The Western Doctrine of Reincarnation. A Critique From the Point of View of Catholic Theology

Seminar paper from the year 2002 in the subject Theology - Comparative Religion Studies, grade: 1,0, RWTH Aachen University (Philosophisches Institut), course: 'Über die Seele III: Weltseele - Seelenwanderung - Parapsychologie', language: English, abstract: In this contribution I am not looking for confrontation with those who believe in a doctrine of reincarnation. Nor do I want to be a dogmatic know-all or the kind of person who superciliously dismisses the faith-context of two world religions (i.e., Hinduism and Buddhism). Explicity, what I am offering is a clear, positive statement of the Christian faith itself, which has been increasingly called into question in our society in recent decades. Unfortunately this questioning goes hand-in-hand with a (by now) widespread religious indifference on the part even of those of our fellow-citizens who regard themselves - in the broadest sense - as adherents of the Christian religion. My critique is therefore quite deliberately addressed to those within the Christian fold who would attempt to fabricate a western-style syncretizing version of the doctrine of reincarnation and amalgamate it with Christian convictions.

Frank Drescher, geb. am 18.10.1975 in Duisburg. Studium der kath. Theologie, Philosophie und Religionswissenschaft in Münster und Rom. Magister Artium im Jahr 2010 mit einer Arbeit über den Zen-Buddhismus. Anschließend für einige Jahre Berufstätigkeit in der freien Wirtschaft, zuletzt in Irland. Im Jahr 2019 Abschluss eines Zusatzstudiums in Theologie der Spiritualität an der Päpstlichen Universität Gregoriana in Vorbereitung auf den priesterlichen Dienst im Erzbistum Dublin.