Opus 2018-034: The Original Recycle Idea

When we talk about reincarnation we tend to think of Buddhism and Hinduism.  Both religions teach that a person goes through a repeated cycle of death and rebirth.  Evidently the idea is not unique to India.  Consider this from Plato.

“There comes into my mind an ancient doctrine which affirms that they go from hence into the other world, and returning hither, are born again from the dead.”  Kindle Highlight 814-815

He expands on this a little later.

“For if the soul exists before birth, and in coming to life and being born can be born only from death and dying, must she not after death continue to exist, since she has to be born again?”  Kindle Highlight 952-953

Buddha was born as early as 563 B.C.  No one is sure.  The same is true of Plato except he is given a more specific date of 427.  In ancient terms that makes them almost contemporaries.  Did the idea originate with Buddha and travel to Plato?  Was it an already popular idea that both felt had value?  Did they come up with them on their own?  I am not sure.  Maybe some scholar has better knowledge. 

Some ideas are repeated by great thinkers and religious leaders.  For instance, the Golden Rule is found in many systems of belief.  Just because someone you disagree with believes something to be true or of value does not mean you must discard all that they believe.  Hitler liked vegetables.  That does not make them evil by association.

The People of the Book, Jews, Christians and Muslims reject the idea of reincarnation.  It doesn’t matter what you local new age pastor says.  It is directly opposed to the teachings of the Bible.  People of the East disagree.

Lots of ideas.  Lots of truth.  Not enough thinking.

Plato.  Phaedo.  Project Gutenberg download.

homo unius libri