Thoughts on Reincarnation

[Microcosm]

I had this thought today about reincarnation and I would like some input on it.

I was thinking about how nature on Earth and every living thing will eventually dissolve into pure energy. You know, like after you die all of your matter is dissolved back into the Earth and back into the cycle of nature. Well, maybe reincarnation is when that same matter that made you up has come back together to form a new human being. Thus, reincarnation has occurred. Does this mean that burying our dead in a casket is a horrible thing? Maybe, solely because they are trapped in a box where their atoms and matter can never be used by nature again. That sounds pretty terrible to me. Anyways, what do you all think about this idea?

[cami]

I don't know if it works that way. I think reincarnation is more related to the soul than it is to the body. The "common" reincarnation takes place when the soul/spirit/whatever finds a new body.

I think this reincarnation you mention is different since it's just about your body and the atoms that form it.

[Emerald Dream]

I don't believe in reincarnation. I think that when you are dead, you stay that way. Your body may be cremated, and energy lost that way....or you can be buried and your energy transferred to the earth - to be used as either food or fuel. You don't actually take a new form at all.

[Miserabilia]

I was thinking about how nature on Earth and every living thing will eventually dissolve into pure energy.

People say this often but it's completely meaningless like does anyone even know what they mean by this? Not to critique your op, just this one sentence. Like, people use this as argument for ghosts.
"ghosts exists because living things are energy / become energy when they die"

Like yeah, circle and life and what not I get it, but it doesn't really mean anything.

[Microcosm]

People say this often but it's completely meaningless like does anyone even know what they mean by this? Not to critique your op, just this one sentence. Like, people use this as argument for ghosts.
"ghosts exists because living things are energy / become energy when they die"

Like yeah, circle and life and what not I get it, but it doesn't really mean anything.

I shouldn't have used the word energy. I meant matter. Sorry about that. I can see why that would be frustrating.

[Miserabilia]

I shouldn't have used the word energy. I meant matter. Sorry about that. I can see why that would be frustrating.

:thumbsup:

kay den

[Stronk Serb]

I've read somewhere thar when a person dies he becomes 12 grams lighter. I am not sure of the credibility of the source bit it's an interesting topic worth looking into.

[Miserabilia]

I've read somewhere thar when a person dies he becomes 12 grams lighter. I am not sure of the credibility of the source bit it's an interesting topic worth looking into.

turned out to be BS, though people still talk about it
Researchers have revealed that MacDougall's experimental results were flawed, due to the limitations of the available equipment at the time, a lack of sufficient control over the experimental conditions, and the small sample size.

According to the psychologist Richard Wiseman:

When MacDougall’s findings were published in the New York Times in 1907 fellow physician Augustus P. Clarke had a field day. Clarke noted that at the time of death there is a sudden rise in body temperature due to the lungs no longer cooling the blood, and the subsequent rise in sweating could easily account for MacDougall’s missing 21 grams. Clarke also pointed out that dogs do not have sweat glands (thus the endless panting) and so it is not surprising that their weight did not undergo a rapid change when they died.[3]

Science writer Karl Kruszelnicki has noted that out of MacDougall's six patients only one had lost weight at the moment of death. Two of the patients were excluded from the results due to "technical difficulties", a patient lost weight but then put the weight back on and two of the other patients registered a loss of weight at death but a few minutes later lost even more weight. MacDougall did not use the six results just the one that supported his hypothesis. According to Kruszelnicki this was a case of selective reporting as MacDougall had ignored five of the results.[1]

The physicist Robert L. Park has written MacDougall's experiments "are not regarded today as having any scientific merit" and the psychologist Bruce Hood wrote that "because the weight loss was not reliable or replicable, his findings were unscientific."[4][5]

[cami]

Actually, it's 21 grams, not 12 :P
Some people say it's just the weight of the air that you exhale in your final breath, but that would be a LOT of air.

[JamesSuperBoy]

I had this thought today about reincarnation and I would like some input on it.

