Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Phillippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. This came up in another thread that nowhere in the bible would reincarnation be compatable with Christianity. What do you all think this means? If people thought he was those people, then didn't they obviously believe in reincarnation?
Oh god bible interpretation, everything means something. So what if this did somehow refer to reincarnation? Who is going to validate it as universal truth? My question about reincarnation, who/what reincarnates? Answers on a postcard.
John the Baptist and and Jesus where alive at same time. Obviously this can't be the needle in the hay stack im searching for as well Neo. Somewhere in there has to be a parable that describes something that resembles re-incarnation. And don't forget gnostic gospels! My guess is that it would be in the gnostic gospels... considering ""THEY"" Would never want us to know the truth.
well i dont think there is a definitive needle in the haystack. but notice that John the Baptist was not the only person people claimed him to be.
the goddess meskhent presides over the future birth of an individual but she represents only the culmination of the process,which has come to be known as uhm-ankh (reincarnation) in modern times-in reality it is the individual who determines his or her own fate by action they perform in life-however,the wisdom of the ancient egyptian sages dictated that the process should be explained as in mythological terms to help people better understand the philosophy-the dieties shai and renunnut govern an individuals fate or destiny and their fortune-these deities are the hands of the god djehuti (thoth) and he inscribes a persons fate once they have faced the scales of maat, that is they are judged in refrence to uphold maat in life-
Well Okie, I've come to notice that everything in the entire universe is a cycle. A giant circle of life. We cannot discern a beginning or an end. Looking at things this way, the linear perspective of Christianity (you are born and then you live and then you die and you either end up in heaven with white cracker sky daddy and golden streets or in hell with big bad satan and lots of lava) it all just no longer makes sense to me.
Reincarnation was around looooooooong before "ressurections". I do believe Jesus truly taught reincarnation.
Do you truly believe everything he taught is in scriptures? It's convenient for the christian church to pick and choose what teachings made it in and what didn't.
OK. Then if it is possible could you show me the teaching that did not make it in? I truly would like to know.
I think it is more interesting to look at the books that did make it into canon. When being compliled in the 4th-5th Century, 4 criteria were used (history, apostolicity, orthodoxy, and catholic-ness). Technically all the books had to fit all 4 criteria, but few if any do. Paul's letters were not used universality. Hebrews and Revelation were questionably gnostic and therefore not orthodox. The late apostolic letters (Jude etc) were not in use for a long time. These book should not have technically made it into canon, but were most likely included for political reasons.
Here you go..quoted exactly from the Gospel of Matthew in the Gnostic writings ..sounds right to me... [size=-2]24.5[/size] For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.. all this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs The Beginnings of the Troubles "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because wickedness is multiplied, most men's love will grow cold. But he who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come.
The Elder Wise Folk all had some idea of "reincarnation" due to their cyclical understandings of nature, and how all things flow from one thing to another, every death being a birth.
