Oh cruel fate, why was I born a dog? Options

[*My Cinderella.*]

Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and other religions believe in dharma, which is basically tasks that one needs to complete in their lifetime. Do you believe that the form of life something or someone takes (such as a fish or dog) represents how they acted in their past lives? For example, do you think that a rapist years back could be the roach in your kitchen to this day? Or on a positive outlook, a kind and generous poor man could reborn into the prince of Thailand. What do you think?

[*Uronacid*]

Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and other religions believe in dharma, which is basically tasks that one needs to complete in their lifetime. Do you believe that the form of life something or someone takes (such as a fish or dog) represents how they acted in their past lives? For example, do you think that a rapist years back could be the roach in your kitchen to this day? Or on a positive outlook, a kind and generous poor man could reborn into the prince of Thailand. What do you think?

I don't know, but I hate rapists. Now that I know that rapists become roaches, I'm going to pull the legs off of every roach I see.

I'm not sure which branch of Christianity it was, but it shouldn't matter too much since the essential teachings of all of the denominations should be rather similar. I mean, this was probably before many of the denominations existed.

The only things that Christians agree upon is that Jesus, and God. There are so many different perceptions of the Bible that you really do need to specify. I know that my Church has never had a teaching on reincarnation. I don't think that the Catholic church (the largest sect. of Christianity) has ever held teachings to uphold the idea of reincarnation.

You're talking about a tiny little "misguided" denomination of Christianity... I just don't think you should refer to the whole. Also, I don't know, but that seems like a bad example. You should really have a source or something, because it seems like your just trying to recall a blurry memory.

[Simba]

The only things that Christians agree upon is that Jesus, and God. There are so many different perceptions of the Bible that you really do need to specify. I know that my Church has never had a teaching on reincarnation. I don't think that the Catholic church (the largest sect. of Christianity) has ever held teachings to uphold the idea of reincarnation.

You're talking about a tiny little "misguided" denomination of Christianity... I just don't think you should refer to the whole. Also, I don't know, but that seems like a bad example. You should really have a source or something, because it seems like your just trying to recall a blurry memory.

Well, Origen being known as one of the father's of Christianity, you would think his influence was rather large.

Well, here's a wiki on Origen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origen#Origen...he_later_Church

Though, it's a wiki, so who knows how reliable that information is. However, in the Contra Celsum, written by Origen, he writes:

Is it not rational that souls should be introduced into bodies, in accordance with their merits and previous deeds, and that those who have used their bodies in doing the utmost possible good should have a right to bodies endowed with qualities superior to the bodies or others?...

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.

Coincidentally, around 553 A.D. Origen was cursed by the church and people were told not to read Origen's books or to believe in reincarnation or else they would go to hell. Was this a certified condemnation? Probably not, so you probably wouldn't go to hell for something like reading that passage by Origen I provided up there.