I was thinking about how nature on Earth and every living thing will eventually dissolve into pure energy. You know, like after you die all of your matter is dissolved back into the Earth and back into the cycle of nature. Well, maybe reincarnation is when that same matter that made you up has come back together to form a new human being. Thus, reincarnation has occurred. Does this mean that burying our dead in a casket is a horrible thing? Maybe, solely because they are trapped in a box where their atoms and matter can never be used by nature again. That sounds pretty terrible to me. Anyways, what do you all think about this idea?

I think it is a belief thing - either you believe or you do not and either way its fine. Method of burial etc has no bearing on the belief of the outcome.

[Screw Attack]

I don't believe in reincarnation. I think that when you are dead, you stay that way. Your body may be cremated, and energy lost that way....or you can be buried and your energy transferred to the earth - to be used as either food or fuel. You don't actually take a new form at all.

I agree.

---

I don't understand how people believe in souls. Like, what defines a soul? Is it your characteristics? But your characteristics are an outcome of your external environment's influence, genes etc. And our traits are all relative.

For eg. I'm rude to some people and nice to others due to circumstances. So, to one person I'm nice, and to another person, I am an ass ha. So, what does that make me?

And considering how we're all made up of essentially chemicals, how can souls or ghosts possibly exist? Like, how do they think? Do they have brains? Where do they get energy to exist?

I mean, I know I'm asking pointless questions but sometimes I want to be spiritual and all that but I can't.

[Miserabilia]

I don't understand how people believe in souls. Like, what defines a soul? Is it your characteristics? But your characteristics are an outcome of your external environment's influence, genes etc. And our traits are all relative.

For eg. I'm rude to some people and nice to others due to circumstances. So, to one person I'm nice, and to another person, I am an ass ha. So, what does that make me?

And considering how we're all made up of essentially chemicals, how can souls or ghosts possibly exist? Like, how do they think? Do they have brains? Where do they get energy to exist?

I mean, I know I'm asking pointless questions but sometimes I want to be spiritual and all that but I can't.

my exact thoughts

[Babs]

I don't believe in reincarnation. Scientifically speaking, it doesn't seem possible at all.

I'm not sure I quite understand OP's explanation. When I am dead, the same matter I am made from will still be my body, just a dead one. My matter won't become someone new because it will be sitting in my coffin/urn.

[Jour_Nuit]

When you die , the soul go out and the reincarnation is when the soul finds a new body.

[Saint of Sinners]

I had this thought today about reincarnation and I would like some input on it.

I was thinking about how nature on Earth and every living thing will eventually dissolve into pure energy. You know, like after you die all of your matter is dissolved back into the Earth and back into the cycle of nature. Well, maybe reincarnation is when that same matter that made you up has come back together to form a new human being. Thus, reincarnation has occurred. Does this mean that burying our dead in a casket is a horrible thing? Maybe, solely because they are trapped in a box where their atoms and matter can never be used by nature again. That sounds pretty terrible to me. Anyways, what do you all think about this idea?

The wood will rot eventually don't worry. No energy lost here.

[thatcountrykid]

I beleive there is something after death. It can't just be plain darkness. Plus I kinda hope there's something because if there isn't the thought of that is scary tbh. I hope I die without knowing it's happening or with out time to think and feel myself slipping away.

[Typhlosion]

The worst part about not believing in stuff: Not believing in stuff.

I wish it were true.

[Seth Green]

Putting someone in a coffin does not mean there atoms will never be used again. And I wouldn't really count that as reincarnation because whatever your atoms go on to be aren't really YOU.

[Uniquemind]

I believe information can be passed down, but that each individual only lives once and may have attained memories or knowledge from someone who came before them during the exchange of death and life.

Those leaving life and those beginning to start it in the womb.

The Spiritual side of people is diametrically opposed to desires of the physical flesh body, and if one was, what you call reincarnated, their personality might be totally different from a former self.

This is because personality and mood are largely determined by genetics and brain development, physical attributes not spiritual ones.

[CRH99]

i personally believe that in the universe there are an infinite number of continuums and dimensions if you will, and that each has no beginning or end, and each is running parallel to the rest at different points of time. this can also be applied to string theory in that these alternate continuums are created based on every decision we make, where for every decision we make in this one, an alternate one is created in order to satisfy the opposite decision. so when we die, we cease to exist in this one string, but we live on in others, and due to the different points of time, we live infinitely, are born infinitely many times, and die infinitely many times.

