# Reincarnation or oblivion? Which would you choose? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 24, 2012, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844 "2012-02-24T15:10:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844/1 "2012-02-24T15:10:39Z")
Lets say, for the sake of a discussion, that when you die you are given a choice between oblivion for eternity or returning to earth. You can not choose anything about your next life (except to be human). You take your chances. You could be the next baby for Jayz and Beyonce or the next baby of someone that puts you in a microwave and cooks you to death. (I have a hard time even typing that.) Which would you choose? ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844/2 "2012-02-24T15:20:38Z")
Presumably if you go again this is with a clean slate, so you are not ‘you’ in any real sense anyway, how is this different to oblivion? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844/3 "2012-02-24T15:52:42Z")
I’d go around again. Life is fun. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844/4 "2012-02-24T16:27:25Z")
Definitely reincarnation. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844/5 "2012-02-24T16:35:37Z")
> [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](#): > > Presumably if you go again this is with a clean slate, so you are not ‘you’ in any real sense anyway, how is this different to oblivion? I agree. the two options are the same. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844/6 "2012-02-24T16:59:55Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > I agree. the two options are the same. That was exactly my thought. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844/7 "2012-02-24T17:07:47Z")
I’d choose the actual oblivion, thanks, not the indirect oblivion discussed by the previous posters. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844/8 "2012-02-24T19:25:55Z")
Oblivion is bliss. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844/9 "2012-02-24T19:43:27Z")
There’s more sex in reincarnation. I will go with that. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844/10 "2012-02-24T19:50:01Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > There’s more sex in reincarnation. I will go with that. [http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://media.heavy.com/post\_assets/2009/09/2111/1253547492\_andreas-jankov.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.heavy.com/comedy/2009/09/the-biggest-nerd-in-the-world-changes-his-name/&h=437&w=647&sz=42&tbnid=uBb6vnlr0eHrIM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=133&prev=/search%3Fq%3DBiggest%2Bnerd%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=Biggest+nerd&docid=2WjTU8thoUxhFM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=felHT7qcL4Xo0QH6sdWqDg&ved=0CDAQ9QEwAA&dur=2356](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://media.heavy.com/post_assets/2009/09/2111/1253547492_andreas-jankov.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.heavy.com/comedy/2009/09/the-biggest-nerd-in-the-world-changes-his-name/&h=437&w=647&sz=42&tbnid=uBb6vnlr0eHrIM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=133&prev=/search%3Fq%3DBiggest%2Bnerd%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=Biggest+nerd&docid=2WjTU8thoUxhFM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=felHT7qcL4Xo0QH6sdWqDg&ved=0CDAQ9QEwAA&dur=2356) Not necessarily…😃 ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844/11 "2012-02-24T19:52:15Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > I agree. the two options are the same. [Disclaimer: the following is not necessarily an argument in favor of the existence of reincarnation] Some sages and pundits say that, while your surface memories are erased, the deeper (unconscious) patterns that you have established over the most recent lifetime (and those before as well) remain as influences going into the next one. Quoting Wikipedia: “The consciousness in the new person is neither identical nor entirely different from that in the deceased but the two form a causal continuum or stream.” ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844/12 "2012-02-24T19:59:10Z")
> [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](#): > > Presumably if you go again this is with a clean slate, so you are not ‘you’ in any real sense anyway, how is this different to oblivion? It’ll quickly get into metaphyscis or spirituality, but what exactly is “you?” Obviously for reincarnation to make any sort of sense, it’s something other than just our physical being. Presumably we’d lose most or possibly all of our memories as well. So we’d really have to agree one what exactly makes up this essence or soul or whatever you want to call it before we can really say its a clean slate or not. Would it have any sort of involvement of karma, in any of its meanings? If you literally carry over nothing then, yeah, there’s no difference, but then it’s not really reincarnation. Personally, even if only some very small parts of what defines me exists, I’d like to think I could continue to do better if given another chance. At the same time though, the OP stipulates no choice. Which I do assume takes out any sense of karma or continuation of previous works and just leaves some essence like some memories or preferences or whatever in place, but then we’re stuck with the chance of getting one of any of the other lives on this planet. How many of those lives would we regret being forced into living in horrific poverty, oppressive governments, to insane parents, debilitating disease or disfigurment, or otherwise terrible conditions? How many would we be at least okay with living? Depending on how much carries over, would those situations seem that much worse compared to the life I live now or would I not remember those specifics and be able to find a simple joy in it? Even if that risk of a miserable life is bad, it still seems like a better option than oblivion. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844/13 "2012-02-24T20:01:50Z")
Reincarnation. If I an choose to be a human, does that mean I can choose to be a cat? Because I think I’d like to try that out. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844/14 "2012-02-24T20:43:08Z")
If you asked me a year ago, I wouldn’t hesitate to answer oblivion. But I think now I’d give reincarnation a shot… I want to see where humans are 5-10,000 years from now. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844/15 "2012-02-24T21:24:40Z")
Which kind of reincarnation are we talking here? [Ātman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80tman_%28Hinduism%29) or [anātman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatta)? Not that it’s going to matter in the long run. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844/16 "2012-02-24T21:34:54Z")
Another vote for oblivion… I’ve done life, and, meh, the game isn’t worth the candle. Let the biomass pass along to someone who wants it. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844/17 "2012-02-24T21:47:31Z")
> [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](#): > > Presumably if you go again this is with a clean slate, so you are not ‘you’ in any real sense anyway, how is this different to oblivion? Suppose you have a lump of metal. You make it into a sculpture. You melt it down. You forge it into a segment of rail track. You melt it down. You make it into part of a wind turbine. Repeat ad nauseum. You seem to have confused whether you’re the shape the metal took when it was the sculpture, or the metal itself. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844/18 "2012-02-24T22:30:55Z")
It depends whether I get to remember all of my previous incarnations when I’m done with the next life. If I can accumulate knowledge after each death, even if my human form can’t recall it, then I’d be down. If it’s a blank slate that resets every single time I die, I’m sooo not interested. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844/19 "2012-02-24T22:34:20Z")
> [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](#): > > Presumably if you go again this is with a clean slate, so you are not ‘you’ in any real sense anyway, how is this different to oblivion? This. Coming back as a different person with no memory of this life, is exactly like oblivion with someone else being born. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844/20 "2012-02-24T22:58:05Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > (I have a hard time even typing that.) Sissy. I’d take another stab at it, assuming the “me” entity that gets to make the decision doesn’t have another ride at the amusement park to try–like being a planet or a helium or something. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reincarnation-or-oblivion-which-would-you-choose/613844.md?page=2)