NationStates Jolt Archive

As has just been pointed out on another thread-I am thomas paine reincarnated.(;) )
Do you believe in reincarnation,
if so, have you been reincarnated and do you have proof?
if not, how can you explain people having memories of a part life that they couldn not have (seemingly) gained in any other way?

if so, have you been reincarnated and do you have proof?


Yes, I was Richard Nixon in my former life. Proof? Remember Watergate?

Yes, I was Richard Nixon in my former life. Proof? Remember Watergate?
Yeah,I was the one who did the break in;)

Well, technically, I don't know, but my materialist inclinations lead to "reincarnation is a bunch of bullcrap."

Yeah,I was the one who did the break in;)

But they are all still alive.

Do I believe it? I don't know, just like I don't know for sure about the existence of God(s). Still, there seem to be things that can't be easily explained through rational causes;

In regard to reincarnation it is difficult to determine if the markers of a "past life" are not just avid interest in a historical subject and vice versa. Plus, false memories can be created through suggestion or hypnosis as well as mental problems; even so, not every case can be so easily explained as psychological in origin.

I believe in reincarnation... I'm the reincarnation of Bloody Mary! Heh...

But they are all still alive.
crap,well im them.;)

Slow down quickdraw, the server can only handle so many thought-provoking threads at once.:p

I don't neccesarily believe in reincarnation, but I'm quite open to the possibility. I saw a program where they put a credible claimant's(ex-cop) 'reincarnation' to polygraph tests and accuracy tests, and he passed with flying colors. And he wasn't loony, like claiming to be Napoleon. He didn't even know who the guy he was the reincarnation of was, he just had details. Turns out he appears to be the reincarnation of a literally unknown painter from New Orleans.

Still, one case ain't proof. So I'm still just 'open to the possibility.':)

Slow down quickdraw, the server can only handle so many thought-provoking threads at once.:p

I don't neccesarily believe in reincarnation, but I'm quite open to the possibility. I saw a program where they put a credible claimant's(ex-cop) 'reincarnation' to polygraph tests and accuracy tests, and he passed with flying colors. And he wasn't loony, like claiming to be Napoleon. He didn't even know who the guy he was the reincarnation of was, he just had details. Turns out he appears to be the reincarnation of a literally unknown painter from New Orleans.

Still, one case ain't proof. So I'm still just 'open to the possibility.':)

But even if he did have someone else's memories, how does that make him the reincarnation of that person?

But even if he did have someone else's memories, how does that make him the reincarnation of that person?
Because he's alive and the other is dead.

Is it possible to be the reincarnation of Jesus? It just seems that every generation has its own Jesus-like person who does great things...perhaps Jesus was a reincarnation of an even earlier form.

But even if he did have someone else's memories, how does that make him the reincarnation of that person?

Well, he was separated from the guy who should have those memories by 100 years. I don't know of another method of having someone else's life memories who died before you were born, who wasn't recorded historically and whom you've never heard of other than reincarnation.

Though strictly speaking, there could be another way for him to have those memories than being that guy reborn.

Because he's alive and the other is dead.

Okay. Let's say I clone your brain and freeze it. After you die, I transplant it into someone else.

Is she your "reincarnation"? Or is she just someone with a copy of your brain?

Is it possible to be the reincarnation of Jesus? It just seems that every generation has its own Jesus-like person who does great things...perhaps Jesus was a reincarnation of an even earlier form.
nice thought, unlesds your a christian and what youve just said is blasphamy;)

I am Rand Al'Thor...I mean was. And before that I was Lews Therin Kinslayer. And now I'm me. The Dragon Reborn. /WoT fanboyism

I think the reasonable answer would be that we all return to the earth, are reproduced into new material, and eventually reused to make life. Thus, there is no end or beginning.

Is it possible to be the reincarnation of Jesus? It just seems that every generation has its own Jesus-like person who does great things...perhaps Jesus was a reincarnation of an even earlier form.

Who's this generation's Jesus, then? Or has God just been lazy in recent years?

Well, he was separated from the guy who should have those memories by 100 years. I don't know of another method of having someone else's life memories who died before you were born, who wasn't recorded historically and whom you've never heard of other than reincarnation.

Though strictly speaking, there could be another way for him to have those memories than being that guy reborn.

My point is that even if he did have someone else's memories, and even if they were acquired through some weird metaphysical process, reincarnation implies some sort of continuation of identity; I don't see how that would be necessarily present.

Okay. Let's say I clone your brain and freeze it. After you die, I transplant it into someone else.

Is she your "reincarnation"? Or is she just someone with a copy of your brain?
No, it's me because...uh... you can never clone me! I'm too unclonable... (is that a word?)

