Western Misconception of Reincarnation

-Removed-

I understand that argument (and am happy to confirm your rational nature) but think our idea of what is reasonable is unavoidably influenced by what is familiar to us. So someone born in India, for example, would be more inclined to view all facets of reincarnation as reasonable than the Christian idea of an afterlife.

@ghost-of-a-duke said
Both the concepts of an afterlife and reincarnation are a stretch of the imagination. I'm not sure on what grounds we can deem one and not the other 'reasonable.' (Other than a personal familiarity with one rather than the other).

From the perspective of desiring proof, there will be no empirical proof. So it is not rational in an inductive sense.

But rather, it is in the realm of the revealed truth, right... It is taken on faith by people, or, in some cases, deduced by trains of thought in which God was concluded as existing and then conceived of as loving of His Creation or a dispenser of justice.

@philokalia said
But rather, it is in the realm of the revealed truth, right... It is taken on faith by people, or, in some cases, deduced by trains of thought in which God was concluded as existing and then conceived of as loving of His Creation or a dispenser of justice.

And what's the moral logic of there being stupendous punishment for not having the same "train of thought" as you?

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Oh my, oh my, you would NOT get away with this unscathed if twhitehead were still here.

@fmf said
And what's the moral logic of there being stupendous punishment for not having the same "train of thought" as you?

We cannot speculate on who does & who does not go to hell wildly. We have to be centered around the concept of heaven, and the concept of healing our souls and situating ourselves properly to have the right relationship with God, to be right by God, and to be prepared to enter the Kingdom of God.

... Hell is uncreated. Or, as C. S. Lewis stated, hell's gates are locked from the inside.

Those who choose a life away from God, and who, in their essence, do not praise God (the correct orientation of a person) choose for themselves a godless life and thus enter into hell through their own effort.

At least, this is how I understand it. ^^

@philokalia said
We cannot speculate on who does & who does not go to hell wildly. We have to be centered around the concept of heaven, and the concept of healing our souls and situating ourselves properly to have the right relationship with God, to be right by God, and to be prepared to enter the Kingdom of God.

... Hell is uncreated. Or, as C. S. Lewis stated, [i]hell's gates are lo ...[text shortened]... ife and thus enter into hell through their own effort.

At least, this is how I understand it. ^^

To me, this is you simply dodging the question. But it's OK. The question has, yet again, made a simple point that no Christian here can ever address without waffling, deflecting, or sidestepping it ~ and therefore bailing out. And it's no mystery why.

@philokalia said
Those who choose a life away from God, and who, in their essence, do not praise God (the correct orientation of a person) choose for themselves a godless life and thus enter into hell through their own effort.

I'll give it another try: What's the moral logic of there being stupendous punishment for not having these same beliefs about a supposed "life away from God" as you? Just ignore this if you don't know.

@fmf said
I'll give it another try: What's the moral logic of there being stupendous punishment for not having these same beliefs about a supposed "life away from God" as you? Just ignore this if you don't know.

My new thread that I just posted will cover this very well -- your question actually reminded me that I need to get on sharing the relevant blog post while the iron is hot.

@philokalia said
My new thread that I just posted will cover this very well -- your question actually reminded me that I need to get on sharing the relevant blog post while the iron is hot.

Another dodge. I just looked at that other thread. It doesn't address my question. Nevermind.

@fmf said
Another dodge. I just looked at that other thread. It doesn't address my question. Nevermind.

Aw, so your question doesn't actually have anything to do with the concept of what can constitute evil..?

... And why, potentially, simply disbelief in God constitutes evil?

You didn't read far enough, FMF.

@philokalia said
Aw, so your question doesn't actually have anything to do with the concept of what can constitute evil..?

... And why, potentially, simply disbelief in God constitutes evil?

You didn't read far enough, FMF.

Disbelief in your God figure does not constitute "evil". Save that kind of assertion for members of your religion.

It has no moral traction beyond that ~ especially when you Christians start up with the 'stupendous punishment for not having the same beliefs' I mentioned.

Whatever supernatural being that happens to appeal to your imagination ~ good for you ~ but it does not create any moral imperatives [or indeed affect the reality in which they live] for believers in other Gods or non-believers.