I believe in reincarnation. Question

[Roseeurekacross]

Engaging in any type of psychic activity is dabbling with evil. God teaches us that. God clearly states it in His Bible, His revelation to us of what we need for our Salvation.

 

[Cloisters]

Please be careful with judgement concerning empathy/intuition. Prophesy is a gift of the Holy Ghost. Also, persons who have been abused can develop psychic abilities in order to better protect themselves. Persons who have grown up in less-than-desirable neighborhoods have also had their intuition piqued.

I know of a woman with Autism Spectrum Disorder who is an intuitive. She can tell parents what’s going on inside their Down Syndrome children – from a distance.

One reason why persons with autism avoid crowds is because they are too empathic. Because of our neural wiring, we have the capability of picking up on stuff that neurotypicals miss.

I was told about a medical intuitive who wasn’t of any particular religion. A priest-friend, whose mother was a mystic, told me about the lady. Before doctors knew what was wrong, this woman had nailed it on the head.

Anyone with gifts like this should consecrate them to Our Lady so that the devil will not have influence.

 

[Roseeurekacross]

Prophesy is a gift of the Holy Ghost.

Prophecy these days is witnessing Jesus and carrying that forward.
Beware false prophets.

Also, persons who have been abused can develop psychic abilities in order to better protect themselves.

God clearly tells us to avoid and reject the use of psychic anything, so does Catechism.
The urge to survival heightens awareness. So rather then going past an object that we don’t expect to be there, and therefore don’t see, or an object that has been there for a long time, therefore we don’t see it, for example,
we actually become acutely aware of that object. Or its missing.

One reason why persons with autism avoid crowds is because they are too empathic. Because of our neural wiring, we have the capability of picking up on stuff that neurotypicals miss

Do you have scientific evidence of this?

I was told about a medical intuitive who wasn’t of any particular religion. A priest-friend, whose mother was a mystic, told me about the lady. Before doctors knew what was wrong, this woman had nailed it on the head.

Again if anything psychic or any powers were employed here, it is not from God. That is clear in the Bible and in our Sacred Tradition.

Anyone with gifts like this should consecrate them to Our Lady so that the devil will not have influence.

Anyone who believes they are a mystic or experiencing anything should be taking it to their Parish Priest for discernment. Subjectivity is the enemy of discernment and rejection of evil.

And

Prophesy is a gift of the Holy Ghost.

Again that is a case for discernment with the Parish Priest first if it is outside what we are all called to do as a result of our Baptism.

The prince of lies makes everything seem so polite, sweet, valid, normal. It is so easy for people to get led astray , believing subjectively all is fine.

A true mystic with charisms and gifts from God, would also be 100% with Catholic Doctrine and Dogma, Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. This is one of the fruits of their work. They also have their eyes totally on Jesus.
Look at the Jesus prayer. It is to be contemplated with the total rejection of anything that enters the mind to distract the person praying. Whether that person believes what is entering their mind is revelation, prophecy, or from temptation to cease praying.

 

[ColorMomma]

From what I’ve learned, our memories have been scientifically proven to be unreliable. It may be well to do more research on this. Here is one such article.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4183265/

 

[Asthmalady]

God clearly tells us to avoid and reject the use of psychic anything, so does Catechism.

I think it might be beneficial for the conversation if you would define what you mean by psychic…

 

[jack63]

I’m Catholic. I don’t believe in reincarnation, but I’ve certainly struggled with Catholic teachings on their being no reincarnation. On some levels I can empathize with you. A few questions and comments…some are personal questions…so perhaps you can take those as rhetorical.

1. Have you ever really lost somebody you loved? I think this would change your perspective dramatically. To see a loved one die and then think that a child born a few years later is the same “person” or “soul”. In the core of who I am, that is not something I’m ok with. It is hard to explain why. Sometimes it just has to be experienced.
2. There are people out there who claim to remember past lives. People give this as proof of reincarnation. Some say these people are coached, making it up, or even possessed…who knows…all of those are possible. However, even if these “memories” of a past life are real and coming from a good place spiritually, you’re making a dramatic jump to say “past life memories” = “proof of reincarnation”. Hundreds of years ago people saw a flat field and assumed the entire earth was flat, and they were scared to sail too far from their home.
3. Try reading some philosophy. Specifically Pierre Teilhard de Chardin SJ’s Phenomenon of Man. He was a Jesuit Catholic Priest…that book was written posthumously…it was not allowed in the 1950s. However, the catholic church has warmed up to Teilhard. Both Pope Francis and Benedict have said positive things about Teilhard and his work. It’s a tough read, but his view paints the world in a way where reincarnation is no longer necessary or makes sense. Teilhard’s work gave me a great deal of peace.

