I came by my belief in reincarnation in a strange way. Traditional religion never did anything for me even though I had plenty of exposure to Christianity in my youth. I tried twice to get “saved” as a pre-teen but felt no different and figured it didn’t work.
Even during my 40s when I started going to Sunday school regularly and read Christian books in an attempt to get religion it didn’t work. Indeed, my research led me to a college course on CD about the New Testament that convinced me that the God of the Bible likely doesn’t exist.
Then in my mid 50s I was paired on eHarmony with a woman living in Turkey who said she had been reincarnated many times and remembered past lives. I have had zero similar experiences, but the concept of reincarnation made more sense to me than Christianity. So I became a believer not because I had an “aha” moment, but for practical considerations.
Believing in reincarnation means my spirit is in this particular body so I can learn or experience something. This makes it easier to accept that I made mistakes in life and have not lived up to my potential. Knowing I may never have close friends or a woman in my life is easier to accept if I believe in reincarnation. “Maybe this is what I was meant to experience,” I tell myself.
The only thing I can point to in my life that could be interpreted as evidence of a past life is a lifelong interest in World War II military history. (Along with other military history, but mostly WW2.)
It makes me wonder if I was a soldier, sailor or airman during World War II, possibly one who died in action.
Indeed, my mother’s oldest brother (whom I’m named after) died after jumping out of a B-26 Marauder over France in 1944.
I recently typed Uncle Ralph’s letters from the war into my computer and shared them with family. Most of us never knew him, and this was a great way for us to get to know him a little. Could he have been me in a past life?
I have no idea. It’s probably too pat an answer to be true. From the stories I’ve heard about Uncle Ralph, he was much more outgoing and naturally cheerful than I am.
Nevertheless, I continue through this life trying to remain open to whatever epiphanies might come my way. I just don’t think I’m much good at sensing or recognizing them.
Even during my 40s when I started going to Sunday school regularly and read Christian books in an attempt to get religion it didn’t work. Indeed, my research led me to a college course on CD about the New Testament that convinced me that the God of the Bible likely doesn’t exist.
Then in my mid 50s I was paired on eHarmony with a woman living in Turkey who said she had been reincarnated many times and remembered past lives. I have had zero similar experiences, but the concept of reincarnation made more sense to me than Christianity. So I became a believer not because I had an “aha” moment, but for practical considerations.
Believing in reincarnation means my spirit is in this particular body so I can learn or experience something. This makes it easier to accept that I made mistakes in life and have not lived up to my potential. Knowing I may never have close friends or a woman in my life is easier to accept if I believe in reincarnation. “Maybe this is what I was meant to experience,” I tell myself.
The only thing I can point to in my life that could be interpreted as evidence of a past life is a lifelong interest in World War II military history. (Along with other military history, but mostly WW2.)
It makes me wonder if I was a soldier, sailor or airman during World War II, possibly one who died in action.
Indeed, my mother’s oldest brother (whom I’m named after) died after jumping out of a B-26 Marauder over France in 1944.
I recently typed Uncle Ralph’s letters from the war into my computer and shared them with family. Most of us never knew him, and this was a great way for us to get to know him a little. Could he have been me in a past life?
I have no idea. It’s probably too pat an answer to be true. From the stories I’ve heard about Uncle Ralph, he was much more outgoing and naturally cheerful than I am.
Nevertheless, I continue through this life trying to remain open to whatever epiphanies might come my way. I just don’t think I’m much good at sensing or recognizing them.