Reincarnation

Most religions believe in some form of eternal life, that the essence of existence is spiritual and that this essence survives the death of the physical body, Most Christians believe that the human soul enters either heaven, hell or purgatory after the body dies. Hindus and Buddhists, on the other hand believe that the soul enters another physical body as a matter of a long learning process. This process of learning, death and return is called reincarnation. Some believe that the soul always returns to another human body, others hold that also animals and even non-animated object are candidates for reincarnation.

The theories of reincarnation teach that this is the original design and that a soul will run through the process as long as it takes to achieve perfection. Once it reaches the level of perfection it will not have to reincarnate anymore.

The Divine Principle does not teach reincarnation. However, it does address phenomena that are normally interpreted as proof for reincarnation. These are explained in the context of ‘returning resurrection’ in the section on re-creation.

‘Returning resurrection’ is not part of the original design. As explained in eternal life, humans were supposed to reach perfection within one human life span, during which they would learn to communicate with God and spirit world.

However, as a result of the fall which prevented the original design to be realized the need for ‘unification version of reincarnation’ arose. Returning resurrection is used to provide the learning experience that only an existence in the physical world can provide. Spirits who entered the spirit world in an immature state need a way to grow through receiving elements of vitality from a physical body.

Once the original design is fully realized, returning resurrection will end.

The details are explained in the chapter ‘Returning Resurrection’ in the section on restoration (or re-creation).