Religion and Past Life Theory
People ask me all the time, can traditional religious theology go along with past life theory of multiple lives that is one soul but multiple lifetimes? And the answer is yes BUT! Many religions from Catholicism to Judaism to Protestantism all have a fundamental set of beliefs around life and death which includes God, loving kindness to others, ritual participation, death and “heaven.” As one of my dearest friends explained to me about her Catholic faith: “I’m going to die and go to the loving arms of Jesus.” When we discussed the central tenet in PLR that people have multiple lives to learn multiple life lessons to approach oneness with God, she balked: “Absolutely not, I don’t want to do this again, this one life was difficult enough! Multiple life theory doesn’t fit into traditional Catholic theology!” I laughed and said: “I get your point.”
This is a contentious issue and a significant point of departure with the major Judeo-Christian religions. Of course, having said that, it is important to point out that PLR does not conflict with some Eastern religions that have as their basic tenet reincarnation. The very idea of past lives requires some getting used to in today’s challenging times of “woke society.” This involves an internal process of self-questioning and self-discovery that cannot be rushed. If you are a religious person then the underlying principles within your religion are critical and important to your faith. PLR theory does not require or demand that you undermine your religious beliefs or compromise your religious faith. This is probably a new idea for many people, so read and think about the issue as much as you can. Start with Dr. Brian Weiss and consider his journey of self-discovery and self-awareness when he met his patient Catherine and hypnotized her in therapy. This is a personal journey, and there are no time requirements involved. Let the idea of multiple lives ‘sit” in your consciousness and read how other searchers have faced their “wall of faith” and tunneled under it or climbed over it to another perspective of acceptance or even rejection. In Past Lives Denied, Professor Caitlyn Morrys kept pushing her memories away until she was faced with a crisis that she had to face and address. Caitlyn’s lover, Ashford Connor, rejects his memories as well as his love for Caitlyn as “whacky and controlling.” The harder he pushes and tries to cut himself off, the more he is haunted by his own internal struggle; ultimately, he can’t escape himself.
The process may not be so intense or challenging for you.