[Uniquemind]

I had this thought today about reincarnation and I would like some input on it.

I was thinking about how nature on Earth and every living thing will eventually dissolve into pure energy. You know, like after you die all of your matter is dissolved back into the Earth and back into the cycle of nature. Well, maybe reincarnation is when that same matter that made you up has come back together to form a new human being. Thus, reincarnation has occurred. Does this mean that burying our dead in a casket is a horrible thing? Maybe, solely because they are trapped in a box where their atoms and matter can never be used by nature again. That sounds pretty terrible to me. Anyways, what do you all think about this idea?

The problem with this is the concept as modern science (physics) regarding black holes.

It goes in; light, matter, and energy, and they are trapped not going to be recycled.

[CosmicNoodle]

My thoughts on Reincarnation:

Utter bullshit, total claptrap, codswallop, applesauce , balderdash, baloney , beans, bilge, blah , blarney, blather, blatherskite, blither, bosh, bull [slang], bunk, bunkum, crapola , crock, drivel, drool, fiddle, fiddle-faddle, fiddlesticks, flannel , flapdoodle, folderol, folly, foolishness, fudge, garbage, guff, hogwash, hokeypokey, hokum, hoodoo, hooey, horsefeathers [slang], humbug, humbuggery, jazz, malarkey, moonshine, muck, nerts, nuts, piffle, poppycock, punk, rot, rubbish, senselessness, silliness, slush, stupidity, taradiddle, tommyrot, tosh, trash, trumpery, twaddle, absurdity, asininity, fatuity, foolery, idiocy, imbecility, inaneness, inanity, insanity, kookiness, lunacy; absurdness, craziness, madness, senselessness, witlessness; hoity-toity, monkey business, monkeyshines, shenanigans, tomfoolery; gas, hot air, rigmarole, double-talk, greek, hocus-pocus bullshit!

That is all.

[Vermilion]

I don't believe I life after death but i believe in the paranormal so that's me input

[Microcosm]

My thoughts on Reincarnation:

Utter bullshit, total claptrap, codswallop, applesauce , balderdash, baloney , beans, bilge, blah , blarney, blather, blatherskite, blither, bosh, bull [slang], bunk, bunkum, crapola , crock, drivel, drool, fiddle, fiddle-faddle, fiddlesticks, flannel , flapdoodle, folderol, folly, foolishness, fudge, garbage, guff, hogwash, hokeypokey, hokum, hoodoo, hooey, horsefeathers [slang], humbug, humbuggery, jazz, malarkey, moonshine, muck, nerts, nuts, piffle, poppycock, punk, rot, rubbish, senselessness, silliness, slush, stupidity, taradiddle, tommyrot, tosh, trash, trumpery, twaddle, absurdity, asininity, fatuity, foolery, idiocy, imbecility, inaneness, inanity, insanity, kookiness, lunacy; absurdness, craziness, madness, senselessness, witlessness; hoity-toity, monkey business, monkeyshines, shenanigans, tomfoolery; gas, hot air, rigmarole, double-talk, greek, hocus-pocus bullshit!

That is all.

You provide a very convincing argument here. Perhaps I will rethink my theory. Thanks for the thoughtful response.

[Ridonks_CB]

I personally don't believe in reincarnation, though I do believe in resurrection.

[fairmaiden]

Even though I'm a Catholic, I do believe in reincarnation, although I don't think that it happens regularly.

Like Cami said, I don't think it's about the body; it's more about the soul/spirit, therefore burying your loved one in a coffin wouldn't stop the reincarnation process.

I don't think that everyone who dies is reincarnated. I think it's a select few, and even then, I don't think that ALL of the deceased persons soul goes into the new one.

Personality, mannerisms and looks perhaps; not much more. Therefore the rest of the soul would go to their destination eg. heaven/hell.

It sounds complicated, but that's just how I feel :) If you don't believe in God, then that's absolutely fine lol, just giving my opinion :)

[Uniquemind]

Yeah it depends on what type of soul you have and what your assignment was that you were sent into life to do.

There are different types of "souls" just as they're are different types of physical creatures.

