The Argument over Reincarnation in Early Christianity
The Argument over Reincarnation in Early Christianity
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| The Argument over Reincarnation in Early Christianity
6 Principles explains that souls are assigned to their “place, region or condition” based on their actions “before the present life.” He states that “God gave souls bodies according to the sin of each.” 14 Based upon this particular writing the contemporary author Elizabeth Prophet concluded, “There is no denying that here Origen is implying his belief in reincarnation by God assigning bodies based upon previous sins.” 15 However, when writing to those who believed that John the Baptist was the reincarnate of Elijah, Origen says: In this place it does not appear to me that by Elijah the soul is spoken of, lest I should fall into the dogma of transmigration, which is foreign to the church of God, and not handed down by the Apostles, nor anywhere set for in the scriptures. 16 Based upon this text, another author, Mark Edwards, states, “It is obvious that Origen cannot be considered an ‘early Christian adherent of reincarnation’." 17 It should be mentioned that Origen’s comments on John the Baptist and Elijah were written towards the end of his life. One can either assume that he changed his opinion on reincarnation over time due to further studying and learning, or he had simply learned later in life to refute his belief in reincarnation to avoid arguments and to keep his standing within the Christian community. Due to the conflicting ideas contained within Origen’s surviving works we may never know for certain his final opinion of the reality of reincarnation. What we can learn from these sources is that although Origen believed in Christ’s redemptive sacrifices and corporeal resurrection and considered himself a faithful Christian, at least at one point in his life was contemplating the reality of the idea of reincarnation. 14 Origen, On First Principles. I.8.I., 67. 15 Prophet and Prophet, Reincarnation: Missing Link. 179-80. 16 Edwards, Mark Julian. Origen against Plato. (Burlington: Ashgate publishing Limited, 2002) 97-101. 17 Edwards, Origen Against Plato. 132. |