The Normal Curiosity of Children

[hydrolad]

Except for a few forays into a small number of conversations, I've learned to avoid the subject on Reincarnation and Past Lives (PL) as an Adult, unless I can sense the other person is a kindred spirit when it comes to PL's.

However my childhood was at first not so wise, when it came to searching out a believer, as the first few times, I broached the subject to the wrong people and they called my parents.

As usual, my Father was indifferent to the subject, my Mother was tolerant (to a degree), but my Grandmother was a strict, by the book, card carrying Methodist and WCTU (temperance and Prohibition) member, and even at a young age, I learned to read a person like a book and knew when to mention PL's (mainly to ask questions about the dreams I was having more frequently.)

This saved me from Punishment, but did nothing to nourish my spiritual appetite when it came to learning about Reincarnation and Past Lives as a child!

Sadly, most parents will allow a child to sit for hours in front of the TV absorbing mindless drivel, yet "pitch a hissy fit" when the very same child expresses a curiosity about esoteric fields of knowledge!

So much for learning about Reincarnation and Past Lives if the Child is the least bit curious on the subject!

I wonder why some parents are that way?

 

[pixarfan]

I think it unnerves parents because it shakes their entire worldview (especially if they are hardcore Christians, atheists, or anything) and makes their children "weird" to them. It forces them to question the nature of mortality and the afterlife, and makes them very uncomfortable that their precious child could've been "someone else" before.


Past lives in the Western world are not yet mainstream, so parents won't want to be considered "Satanists" or "crazy." The entire concept of reincarnation is foreign to them and a little scary, even. Here, we're taught that we go to either Heaven or Hell and stay there until all eternity, or that when we're dead, that's it.

 

[deborah]

I agree, western society needs to EXPAND in the area of support for children who express memories. In order for that to happen, the experience needs to be real for the people involved. Change happens one person at a time.


Did you know that the Gallup Poll taken in 1981 had a question: -- "Do you believe in reincarnation -- that is, the rebirth of the soul in a new body after death or not?"


(note the verifiable group that did the query.)


The question was asked not just to religious people but the general United States adult population. 23 percent believed!


This means in 1981 -- using as a base the 1981 population figures of 166 million who are over 18 years old and over, -- that there are - 38 million reincarnationists in the United States ALONE! That was 30 years ago!!!!!!!!


In 2005 again the question. Do you believe in Reincarnation, that is, the rebirth of the soul in a new body after death. 20% believe, 20% unsure and 59% don't believe.


It is interesting to note that Edgar Cayce’s interpretations of karma suggests that karma is not destiny; it is only memory. A memory of consequence. Cayce suggests that even though we are born with memories, they are usually unconscious. But they do influence our abilities, our faults and even our relationships with others. So another words IF you remember or not - IT STILL AFFECTS YOU.


I think children who have memories, such as yourself, will in their future look into the possibilities. It is a new generation, and change is inevitable.

 

[Mr. Mike]

Past lives in the Western world are not yet mainstream, so parents won't want to be considered "Satanists" or "crazy." The entire concept of reincarnation is foreign to them and a little scary, even. Here, we're taught that we go to either Heaven or Hell and stay there until all eternity, or that when we're dead, that's it.

I don't know about anyone else, but the concept of reincarnation seemed as a child (and as an adult) a very logical belief. After all, few things have a definate start or end point in nature and the leaves fall off in October only to grow back in May year after year.


I went to a very liberal Christian church growing up so there was never any mention of hell or damnation and science and technology were fully embraced. So, when I heard (at 18) about the idea of never ending heaven or hell, I was horrified beyond belief. I was taught that God loved everyone and loved them equally and the thought that normal people could believe this without going insane seemed quite... well insane.

 

[Nightrain]

In 2005 again the question. Do you believe in Reincarnation, that is, the rebirth of the soul in a new body after death. 20% believe, 20% unsure and 59% don't believe.

I stumbled upon an interesting bar graph illustrating statistics that were gathered by the National Science Foundation demonstrating belief level changes in various aspects of the paranormal from 1990 to 2001:


https://wayback.archive-it.org/5902...ww.nsf.gov/statistics/seind04/c7/fig07-09.htm

 

[Mama2HRB]

I was baptized Methodist, became Byzantine Catholic after marriage. We were poor growing up and did not have the proper clothing to attend church so we often did not go.


I planned to attend church weekly after I joined the Catholic church for the children but my marriage fell apart immediately after conversion and I did not go.


I see now that God did not mean for me to be well versed in organized religion ... I needed to have a totally open mind to be able to accept easily the experiences my children and I have had.

 

[Blueheart]

I stumbled upon an interesting bar graph illustrating statistics that were gathered by the National Science Foundation demonstrating belief level changes in various aspects of the paranormal from 1990 to 2001:
http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind04/c7/fig07-09.htm

Very interesting graph, although I suspect the statistics on 'Witches' to be skewed. For most people these days, that is like asking if you believe in Christians.

 

[hydrolad]

Your FINAL steps from this Life!


Ever since I was a child, I have known “there was something else” after we die, I didn't know the names or concepts at such a young age, but as I got older, my knowledge began to fall into place.


Even though I was raised a Christian, my quest to investigate the dreams I was having, led me to embrace Reincarnation and Past Lives (PL's) as a young teenager.


Now as I get older, I think of those people on their “deathbeds” who have no belief systems in place to prepare themselves for their passing into the spirit realm and I feel sorry for them!


I would imagine that some are confused, scared or unprepared for their passing over and not knowing what lies ahead for themselves, such as the lighted tunnel, the “self” investigation of your past life, the sight of loved ones and so forth.


For the caregivers of terminal patients, there are some well known books, both modern and some ancient that can be read to the dying so as to prepare them for this journey, the books depending on the persons religious beliefs.


By reading this material, one can prepare themselves for the beginning steps of an exciting journey (once again) towards the spirit world!

 

[Nightrain]

As a child I was naturally aware that some people seemed to grow old and die. Not all people, but just old people. Of course that didn't include my parents, siblings and friends. My two grandmothers were still around, but I didn't seem to worry much about them leaving, because they had always been around, and would continue to do so forever. As I grew older, and as more familiar people began to leave, I began to realize that everyone had an expiration date; but the reality of death continued to be the farthest thing from my mind, and there would be plenty of time to visit beloved relatives before they passed -- that is, until they began to leave without warning.


The perspective of a child regarding death can be so completely opposite that of an adult, unless that child is somehow spiritually aware and connected. God knows, I wasn't. Oh sure, I saw plenty of dead animals on the streets of Detroit, and even witnessed the deaths of people in horrific auto accidents near our home. But, I was somehow disconnected from their experience and too busy with my own seemingly novel involvement with life. So, whenever I hear of a child connecting to the memory of their past lives, or showing profound wisdom in regards to the hereafter, my reaction is profound amazement and curiosity.