Is it possible for someone to have lived before this life?

Spooky!

Anyway, reincarnation is the idea that we have lived before this life. Either as a human or as an animal etc.

So, what do you think?

I am open to the idea of reincarnation but don't think i want a return pass to get back on this earth. I think i'm done with the whole human thing and want to go chill somewhere warm.;)

Discuss:

The possibility of reincarnation
Whether you think you have lived before?
Where do you think you have lived?
What would you like to come back as?

As a child and through most of my life I've been called an "old soul."
But I don't necessarily believe in reincarnation as most people believe.

I think when you're alive, everything you learn or know goes into a sortof..."human thought collective" sortof like a web of thoughts that goes between each and every person on earth (and that there are also ones between animals and other life, but those stay separate from each other), though some are more attuned than others...and then when you die, "you" are brought into that collective as an emotional thoughtful thought residue...thing, for a time indeterminate, and then some of the residue that made up "you," but also of others, is "reborn" as a blank slate, to live again and pursue life. I mean, there's only a finite amount of resources, so I'm sure some has got to be reused.

At least...That's the theory that makes the most sense to me...I don't believe in a "life after death" or souls in the strictest sense.

I like the idea, but it scares me a bit. I try to stay indifferent about it, as I do with all life after death theories. Whatever happens, happens, and I'm not going to let any of it influence this life.

If people really are reincarnated, I'd like to come back as either an elephant or a beautiful woman. :lol:

I always thought reincarnation was kind of... ruthless.
If I'm a rapscallion in my first round and reincarnate as a roach, that seems like karma. But if I'm a roach, I won't remember being a reprobate.
So what can I do to repent and work my way up in the world, if I don't know I'm even in my retry round?
And if I do realize I need to repent (maybe roaches have reincarnation realization?), what can I do as a roach to reform?

Alliteration!

I think ist's all a joke. First of all, where did all of these souls come from? They couldn't have come from other living things because the earth is only 4 billion years old. And the first single celled organisisms could only fill up a puddle. So where are all these new souls coming from? And don't just say "god makes them" because that's a copout.

Originally Posted by Kraven

I think ist's all a joke. First of all, where did all of these souls come from? They couldn't have come from other living things because the earth is only 4 billion years old. And the first single celled organisisms could only fill up a puddle. So where are all these new souls coming from? And don't just say "god makes them" because that's a copout.

Perhaps souls didn't always exist, but instead they were created as intelligent life developed?

Just a thought. XP

I like the idea of reincarnation. I remember when I was 4 years old, and my Great Grandma died. I was convinced she came back as a Daisy. I have no idea why, but I somehow convinced myself that that's what happened, and I freaked out when my Dad tried to mow the lawn, as I thought she could be one of the daisies growing there and he'd kill her.

Also, the most vivid dream I've ever had in my life was where I was taken back to my past lives and forward to my future ones. It was very detailed, and while I don't remember much of my past lives, in the 1800's I was a prostitute, but that's about all I remember.
I do however remember my future lives (from that dream), which is kind of disturbing.
-My next life, which starts 126 years after this life started... When I died from this one, I go into a sort of limbo, where I can choose to either haunt people or act as a guardian angel type figure, I chose the guardian angel option... tough decision, as I really wanted to make a nuisance of myself, but I figured that would be 'bad'.
Anyhow once limbo's over and I'm 'reborn' I'm female and quite pretty, but I get killed in a car crash when I'm just 15 years old.
I saw the crash and everything. Was just going out on my first date in a black limo and all dressed up nice and feeling happy and nervous... and the crash was kind of gruesome.

-Next one, I'm male, and one of those Gym Bunnies, obsessed with eating healthy and working out >.< Not looking forward to that one!