"As it is above, so is it below".


I should add that reincarnation might run within the same family tree too, it's semi-linked with genetics and biology. Just possibly due to that bloodline being more compatible or friendly to what that "spirit/soul" was used to on their previous trip through.

But also keep in mind, the body controls some of the aspects that control urges and personality, and not just the soul alone. Psychology and brain science already established the brain as the physical organ responsible for a LOT of one's core personality.

There are reports of drastic behavior change and lost memories after brain surgery. That's physical not spiritual.

[CosmicNoodle]

You provide a very convincing argument here. Perhaps I will rethink my theory. Thanks for the thoughtful response.

I'm known for my well thought out and in no way inane reasoning.

I fail to see how anyone with more than 7 brain cells could believe such a crock of shit.

[Microcosm]

I'm known for my well thought out and in no way inane reasoning.

I fail to see how anyone with more than 7 brain cells could believe such a crock of shit.

Why do you say that?

[KingLiam]

Basically I say reincarnation is bullshit but I'm not against those who believe in it though

[Vlerchan]

I meant matter.
I'm still not sure how it's meaningful though.

[Uniquemind]

I remember about a 6 weeks ago there was a story on the news about a boy who told his parents he was reincarnated from a Vietnam veteran, and he knew details about his former life.

When they went to investigate his former life's street address, it checked out, as did the mission he was on when he was shot and died the first time.


If you're a non-believer that's fine, but you have to reconcile your non-believe with the rare situation that checks out after fact checking claims like that boys.

The details were to personalized to be researched beforehand to make up a story like that.

[CosmicNoodle]

Why do you say that?

Say what? I said two things, you mean about it being a crock of shit? I said it because it simply IS a crock of shit.

[Lovelife090994]

Personally I believe in reincarnation. But I think it's governed by the Earth's natural way of recycling. Some of it is spiritual (the part some dream of and tap into to), and the rest (the unexplained) is more physical. I think reincarnation is when we have multiple lifetimes, we retain some of our likes, dislikes, personalities, and places we're drawn to, but the memories mostly lost and kept as dreams on a metaphysical level. Reincarnation is a fascinating concept but a very vague one at times. Personally I think it's more about your soul than your body. Anyone can be your doppelganger, but they aren't you.

[Uniquemind]

Personally I believe in reincarnation. But I think it's governed by the Earth's natural way of recycling. Some of it is spiritual (the part some dream of and tap into to), and the rest (the unexplained) is more physical. I think reincarnation is when we have multiple lifetimes, we retain some of our likes, dislikes, personalities, and places we're drawn to, but the memories mostly lost and kept as dreams on a metaphysical level. Reincarnation is a fascinating concept but a very vague one at times. Personally I think it's more about your soul than your body. Anyone can be your doppelganger, but they aren't you.

What do you think of how I view reincarnation based on what I've said so far.

It compliments what your kind of saying regarding the phenomena being a mix of spiritual and physical aspects.

Assuming it's true then it proves memories stored in brain tissue somehow transfer in part to the soul.

Kinda like how we do backups of our computer harddrives.

[Microcosm]

Say what? I said two things, you mean about it being a crock of shit? I said it because it simply IS a crock of shit.

Do you know everything? Or maybe you're just trying to be assertive. It doesn't help this thread though to just assume that the topic of discussion is a "crock of shit." Please don't reply and just move along.

[Lovelife090994]

I remember about a 6 weeks ago there was a story on the news about a boy who told his parents he was reincarnated from a Vietnam veteran, and he knew details about his former life.

When they went to investigate his former life's street address, it checked out, as did the mission he was on when he was shot and died the first time.


If you're a non-believer that's fine, but you have to reconcile your non-believe with the rare situation that checks out after fact checking claims like that boys.

The details were to personalized to be researched beforehand to make up a story like that.

That is amazing! I must read up on that!

What do you think of how I view reincarnation based on what I've said so far.

It compliments what your kind of saying regarding the phenomena being a mix of spiritual and physical aspects.

Assuming it's true then it proves memories stored in brain tissue somehow transfer in part to the soul.

Kinda like how we do backups of our computer harddrives.