 

[Asthmalady]

Have you ever really lost somebody you loved? I think this would change your perspective dramatically. To see a loved one die and then think that a child born a few years later is the same “person” or “soul”. In the core of who I am, that is not something I’m ok with. It is hard to explain why. Sometimes it just has to be experienced.

Yes, I have. My dad. He wasn’t ready to go emotionally (or spiritually, if I had to guess…) and I’d be fine with him being reborn. In fact it wouldn’t shock me at all to learn that he has been. I have a family member born shortly after his passing with wildly coincidental traits. Not normal similarity. Wild similarity. Maybe it’s wishful thinking. Shrug.

There are people out there who claim to remember past lives.

Yea, you’re kinda talking to one. Not exactly… but sort of. Too complicated to explain here. Anyway, if a past life memory was real and coming from a good place spiritually how would it be a dramatic jump to say “past life memories? = proof of reincarnation?” I don’t want to debate, there’s not much point in that, but I am curious what else a true past life memories would point to? I’m serious. There might be a concept I don’t know about.

Try reading some philosophy. Specifically Pierre Teilhard de Chardin SJ’s Phenomenon of Man.

I enjoy philosophy and I’ve not heard of this. I will give it a look. Thanks!

 

[Cloisters]

My intuition and I have been supported by the clergy. The priest whose mother is a mystic started asking me for insights regarding one of his directees.

There’s such a thing as the discernment of spirits, which has to be done with each inspiration received.

The kinds of psychics discussed in the Bible are the non-Christian soothsayers. God wanted the Hebrews to go to Him and His judges and prophets, and not to the pagans.

As for scientific evidence, I am quoting other women with autism from a Yahoo group to which I used to belong. As for vibes, I was told in surgical rotation to go off the vibes in the room. If the surgeon was up against complications, our speaking could cost the patient their lives.

 

[jack63]

Anyway, if a past life memory was real and coming from a good place spiritually how would it be a dramatic jump to say “past life memories? = proof of reincarnation?” I don’t want to debate, there’s not much point in that, but I am curious what else a true past life memories would point to? I’m serious. There might be a concept I don’t know about.

There were certainly concepts I didn’t know about when I read the Phenomenon of Man. Teillhard was a paleontologist who tried to tackle evolution as a spiritual journey (abit oversimplified of an explanation but close enough) and at same time Teilhard tried to tackle Friedrich Nietzsche. Admittedly, I struggled following part of the book. What I did follow was profound. Like I said, part of Teilhard’s books were a response to Nietzsche’s “Beyond good and evil” and “Thus spoke Zarathustra”. I don’t agree with Nietzsche on much…Nietzsche was highly critical of Christianity. However, the discussion of the nature of the “soul” in the interplay between Nietzsche and Teilhard in very interesting…perhaps come to your own conclusions. Both these guys would find the idea of reincarnation antiquated and doing way more harm than good…they would agree on that at least.

 

[Roseeurekacross]

The same one used by the Catholic Church and those who have used the word in this thread.

 

[Roseeurekacross]

If the woman is indeed a mystic, it is a matter for the Catholic Church and the clergy. You state this priest had a mother who there are suggestions is a mystic. However you state the Priest was not asking you for insights over her. And I would think not. Discernment of the Spirits means to discern what comes to us and from who or what. If the revelation we believe we have had does not represent Catholic Doctrine and Dogma, its a pretty sure thing, its not of any Holy Spirit derived revelation.
Discernment of the Spirit is Discernment of revelation of the Holy Spirit in the Church and our lives, or something not beneficial.

Yahoo is not scientific evidence. Vibes in a room could really mean anything.

We are Catholic, we must stand for what the Church teaches and not fall for any polite, sweet and innocent looking revelation that will led us down the wide path to destruction.

As with all the saints who were mystics, obedience to the Church is first, and discernment with Clergy.

New age philosophies, and media depictions such as shows like Medium are a great danger in the introduction of error.

Keep our eyes on Jesus, do not look sideways and subscribe to any else.

 

[mrsdizzyd]

Can I ask you a basic question: why (for what purpose) are we reincarnated according to your belief system?

One of my closest friends believes in reincarnation. Her belief is philosophical.

 

[Cloisters]

I said that those on the Yahoo group/listserv were the ones discussing their being overwhelmed with what they were picking up from others, hence keeping distance.

In a Catholic Christian manner, my organization will be researching the empathic abilities of Spectrum persons.

The autism research people over in Chapel Hill are still prioritizing studies of adults on the Spectrum, and may or may not be supportive of what we’re doing.