-One after that is where I reach my 'Ideal Form' I have no idea what that is, but it's my last one, so either the world ends and I cease to come back, or... I've won the game... or ? o_o

Anyhow, I've never been particularly religious.
But the one thing I've never wanted to believe in is a heaven and hell concept. Just seems so... unchristian to have such an idea as 'hell'. Plus having friends from all different religions, it makes me frowny to pick one religion and think "Everyone else is wrong". No. Doesn't sit right with me at all.
So until I had that dream, I just kind of thought that after life there was nothing.

But I do like the idea of getting another chance and getting slightly better each time round until you get it 'right', so until someone proves otherwise, that's what I choose to allow myself to believe.

Originally Posted by monstahh`

Perhaps souls didn't always exist, but instead they were created as intelligent life developed?

Just a thought. XP

That depends on your definition of intelligence. Dogs for example. Many people say that dogs are not intelligant because they cannot make art, compose music, build a skyscraper, or go into space. But they are smart enough to learn basic things and reconize commands. However, compared to us, their intelligence isn't that high. So does this mean that dogs have no souls? Or maybe the soul doesn't exsist at all, and everything that we are comes from the synaps of the brain.

Originally Posted by Kraven

That depends on your definition of intelligence. Dogs for example. Many people say that dogs are not intelligant because they cannot make art, compose music, build a skyscraper, or go into space. But they are smart enough to learn basic things and reconize commands. However, compared to us, their intelligence isn't that high. So does this mean that dogs have no souls? Or maybe the soul doesn't exsist at all, and everything that we are comes from the synaps of the brain.

Intelligent life meaning multi-celled organisms with consciousness (awareness).
Thought.
Dogs have "souls" because they are capable of individual thought, and choosing..."Am I going to play with the ball today? Or am I going to chew on my squeaky toy?! OR BOTH!?" XP
Human intelligence is not the only intelligence.
Just because they can't make art, or do complicated math does not mean they are unintelligent.

But that's my theory on how it could work. I'd also like to restate on a personal level, I do not believe in souls, period.

Nope. Don't believe in it. What I DO believe is when you die...you go to Candyland and come back to life as candy. >:D But, (lol) if it were true, I'd think I'd come back as the very person I am. I've read books (Fallen, for an instance) about how this girl kept coming back for this one angel and he loved her, but was always so sad to see her die. But she came back every few twenty or something years after she'd die . So, I think that'd be something. To come back the you you died as.

Originally Posted by Kraven

I think ist's all a joke. First of all, where did all of these souls come from? They couldn't have come from other living things because the earth is only 4 billion years old. And the first single celled organisisms could only fill up a puddle. So where are all these new souls coming from? And don't just say "god makes them" because that's a copout.

Going back to what Monstahh said:

I think when you're alive, everything you learn or know goes into a sortof..."human thought collective" sortof like a web of thoughts that goes between each and every person on earth (and that there are also ones between animals and other life, but those stay separate from each other), though some are more attuned than others...and then when you die, "you" are brought into that collective as an emotional thoughtful thought residue...thing, for a time indeterminate, and then some of the residue that made up "you," but also of others, is "reborn" as a blank slate, to live again and pursue life. I mean, there's only a finite amount of resources, so I'm sure some has got to be reused.

I think this theory is actually a very intelligent perception of what life is and that thought residue is what most people refer to as a "soul". Whether this be true or not depends solely on your personal beliefs but I think that's the general idea of the whole soul thing. I personally don't believe in "souls" but I really like this thought residue theory



@ Chaotic Eris: What are your thoughts / opinions about this particular topic?

I guess I'm kind of weird that I believe in souls. I just see them as the most basic form of energy (whether they have conscious thought or not, I'm unsure). I feel that these souls also cannot be created nor destroyed, and must then be "recycled" over and over again, each "soul" merging into the infinite energy source to then be thrust into another existence. Why? I have no idea. Maybe it's to learn life lessons. Maybe it's to rise in the Hindu caste hierarchy system. Or maybe there's no reason at all. :P Anyway, that's my tidbit.