Truthseeker said:
...I'm sure that there are a lot of people that hate the idea that when it's all over with they have to come back and do it all over again. Most of us have been romanticized with this idea that you come here once, be a good person, die, go to heaven, and live happily ever after. Coming back over and over again kind of screws that plan up. I imagine a lot of people are also freaked out about the idea of being a completely different person, family, race, gender, country....
Personally, the idea of experiencing something new in the next life intrigues me. :cool
This has been my experience also...the idea of doing it again apparently is exhausting to some. And some of those who have taken on the idea are certain that a) they aren't gonna come back because they are done, or b) since they have free will they shouldn't have to come back. Both may be valid for those people, but without knowledge of what they have undergone before and what else their soul has in store for its own future learning, an incarnate proclamation that "I'm not doing this again!" rings hollow.
Further, in my fairly conservative, christian community, the idea smacks of blasphemy and anti-christianity, so the mere thought is often shouted down with simple looks and glares.
It is interesting to watch what happens when a discussion does ensue and the idea of soul groups changing roles in different incarnations arises... "You could be married now to a soul who was your mother in a prior life(I am)...oh, and engaged earlier in this life to a woman who was your sister in that same previous life! (I was)." I assume the "Eewe" and "yuck" mean thoughts of incest prevail despite the different gene pools.
Then orthodox religion's espousal of an eternal soul means you have one chance to get it right, then you reap the benefits for eternity...well, what is going to happen in that eternity...if you get there? (you will) Can you imagine perfection every day for eternity? What if, now change views just a bit, to break up the monotony of perfection and instantaneous manifestation, you get to see imperfection while incarnating on earth...which will provide a sense of perspective and appreciation of that perfection in heaven...and you get to do it again and again, and each time you do it, you become more proficient.
Then there are those who ask "What if you're wrong?" Well, my body will die just as anyone else's will and my soul will do the same thing yours does as we are all good people. But if I'm right I have lived a great life without fear about where my soul is going once I shake off this mortal coil.
I have had people leave the room shaking their heads at the mere thought of any of these things...on the other hand I have had people who, as a result of our conversations, have pursued these and other avenues and thanked me for broaching the subject that never would have occurred to them without our discussion.
From my standpoint, reincarnation is a fact and the more information one can gleen on the subject, the clearer one will see their most beneficial role in this lifetime...but if they do not get it this time, they'll get another opportunity!
You can see I don't think much about this kind of thing!
