| To start with, let us assume that reincarnation indeed | | | | to hell. Obviously, the all-powerful, all merciful God |
| takes place. What do the Vedic literatures tell us as to | | | | cannot let this happen. |
| why it does take place? Two reasons have been | | | | Why is one person rich, another poor, one healthy, |
| given: Firstly, we're being given a chance to live out our | | | | another diseased? If we live only once, then the best |
| desires. Secondly: We're being given repeated | | | | explanation is: "It's just chance" - which is no |
| opportunities to attain spiritual realization, break free | | | | explanation at all. The Vedic- Krishna Conscious |
| from material entanglement, and resume our eternal | | | | answer to all these confusions is that at the end of |
| nature in the spiritual world. The Vedic writings are | | | | one lifetime we embark upon another. The |
| meant to guide us in achieving this goal. | | | | Bhagavad-gita says, "As a person puts on new |
| However, if we do not accept that reincarnation | | | | garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts |
| indeed takes place, then we have to delve a little | | | | new material bodies, giving up the old and useless |
| further and ascertain whether it makes sense for it not | | | | ones." |
| to take place. The concept of reincarnation will fall | | | | To an inquisitive and intelligent theist, this is the only |
| apart if one denies the existence of God. The goal of | | | | explanation that can make sense. We cannot look |
| this article is not to answer the atheists. The objective | | | | through 'the window' of present life and be bewildered |
| is to explain reincarnation to the theists. I will admit that | | | | as to why there are differences when God is the |
| the concept of reincarnation cannot be substantiated if | | | | supreme father to all. If we take that window as a |
| God was to not exist. So, for basic question here is: | | | | sliding one passing through many lives, it will make |
| Given God exists does reincarnation take place? | | | | more sense. At this point it is natural and easy to |
| Let us then come to the point of 'Eternal fire and/or | | | | understand reincarnation as a natural cause and effect |
| Eternal hell'. There are two major issues with these | | | | reaction to our karma. Also, it will only make sense to |
| phenomena: (i) It implies that God who is not only | | | | realize that karma is carried over from one life to |
| all-powerful, but also all merciful God, is cruel -he does | | | | another. Having understood this point, one is not |
| not give us a second chance, (ii) It also implies that God | | | | bewildered by any of the seemingly anomalies one |
| is extremely unfair-he favors some souls compared to | | | | encounters due to presupposition of one life concept. |
| others. This is basically a flawed evangelical Christian | | | | Reincarnation therefore, is a critical part of theism. |
| concept. For instance, one born to good Christian | | | | Without this, the very notion of the personal loving God |
| parents naturally gets opportunities to hear about | | | | who is also all-powerful falls apart. Reincarnation is |
| Jesus Christ, and, according to Christian teachings, is | | | | therefore, the most credible aspect to the intelligent |
| saved. But if one is born in an atheistic family -well, go | | | | theist. |