Many people, regardless of their religious beliefs, believe in reincarnation and karma because these theories seem to explain many of life's mysteries. However, as readers of this excellent book will learn, there are other very credible explanations that explain why people are born with different advantages, disadvantages, and handicaps and account for what people believe to be past-life experiences.

All over the world, there are thinking people of all religious faiths that believe in the theory of reincarnation and karma, as these seem to provide an acceptable answer to many of life's mysteries; however, as readers of Joseph Murphy's book will discover, there are other perfectly plausible explanations that account for what people consider to be past-life experiences. It also explains why people are born into this world with differing advantages, disadvantages, and handicaps.

Cases of responsive xenoglossy thus add to the evidence concerning the survival of human personality after death.

Seminar paper from the year 2013 in the subject Theology - Hinduism, grade: 2,1, University of Hildesheim, language: English, abstract: The following paper will deal with the concept of the cycle of birth, death and rebirth in the Hindu religion, as Hindus, in contrary to the Western cultures and monotheistic religions, believe that there is life after death, and before the present life, there was a beforelife because they believe that it does not make sense that people suddenly appear from nowhere, meaning not the biological body, but the “soul” or the “spirit”. First, a definition of the different concepts of afterlife in different metaphysical models and of the term reincarnation from its semantic point of view and, how it is defined in other religions, will be given. Furthermore, Hinduism, itself, will be introduced, as it is important to understand the essence of this religion to be able to understand the concept of reincarnation. Additionally, the concept of reincarnation will be described. That includes the processes of birth, death and rebirth. Finally, the arguments in favor and against the theory of reincarnation will be discussed. The question, about what happens after death, is a philosophical one, which has been worrying humanity for centuries. By trying to categorize the different concepts, regarding what happens after death, three concepts, varying among cultures and religions, can be differentiated. First, there is the concept of denial which states that the existence of the individual ends with their death, as it is widely believed in the Western world. The second one is the concept of completion - in many religions, as, for example, in Christianity, the human life is seen as a preparation for a life after, somewhere else, in a different state of existence, like Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, Limbus, etc. And the third concept is the concept of rebirth, meaning that the mental part of the person, may it be called the “soul” or the “spirit”, is reborn many times in new bodies on earth.

Reincarnation in America: An Esoteric History surveys the complex history of reincarnation theories across multiple fields of discourse in a pre-American context, ranging from early Greek traditions to Medieval Christian theories, Renaissance esotericism, and European Kabbalah, all of which had adherents that brought those theories to America. Rebirth theories are shown in all these groups to be highly complex and often disjunctive with mainstream religions even though members of conventional religions frequently affirm the possibility of rebirth. As a history of an idea, reincarnation theory is a current, vital belief pattern that cuts across a wide spectrum of social, cultural, and scientific domains in a long, complex history not reducible to any specific religious or theoretical explanation. This book is cross-disciplinary and multicultural, linking religious studies perspectives with science based research; it draws upon many distinct disciplines and avoids reduction of reincarnation to any specific theory. The underlying thesis is to demonstrate the complexity of reincarnation theories; what is unique is the historical overview and the gradual shift away from religious theories of rebirth to new theories that are therapeutic and trans-traditional.

What if you found out that the life you're living today is not the only one you'll ever live, but just one of many? How would it change the way you look at the world around you and the people in it? In this objective and balanced look at one of the great mysteries of our age, you'll not only explore reincarnation's western roots and examine the compelling evidence to support it-as well as examine the chief objections to it offered by the scientific and religious communities-but explore the mechanics of reincarnation as well: how it works on a practical level, what it's trying to do on a spiritual level, and what it all means to you as you go about your day-to-day life. It's sure to not only get you thinking about your past, but will force you to consider your present and future in ways you never imagined possible before.

This volume offers an overview of Hinduism as found in India and the diaspora. Exploring Hinduism in India in dynamic interaction, rather than in isolation, the volume discusses the relation of Hinduism with other religions of Indian origin and with religions which did not originate in India but have been a major feature of its religious landscape. These latter religions include Islam and Christianity and, to a lesser extent, Zoroastrianism and Judaism. The volume also covers Hinduism’s close association with Tribal Religions, sometimes called Primal Religions. As its second main theme, the volume examines the phenomenon of Hinduism in the diaspora. The Indian diaspora is now beginning to make its presence felt, both in India and abroad. In India, the Indian government annually hosts a diaspora event called Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), in recognition of the growing importance of the twenty-million-strong diaspora. Although not all Indians are Hindus, most are, both in India and abroad, and a strong sense of Hindu identity is emerging among diasporic Hindus. This volume fills the need felt by Hindus both in India and the diaspora for more knowledge about modern-day Hinduism, Hindu history and traditions. It takes into account three main aspects of Hinduism: that the active pan-Indian and diasporic language of the Hindus is English; that modern Hindus need a rational rather than a devotional or traditional exposition of the religion; and that they need information about and arguments to address the stereotypes which characterize the presentation of Hinduism in academia and the media, especially in the West.