# Theory of reincarnation - credible or not and why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 19, 2006, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theory-of-reincarnation-credible-or-not-and-why/340712 "2006-01-19T20:43:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theory-of-reincarnation-credible-or-not-and-why/340712/81 "2006-01-26T01:33:17Z")
> [@jawdirk](#): > > Reincarnation is just the theory that the root of awareness doesn’t disappear when the system disappears – the extra-physical root retains something without the physical connection, and is recycled. And again, there is no reliable data to support this – just a persistant intuition among the complex physical systems that something odd is going on: a ghost in the machine. That’s not terribly surprising, since we seem to consider our consciousness like a homonucleus sitting behind our eyes and observing. Nothing would be less surprising than the belief that this little guy, who is really us, climbs out of the machine when it gets broken. **Der Trihs** , I just have to note that belief in reincarnation does not seem to be correlated to the bloodthirstiness of the religion - quite the opposite, it seems. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theory-of-reincarnation-credible-or-not-and-why/340712/82 "2006-01-26T01:47:40Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > **Der Trihs** , I just have to note that belief in reincarnation does not seem to be correlated to the bloodthirstiness of the religion - quite the opposite, it seems. I’m no expert, but doesn’t Hindu culture have a history of extreme lack of compassion towards the lower castes, especially historically ? Not to mention such customs as burning unwanted wives alive ? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theory-of-reincarnation-credible-or-not-and-why/340712/83 "2006-01-26T02:49:28Z")
> [@Der Trihs](#): > > How about : > > “Kill the unbelievers, and you will be granted a better next life!” > > “Your victories over the heathen are proof that they sinned in their past incarnations !” > > “There is no true death, only the cycle of rebirth. Therefore, do not fear to die, or hesitate to kill anyone, no matter their age or sex. All shall be reborn in their proper places.” > > “Suffering earns one a better place in the next life. By raping and torturing the prisoners, you aid their future.” Another argument against reincarnation is that people who support it may be likely to allow suffering and cruelty instead of trying to eliminate it. If pain is a ways of working out negative karma from a past life then trying to eliminate it could be seen as shorting the karmic wheel. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theory-of-reincarnation-credible-or-not-and-why/340712/84 "2006-01-26T03:44:13Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#): > > Another argument against reincarnation is that people who support it may be likely to allow suffering and cruelty instead of trying to eliminate it. If pain is a ways of working out negative karma from a past life then trying to eliminate it could be seen as shorting the karmic wheel. Not people who really understand it. Helping to relieve the suffering of others is how you build positive Karma. Allowing suffering that you can prevent would be building bad Karma. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theory-of-reincarnation-credible-or-not-and-why/340712/85 "2006-01-26T06:01:16Z")
> [@Der Trihs](#): > > I’m no expert, but doesn’t Hindu culture have a history of extreme lack of compassion towards the lower castes, especially historically ? Not to mention such customs as burning unwanted wives alive ? I was thinking more of Buddhism. That’s one relatively decent religion. I’m not sure how much of the bad stuff you mention is required by Hinduism, as opposed to customs not stopped by it. Not that there don’t seem to be plenty of Hindu extremists even today. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2006, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theory-of-reincarnation-credible-or-not-and-why/340712/86 "2006-01-26T17:11:27Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Not people who really understand it. Helping to relieve the suffering of others is how you build positive Karma. Allowing suffering that you can prevent would be building bad Karma. Good. I hope I’m wrong then and that is the mainstream attitude. But I have heard that as a legitimate complaint about the karmic system as a social meme, that it may lead to a ‘hands off’ attitude towards evil and suffering. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theory-of-reincarnation-credible-or-not-and-why/340712/87 "2006-01-27T00:39:00Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#): > > Good. I hope I’m wrong then and that is the mainstream attitude. But I have heard that as a legitimate complaint about the karmic system as a social meme, that it may lead to a ‘hands off’ attitude towards evil and suffering. I wouldn’t be surprised if religions that believe in Karma and reincarnation have their share of “fundies” with distorted interpretations just as Christiianity has its share of bad apples who don’t get the whole “Love thy neighbor” thing. I believe historically there was a bunch of animosity between the Hindu and Muslims in India. Buddhism seems relatively calm but I believe I heard about some violence among Buddhist sects last year as well. It seems to be mans nature. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theory-of-reincarnation-credible-or-not-and-why/340712/88 "2006-01-27T01:44:21Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Buddhism seems relatively calm but I believe I heard about some violence among Buddhist sects last year as well. It seems to be mans nature. I heard about that. Fistfights between Buddhist monks, and accusations of sexual assault. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theory-of-reincarnation-credible-or-not-and-why/340712.md?page=4)