I agree on your points too. Everyone looks at reincarnation differently but one thing usually stays constant, the idea that some of the memories live on.

Do you know everything? Or maybe you're just trying to be assertive. It doesn't help this thread though to just assume that the topic of discussion is a "crock of shit." Please don't reply and just move along.

Don't entice him. It's how he got in trouble the last time. I remember when I came out of the broom closet on here. He was dying not to poke at Wicca. I wouldn't waste my breath.

Say what? I said two things, you mean about it being a crock of shit? I said it because it simply IS a crock of shit.

Why?

[Saint of Sinners]

The problem with this is the concept as modern science (physics) regarding black holes.

It goes in; light, matter, and energy, and they are trapped not going to be recycled.

Not really though. Black holes don't just keep gobbling energy without returning anything

[Atom]

I shouldn't have used the word energy. I meant matter. Sorry about that. I can see why that would be frustrating.
I often use the word "energy" as well. But I mean this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_energy) energy.
...they are trapped in a box where their atoms and matter can never be used by nature again.
"[U]sed by nature?"
Nothing is "used" by nature. It's just is what it is. It exists, that's it. Or am I wrong?

Also I have a hard time imagining how the atoms from dead bodies would end up in a fetus.

My opinion:
When we die we just stop functioning. No heaven or hell, no infinite black/white emptiness. We just stop functioning as a living organism. This concept of not existing as a living organic life is beyond human understanding and that's why I'm kinda afraid of dying. Just like all the colors that exist in our world. We, humans, can see only 3. It is beyond us to imagine a new color that wouldn't be a mix of the 3 we already know.

[CosmicNoodle]

Do you know everything? Or maybe you're just trying to be assertive. It doesn't help this thread though to just assume that the topic of discussion is a "crock of shit." Please don't reply and just move along.

No, obviously I don't know everything, but I do have a basic grounding in the sciences.


Why?

You claim to have cast spells in the past, you are beyond reason, I won't bother.

[Lovelife090994]

No, obviously I don't know everything, but I do have a basic grounding in the sciences.



You claim to have cast spells in the past, you are beyond reason, I won't bother.

Yes I have, and so have thousands of other Pagans and Christians in the past. You are very belligerent and disrespectful.

[Microcosm]

No, obviously I don't know everything, but I do have a basic grounding in the sciences.



You claim to have cast spells in the past, you are beyond reason, I won't bother.

What happened to you? You used to be so nice on here.

[Microcosm]

I often use the word "energy" as well. But I mean this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_energy) energy.

"[U]sed by nature?"
Nothing is "used" by nature. It's just is what it is. It exists, that's it. Or am I wrong?

Also I have a hard time imagining how the atoms from dead bodies would end up in a fetus.

My opinion:
When we die we just stop functioning. No heaven or hell, no infinite black/white emptiness. We just stop functioning as a living organism. This concept of not existing as a living organic life is beyond human understanding and that's why I'm kinda afraid of dying. Just like all the colors that exist in our world. We, humans, can see only 3. It is beyond us to imagine a new color that wouldn't be a mix of the 3 we already know.

I agree with you. I think we just shut off too. I don't believe reincarnation personally, but it isn't about what I believe. Just because me, you, or anyone else disbelieves it doesn't dismiss it as a possibilty(obviously). But yeah dying is a very scary thought when you really think about it.

[Fritos43]

What about the possibilities of parallel universes? The thought of this suggests that there is another universe (or more) opposite to this one. So, I am born a guy. I live and die. What if, at death, we go to the next possible universe? So, I was born a guy, but in a parallel universe, I was born a girl. By the time I die in this universe, what if I transfer into the next universe, one where I'm a girl? From there, etc., etc.

[Lovelife090994]

What about the possibilities of parallel universes? The thought of this suggests that there is another universe (or more) opposite to this one. So, I am born a guy. I live and die. What if, at death, we go to the next possible universe? So, I was born a guy, but in a parallel universe, I was born a girl. By the time I die in this universe, what if I transfer into the next universe, one where I'm a girl? From there, etc., etc.

Many people look at it that way, but through time. The Earth Timeline, so you can brought back to any time, anywhere, any status, different gender, similar personality, same likes, reveries, past memories as dreams...