From: pjs@reimari.uwasa.fi (Peik J Strömsholm) Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology,alt.religion.christian,talk.religion.misc Subject: Scientology, Christianity and reincarnation Followup-To: alt.religion.scientology Date: 22 Oct 1995 03:58:09 +0200 Organization: University of Vaasa, Finland Message-ID: <46c8fh$83n@reimari.uwasa.fi> NNTP-Posting-Host: reimari.uwasa.fi -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- This article contains a refutation of one of L. Ron Hubbard's claims about the existence of reincarnation in the early Christian religion. This is an indication that the claim of Scientology to be compatible with the Christian religion is false; as reincarnation is an essential part of Scientology, and Christianity considers this to be a form of heresy, they are not compatible. "The Egyptians, Hindus, Buddhists, Jainists, Sikhists, Brahmans, NeoPlatonists, Christians, Romans, Jews and Gnostics all believed in reincarnation and the rebirth cycle. It was a fundamental belief in the Roman Catholic Church until 553 AD when a company of four monks held the Synod of Constantinople, (without the Pope present) and decided the belief could not exist. They condemned the teachings of reincarnation as heresy and it was at this time that references to it were expunged from the Bible." ("Have You Lived Before This Life?" by L. Ron Hubbard, Introduction, quoted in Margery Wakefield's book "The Road to Xenu", Chapter 7, ASCII-version.) The above statement is common in writings of Occult authors, although I haven't been able to locate the original source. I won't adress the other traditions mentioned, but the statements about the RCC and the Synod of Constantinople are definitely not correct. Reincarnation was not mentioned at the Synod, and no changes in the Bible were made. Hundreds of bishops were present, not merely "four monks". Any New Testament scholar can tell you that early manuscripts from 100-500 AD have no references whatsoever to reincarnation. Not only Fundamentalists, but also the most Liberal Theologians as well as Historians agree with this. With literally thousands of manuscripts in existence it would be impossible to effectively remove "references" to anything from the Bible; other extant copies and earlier manuscripts would reveal the changes. The above quote from Hubbard is merely one conspiracy theory among others - perhaps the same guys who expunged references to reincarnation from the Bible also murdered Kennedy? The Synod of Constantinople didn't mention reincarnation. It dealt with, inter alia, the teachings of Origen, who stated that human souls existed before birth. (Pre-existence). Origen concluded that all souls will be restored in the end, not reincarnated. Also the devil will be saved in the end. Therefore the Synod declared Anathemas against Origen: "I. IF anyone asserts the fabulous pre-existence of souls, and shall assert the monstruos restoration which follows it: let him be anathema." (Quoted in Nicene Fathers, "The Seven Ecumenical Councils of the Unvidided Church", ISBN 0-8028-8129, p. 318.) Reincarnation was not mentioned. Origen was condemned for his heretical opinions about the soul, but not even Origen believed in reincarnation: "In this place [Matt. 17:10] 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 forth in the Scriptures..." (Origen's Commentary on Matthew, Book XIII, The Ante-Nicene Fathers vol. X, p. 474) Regarding the "four monks" present, the following may be quoted: "In accordance with the imperial command, but without the assent of the Pope, the synod was opened on the 5th May A.D. 553, in the Secretarium of the Cathedral Church at Constantinople. Among those present were the Patriarchs, Eutychius of Contantinople, who presided, Apollinaris of Alexandria, Domninus of Antioc, three bishops as representatives of the Patriarch Eustochius of Jerusalem, and 145 other metropolitans and bishops, of whom many came also in the place of absent colleagues." (Hefele, Quoted in Nicene Fathers, "The Seven Ecumenical Councils", p. 299.) When speaking about the Roman Catholic Church and reincarnation, one could also consider the following papal quote from 1994: "Christian revelation excludes reincarnation and speaks of a fulfillment which man is called to achieve in the course of a single earthly existence." (As The Third Millennium Draws Near, Tertio Mellennio Adveniente, Apostolic Letter of Pope John Paul II released on November 14, 1994, II:9) ALL THESE QUOTES show that reincarnation is foreign to the early Christian religion and the Roman Catholic Church of today. This goes for other major Christian churches as well. It's not so surprising if you consider the basic tenets of Christianity and the concept of reincarnation - in Christianity all sins are forgiven at once, with reincarnation you live through hundreds of lives to attain perfection. You don't need more than one life if your sins are forgiven, and who would believe in strange reincarnations of Jesus anyway? Please be informed that I have no problem whatsoever with Scientologists believing in reincarnation. As with most religions, I suppose you could be quite happy believing that too. I support freedom of religion. The claim of Scientology to be compatible with Christianity is false, however. ========================================================================== pjs@uwasa.fi, Student of Theology & Law Student at the U of Helsinki "Idle talk and hollow promises; Cheating Judases, doubting Thomases Don't just stand there and shout it; Do something about it" DM, 'Judas' -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.i iQCVAgUBMImjUx1yhFX7KT+RAQFZygQAtzo/CASV5+uNeuJdcmJ4HDwSK5VF480p wjqEaKkFwRvkvQXKrmPrxYk5hV3r2qOP5c3vsFTbrh+ElzJBKVR9OSPLxCN341Yp b7b9/4KXDwDvmRrCFiPGzVLWsOhm8OcjjgRbjayCUj+1fP+MF7gXMn6yH6x3cnhB 3otMUOGJoWU= =Fvju -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----