Hinduism: Reincarnation

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One aspect of hindu religion is the belief in reincarnation.  The basic idea is centered on the "wheel of rebirth."  This is the idea that the atman, or individual soul, is destined to be reunited with it's source,  moksha, which can be described as the hindu form of heaven.  But to you are fit to enter the realm of moksha you must be first be reincarnated from one life time to another.  It is believed that most of the personality is not carried from one life time to another, and in most cases you cannot remember past lives.  However, some people are convinced they know who they were in a past life.

In this first video (seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EWwzFwUOxA), a young boy named James seems to be a reincarnation of a fighter pilot from WWII. His strong interest in airplanes and mysterious knowledge of war proves to be strong evidence of reincarnation. Another seemingly convincing case of reincarnation (seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ruh9H7NjybQ), a woman, Sherrie Lea, a singer from Canada, has the strong conviction that she is the reincarnation of Marilyn Monroe, and others are convinced too.  The psychiatrist she was seeing to help her get over her supposed delusion of being the reincarnated Monroe, was so convinced that he wrote a book.  Though I can't help but notice Lea is now dying her hair blonde and has had a significant increase in publicity since this whole reincarnation of marlin Monroe thing took off.  I can't help but think that there might be some ulterior motives behind this alleged reincarnation.

All Religions

Credit: iStockphoto/Dawn Poland

What is religion? Well, according to the Oxford American Dictionary, religion is
the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power.  So by definition, all have religions have at least one thing in common: A belief in a higher power. Typically, the goal of of religion is to experience this higher power.  But what religion will lead you to experience this higher power?  Some believe that all religions will present you with that opportunity, and that each religion is just a different pathway to the experience.


A recently conducted study at University of Missouri neuropsychologist suggests that all people, regardless of their religion, have the same neuropsychological function during a spiritual experience.  Is this evidence that all religions will allow a person to experience the transcendence that everyone seems to be searching for?  Some would disagree, believing that there is only one true way to God, and that any religion besides their own, is incorrect.  Brick Johnstone, a professor of health psychology in the MU School of Health Professions, believes he has proven them wrong, when he states, "It is important to note that individuals experience their God or higher power in many different ways, but that all people from all religions and beliefs appear to experience these connections in a similar."

Photo by Tom Brady

Well, Brick Jonstone, I agree with you.  And I think that it's important to keep an open mind as we delve deeper into the many religions of the world.

--Perplexed Polly