year 2008.
    Sincerely,
    Sudhakar Mondithoka

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  6. Hi Friend, do feel free to post any other questions or comments that you might have. i value your comments.

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  7. Thank you Sir, for the answer and reincarnation of John The Baptist. I heard a variety of talks from different persons. Some people tell that so casually. I once heard devotee of a Certain Famous Swamiji saying that their Swamiji is reincarnation of Jesus Christ. If anyone claims to be Christ should we consider them as False Christs as Scripture clearly mentions. what are main reasons we can give to people of other faith, and help them distinguish between real Christ and False Christ.

    Thank you sir for your wishes..
    Wishing you also very Happy New Year 2009...

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  8. Hi dear friend,
    Thanks for your positive comments and the question about a Hindu guru claiming that he is the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. I know one guru who claims this and whose followers make this claim (Satya Sai Baba). Once again we have to show to these friends that Christ and the Bible do not accept the idea of reincarnation. The original article shows that this belief in reincarnation does not have solid evidences.

    The Bible says that it is appointed for any man/woman to be born once (physically), to live, once, to die once, and then to face judgement which determines the eternal destiny of any person (hell or heaven). Christ taught that there will be two different kinds of resurrection: resurrection to life everlasting and resurrection to condemnation (see John 5: 24-29; Hebrews 9: 27). So when Christ rules out reincarnation and affirms resurrection, it does not make sense to claim that someone is the reincarnation of Christ. This is an invalid cliam. We have to show all this very gently and lovingly to these friends so that they might come out of the error/falsehood and come to the truth which will set them free.

    I hope this is clear.

    God bless you real good.

    Sincerely,

    Sudhakar Mondithoka

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  9. Sir,

    As I was reading Mark 9th chapter, the part about Jesus Transfiguration, we see that Moses and Elijah were with him. My study Bible says that Moses represents Law and Elijah represents the Prophets. And on the mount of Transfiguration, God the Father speaks from heaven saying

    “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

    Meaning Jesus is neither Moses or Elijah, He is more than Law and Prophets. He is the Son of God! Our Messiah..
    This shows that Elijah was not reborn as Jesus or John the Baptist as some New Age people say. Elijah retained his identity even after the death of John the Baptist, which means that he was never reincarnated as John the Baptist. Some New age people also say that Jesus was reincarnation of Elijah. So both cant be true…

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  10. Hi,
    You are right in saying that Jesus was not a reincarnation and that John was not a reincarnation of Elijah. Bible simply does not leave any room for belief in reincarnation. Between death and final resurrection, people go into what is called the 'intermediate disembodied state' and in this state also people can retain their identity and they are recognizable. That is why Moses and Elijah were recognizable.
    This is what we see on the mount of transfiguration.
    I appreciate your comment and your thoughtfulness.
    God bless you real good.
    Sincerely,
    Sudhakar Mondithoka

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  11. Dear Brother,

    I have a kind of basic question regarding marriage.

    God is also our dear father who asks us to ask him anything in his good pleasure. He likes it when his children ask. And he likes us so much that he has given so much freedom to us. Freedom even to go into hell, as you used to say.

    But what about marriage? Do we really choose the one who we are going to marry? Or God already has chosen one for us?

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  12. Dear Kiran,
    Thanks for your comment/question. Yes, God indeed honors the freedom that He has given humans and that is why He allows people even to go to hell. But He made it very clear that it is not His will for anyone to go to hell. So it is against God's will that people choose to go to hell.
    In the same way, God has made His general will for all His children very clear in His word: A Christian or a child of God should marry only another child of God (read 1 Cor. 7: 39b and 2 Cor. 6: 14-18). This is the best for anyone. But if one chooses to go against this will of God, then they are free to do so, but they will have to reap the consequences of their choice. In finding God's will, we have to use our minds to discern the guidance of God (Psalm 32: 8-9).
    God bless you and guide you.
    Sincerely,
    Sudhakar

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