Who's this generation's Jesus, then? Or has God just been lazy in recent years?



My point is that even if he did have someone else's memories, and even if they were acquired through some weird metaphysical process, reincarnation implies some sort of continuation of identity; I don't see how that would be necessarily present.
Look up the penial gland, this may explain why people can meraculously know things.

Who's this generation's Jesus, then? Or has God just been lazy in recent years?

Mother Theresa?

No, it's me because...uh... you can never clone me! I'm too unclonable... (is that a word?)

The word you are looking for is "copy-protected."

The word you are looking for is "copy-protected."
by who?

The word you are looking for is "copy-protected."
Boo! Sounds too much like DRM. I prefer my random non-sensicle word!

Mother Theresa?

So Jesus would have praised Duvalier? Another reason to reject Him, I suppose.

My point is that even if he did have someone else's memories, and even if they were acquired through some weird metaphysical process, reincarnation implies some sort of continuation of identity; I don't see how that would be necessarily present.

Well memories are certainly an aspect of identity. I guess to prove a continuation of identity there'd have to be more elements of the dead guy's identity in the claimant than just memory.

However, it does suggest the possibility of a continuation of identity.

Well memories are certainly an aspect of identity. I guess to prove a continuation of identity there'd have to be more elements of the dead guy's identity in the claimant than just memory.

However, it does suggest the possibility of a continuation of identity.
Or perhaps it is evidence that similar thought paterns eventualy produce the same thoughts.

So Jesus would have praised Duvalier? Another reason to reject Him, I suppose.

He was pretty brutal with Judas, so...

Or perhaps it is evidence that similar thought paterns eventualy produce the same thoughts.

Well... no. Experiences produce memories, not thought patterns. I can think just like you, but do I remember your last birthday?

He was pretty brutal with Judas, so...

And then there's Revelations.

Reincarnation is quite common on NS.

I can't say I believe in reincarnation but I hope it does happen. I would like to come back as.....:cool: Probably more than anyone here wants to know.:D

I don't know if I believe in reincarnation in the conventional sense. I think of reincarnation more like recycling, except the same patterns and relationships keep popping up over and over again.

Besides, if you had a past life, does that mean you aren't really you, but a continuation of someone else?

Do you believe in reincarnation,
if so, have you been reincarnated and do you have proof?

Yes. But I don't have proof.:p

Reincarnation based on karma makes the most sense (to me, I mean).

Reincarnation is crap. Sorry kids, but as a sceptic, this is one religious belief I am willing to toss on the trash heap.

I am so myself reincarnated as myself

Reincarnation is quite common on NS.

Indeed. Trolls tend to reincarnate more than Kenny does on South Park. And that D&D crap about fire keeping them from coming back is crap. Trolls live for the flames.

I believe in rebirth, not reincarnation.

I dont have any reason to believe or disbelieve it in myself.

I have a friend that has incredible deja vu and knowlege of WWII bombers that he didnt come by in any traditional way. It scared him when we went to an airshow and toured a B-25. He knew things about it he shouldnt have. Very weird. Its possible he got this knowlege subconciously somehow without knowing it by watching movies or what have you I suppose. The way he described feeling at home in the antique airplane was very weird to me and he seemed more than a little overwhelmed.

I know this is absolutely anecdotal and constitutes no proof. I also know that there might be many plausible explantions that dont include metaphysics. I am certain he wasnt faking this for anyones benefit however.

A number of things bother me about reincarnation, not least the amount of co-ordination going on. First off, how have we got an increasing population if souls are merely recycled? I understand that in some versions of reincarnation, humans aren’t the only form of life that recycles. But still, thats a rising number of cows/dandylions/tractors/whatever leading a good life and passing onto human existence.

Secondly, even if we are bing reincarnated, the vast majority of us have no recollection of previous lives. And the rest of us have some fairly dubious stories. So therefore whether we reincarnate or not hasn’t the slightest bit of difference on our lives.

I believe he faked it, knowing that you would post about it here, and then someone would deride your post making you feel slightly bad, and your friend, who secretly despises yo, would have an evil laugh over the whole incident.

But I'm paranoid like that.

I am known to many as the Spam King, but since my kingdom was banished, I have risen anew as the Spam Dragon (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=11201065&postcount=537) to claim my revenge.

A number of things bother me about reincarnation, not least the amount of co-ordination going on. First off, how have we got an increasing population if souls are merely recycled?

There are infinite souls and infinite worlds (and infinite universes) which go through infinite cycles (as per the Vaishnavist hindu literature).

There are infinite souls and infinite worlds (and infinite universes) which go through infinite cycles (as per the Vaishnavist hindu literature).
Such is the nature of the universe.