Vibes in a surgical suite are very important to the patient surviving the surgery. If you’ve never been in that situation, I ask that prejudice be avoided.

I’ve done what I can in this thread. Therefore, I withdraw.

 

[Dorothy]

The fallen angels are busy with placing doubts in believers minds about the truths of the faith.

In the past I heard of people who could go back and talk about their past lives. This is not true.

Be aware that the fallen angels tell each other about people who have died, and know many things about people since Adam and Eve. The fallen angels are liars and deceivers, who with malice want to divert the minds of believers from the fullness of truth that Our Lord Jesus Christ gave us.

 

[Gorgias]

Is there a way I can say this that won’t get me pigeon holed into the new age? Because every time I reach out that seems to happen…

Yeah… and I’m not blaming you, but I’m just pointing out that, when what you say sounds like what others who call it by a different name also say… well, you have to let it roll off your back. “Duck test”, and all that…

When you call it a ‘charism’, though, that frames it up in a different way. However, if you want to frame it up that way, you have to approach it in the way that Christian charisms work, don’t you? (That is, as gifts of the Holy Spirit that build up the Church of Christ.) If not, then calling them ‘charisms’ really doesn’t work, and you have to fall back on other descriptions.

The practical upshot, I think, is that the way you perceive of them is important to the way we (who hear your description) perceive of them, right? I know that doesn’t help you decide how to describe them… but it might help in knowing how not to describe them. Is this something that builds up the Church? Or, is it something that is characteristic of you specifically (which, even if you don’t use the word “special”, it really does imply that!), and which you are able to use as you choose? Or, perhaps, is it something that is relevant to your worldview and spirituality? The way you frame it up really is significant!

It’s an interesting question… but, to be fair, it’s tangential to what you’re asking in this thread.

I suspect the answer to your question might be able to be resolved by asking “is Christ who He says He is?”. If He is, then any doubts we have that conflict with His statements are moot, aren’t they? If He isn’t, then I guess the question becomes “why do you think He isn’t who He says He is?”

 

[Dovekin]

New Age are: ancient Egyptian occult practices, Cabbalism, early Christian gnosticism, Sufism, the lore of the Druids, Celtic Christianity, mediaeval alchemy, Renaissance hermeticism, Zen Buddhism, Yoga and so on.

This is a blatant misquote of the named source, which says “Some of the traditions that flow into New Age are:”

Better yet is the description in the next paragraph:

The rejection of modernity underlying this desire for change is not new, but can be described as “a modern revival of pagan religions with a mixture of influences from both eastern religions and also from modern psychology, philosophy, science, and the counterculture that developed in the 1950s and 1960s”.

I think that is too limited a definition, since it does not include traditional Christian ideas that also are present. The authors like to use “New Age” as a broad brush that mars every tradition it touches.

 

[Asthmalady]

n a Catholic Christian manner, my organization will be researching the empathic abilities of Spectrum persons.

That is fascinating research! I just wanted to tell you that. Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut on this thread.

 

[Asthmalady]

The practical upshot, I think, is that the way you perceive of them is important to the way we (who hear your description) perceive of them, right?

Hi Gorgias - thanks for the perspective. I wasn’t sure what part of your response to quote because it was all useful. I chose to present it using the word charism and then say “powers” because they are the closest things to equate from one end of the perspective to the other I guess. I had hoped that the quote marks would denote sarcasm since I don’t believe these experiences come from me.

I think the real problem is the issue freaks everyone out, sometimes including me. And I agree it was a tangent, my life is just a big conglomeration of weird issues at the moment. To me they all inter-play but I’m sure others look at it and think, “wait… what?”

Anyway, thank you!

 

[Asthmalady]

Can I ask you a basic question: why (for what purpose) are we reincarnated according to your belief system?

One of my closest friends believes in reincarnation. Her belief is philosophical.

Absolutely. That is a big basic question though! I will try to be brief.

I believe our spiritual goal is heaven… but we’re humans so we constantly fall short. I also believe in purgatory, but I believe that reincarnation is actually the “place” where purgatory happens. We return to life as humans and learn how to be more perfect until we get it right. That’s the quick and dirty version.

To me, this helps explain inequities between things like how a person who grows up in a terrible place and has to do terrible things to survive and a different person who grows up wealthy in an ideal place with a religious upbringing and good spiritual life could end up both in heaven some day.

Again, that’s very simplified.

 

[mrsdizzyd]

Interesting.

So how does confession fit in especially in light of scriptures such as:

9 If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭9-10‬ NRSV-CI)

And

23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭23‬ NRSV-CI)

?