Reincarnation and Western Religion: Part I

Part I
Reincarnation as a belief system was removed from our Western thinking in 553 CE[i] at the Second Council of Constantinople. The argument was actually against the Doctrine of the Pre-existence of the Soul.
The argument had been set forth that Justinian as the Byzantine Emperor was therefore god and his was a chosen destiny at birth. While some state that we are all god, the truth is more perfectly stated when we say we are all a part of God; that within us is a spark of God's Consciousness that was given to us at creation. Were we all created at one time? Some believe so; others believe that we have existed in other embodiments on earth or even in other solar systems. Either way, the important factor is that we are spiritual beings having an occasional embodiment (human) experience. Interestingly the early Christian Fathers stated these beliefs.
Justin Martyr (100 - 165 CE) said the soul inhabits the human body more than once and denied that the embodied form could remember previous experiences.
Origen (185 - 254 CE) stated: The soul, which is immaterial and invisible in its nature, exists in no material place without having a body suited to the nature of that place. Accordingly, it at one time puts off one body, which was necessary before, but which is no longer adequate in its changed state and it exchanges it for a second.
The Encyclopedia Britannica describes Origen as the most prominent of all the Church Fathers with the possible exception of St. Augustine. St. Jerome considered him, the greatest teacher of the Church after the Apostles. St. Gregory of NYSSA, in the third century, called him the prince of Christian learning.
St. Gregory (357 - 432 CE) It is absolutely necessary that the soul should be healed and purified. If this does not take place during its life on earth, it must be accomplished in future lives.
Controversy Regarding the Soul's Pre-existence - In the early Christian Church there were many doctrinal issues that were settled by councils of the Church. The first being in the Acts of the Apostles as the First Council of Jerusalem having to do with gentiles that converted to Christianity. Many of the councils had to do with what books of the Apostles were to be accepted into the gospels. And which verses of those were to be edited. The editing and changes have occurred through recent history, the scholarship has improved and the translations more exacting. The Dead Sea Scrolls and Nag Hammadi Library have indicated even better material for correct translations of the original texts. A revised New Testament called the Scholars Version (SV) has been translated and is now available in The Five Gospels[ii]. Word in the field of biblical studies indicates that this new translation will cause too much harm.
The Council of Constantinople (553 CE) was badly formed. Emperor Justinian called the council to decide issues having to do with the nature of Christ's divinity. The Oriental view was that Christ had a single divine nature (Monophysitism); the Chalcedonian (orthodox) view was that Christ had both a divine and human nature. Justinian in addition, brought the council together to condemn the church writers of the third century who taught the pre-existence of the soul and therefore, re-embodiment or reincarnation. Pope Vigilius did not recognize the council, because it was formed with only six Western bishops and the remainder coming from the East or the Oriental Church. This was one of the causes of future breaks or schisms between the Western/Roman and the Eastern/Greek Church. Pope Vigilius wanted equal representation of East and West. The issues voted on and discussed were very much Justinian's agenda and Pope Vigilius rejected the anathemas issued by the council. Catholic Scholars are beginning to disclaim that the Church took any part in the anathemas against Origen. They now suggest that the Church was mistaken during the many centuries when it had condemned Origen's teachings. Expert testimony now indicates that the Doctrine of the Soul's Pre-existence as the proper means of accomplishing unity with God has never been anathematized or declared heretical by the Christian Church. Concluding, at least on technical grounds, that there is no barrier to belief in reincarnation for Catholic Christians.[iii]
The New Catholic Catechism[iv] does mention no reincarnation; however the source for the comment appears invalid and as written in the negative indicates little scholarship. The Church accepts the works of Origen that promote a belief in the re-embodiment of the soul. As such, are accepting some of the teachings and simultaneously rejecting others, which would lead us to discount the only catechism reference having to do with reincarnation.
That this doctrine, so necessary to the understanding of life, should still be ignored by even the most liberal Western Christian denominations is astonishing. The true Doctrine of the Soul's Pre-existence or the belief in Reincarnation is the most important and significant teaching the Churches of Christendom could universally disseminate today.
Some of the apocryphal books of the bible state the esoteric teachings of Jesus: But, if he shall have sinned once, twice or thrice, they (angels/spiritual guides) shall reject that soul sending it back again into the world according to the form of the sin that it committed.[v]
The readings of the Saints will give you further background: Origen, St. Francis of Assisi, Johannes Scotus Erigena, Thomas Campanella, O.P., St. Francis Xavier, St. Bonaventure, St. Ignatius Loyola and others will make you aware of the astonishing truth hidden from view these many centuries.
NOTE: As part of this research, I discovered the writings of Procopius who was the historian during Justinian's and Theodora's reign. He wrote a Secret History that was to be published after his death, revealing scandal after scandal. In it he describes that just like Domitian and Nero, Justinian was to be a "demon-emperor" who was dedicated to destroying humanity. His fellow demon, Theodora helped and directed him. Among the alleged crimes were murder, plunder of the wealthy, oppressive taxation of the poor, and destruction of Roman customs. Procopius says of the empress that she is a woman exclusively motivated by vanity and any one who dared cross her suffered untold horrors. He describes her youth as a prostitute who also engaged in obscene stage performances.
Look for PART II in our next edition.
To receive a free document regarding references to Hypnosis in Scripture contact Fr. Marty at the e-mail address below.
1 CE refers to Common Era as opposed to AD meaning the year of our Lord, scholars today prefer the CE to be politically correct.
ii1993, Macmillan, N.Y.
iii2 Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, pgs. 308-309 and Vol. 11, pg 311.
iv July, 1994
v Sophia 4

Fr Martin J. Patton - Fellow IMDHA - FrMarty_Patton@fuse.net