Reincarnation and Catholicism

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Are reincarnation and teachings of The Church in any way compatible?
 
puravidagringo said:
Are reincarnation and teachings of The Church in any way compatible?
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No. We do not inherit our ulitimate destiny through a progression of lives until we get it right. It is Christ who saves us and we have this life only to either accept or reject his saving grace.
 
No, absolutely not. The idea of more than one ‘life’ is completely antithetical to Christian teachings.

Let’s imagine somebody, we’ll call him “Maximus” --his FIRST life was as a Roman soldier. He was a bully and a drunkard, raped many women, and persecuted Christians, killing them. He totally rejected salvation. . .in THAT life.

But in his NEXT life, he was Brother Fidelis, a simple Dominican monk who spent his life (as an acolyte ‘given’ to the abbey from his birth) in humble obedience to God. . .in fact, he was so saintly that there were even miracles worked in his name and he became ‘venerable’. In THAT life, he totally accepted salvation.

So, um, if the ‘goal’ of many lives is ultimately salvation, it seems that it ‘just took two’. . .but oops, while ONE life was acceptance and good, ONE was total depravity and rejection.’

And what are the consequences of the rejection of MAXIMUS? Do they ‘cancel out’ the acceptance of the venerable Fidelis? That isn’t fair. But neither is it ‘fair’ to let Maximus, as it were, ‘ride the coattails of Fidelis’ into heaven. Not to have MAXIMUS be responsible for his evil deeds. That isn’t very just to the people whom Maximus harmed, is it?

But at the same time, it would not be right to punish FIDELIS, who never did any wrong, would it?
 
If it were true that all of us have an undetermined chances until we get it “right” ( See Ike Post) and it is not - what would be the aim for this life in striving for perfection in the Christian life? This connection is a trap door to an unfulfilled life.
 
Scripture says that we are ONCE to die, and then go to judgement. There is nothing in Scripture, nor indeed in later Church teaching, that even suggests that one’s subsequent being can be changed by going through birth again. You die, roll back your eyes, and open them in Eternity. There are no retakes.

God Bless and ICXC NIKA
 
Christianity rejects all things esoteric or gnostic. We do not dispise the body, but recognise that it is as much a part of us as the spirit that enlivens us. We are human - body & spirit fused into a single entity.
 
ask.com/wiki/Reincarnation

Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body,** or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant.** This doctrine is a central tenet within the majority of Indian religious traditions, such as Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism; the Buddhist concept of rebirth is also often referred to as reincarnation.[1]

I don’t think I would want to come back as a plant. That belief actually says that the soul dies. You aren’t you anymore.
 
Thanks to all for the crisp, clear answers saying reincarnation and Catholicism are in no way compatible. I agree, but my very devout fiancee clings to a minority view. Does such a view rise to a serious level of error (like heresy) or is it just mistaken in a non-sinful way? If publicly stated, does it give scandal? As to the OP who said “it depends on what is meant by reincarnation,” I learned – but it was a long time ago – in moral theology class that the soul is the principle of life. When life is extinguished, the human soul is judged by God, and the reward or penalty admits of no second chances. The “souls” of other living things, I suppose, cease to exist? Or maybe they in some way have a second chance, but I doubt it. Further comments welcome and would be helpful. Thanks.
 
I’d say that, yes, it is a heresy; and it may not be “scandal” if stated outright, but it might well be an occasion of faith crisis or confusion to others.

The Church has not ruled on the final outcome of nonhuman souls. Suffice it to say that nonhuman souls never become human souls, and vice versa.

ICXC NIKA
 
puravidagringo said:
As to the OP who said “it depends on what is meant by reincarnation,” I learned – but it was a long time ago – in moral theology class that the soul is the principle of life. When life is extinguished, the human soul is judged by God, and the reward or penalty admits of no second chances.
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OK, but when you say “reincarnation”, what exactly are you thinking about? Or how does your fiancee conceptualize what “reincarnation” is?
 
In his November 1994 apostolic letter “Tertio Millennio Adveniente,” John Paul II writes:
vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_10111994_tertio-millennio-adveniente_en.html
“How are we to imagine life beyond death? Some have considered various forms of reincarnation: Depending on one’s previous life, one would receive a new life in either a higher or lower form until full purification is attained. This belief, deeply rooted in some Eastern religions, itself indicates that man rebels against the finality of death. He is convinced that his nature is essentially spiritual and immortal. Christian revelation excludes reincarnation and speaks of a fulfillment which man is called to achieve in the course of a single earthly existence” (No. 9). ZE03051703
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newadvent.org/cathen/08550a.htm
Dogma of particular judgment
The Catholic doctrine of the particular judgment is this: **that immediately after death the eternal destiny of each separated soul is decided by the just judgment of God **…
Union Decree of Eugene IV (1439), which declares that souls leaving their bodies in a state of grace, but in need of purification are cleansed in Purgatory, whereas souls that are perfectly pure are **at once **admitted to the beatific vision of the Godhead (ipsum Deum unum et trinum) and those who depart in actual mortal sin, or merely with original sin, are **at once **consigned to eternal punishment, the quality of which corresponds to their sin (paenis tamen disparibus).The doctrine is also in the profession of faith of Michael Palaeologus in 1274, in the Bull “Benedictus Deus” of Benedict XII, in 1336, and in the professions of faith of Gregory XIII and Benedict XIV.
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Catechism of the catholic church
1013 death is the end of man’s earthly pilgrimage, of the time of grace and mercy which god offers him so as to work out his earthly life in keeping with the divine plan, and to decide his ultimate destiny. When “the single course of our earthly life” is completed,586 we shall not return to other earthly lives: "it is appointed for men to die once."587 there is no “reincarnation” after death
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