Reincarnation in Five Major World Religions
What do other religions think about reincarnation?
Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhists believe in the awareness of death and impermanence. This awareness leads to a life guided by the pursuit of value rather than impermanent pleasures.
Christianity
Most mainstream Christians do not believe in reincarnation.
Hinduism
Hindus believe in a life cycle that includes many rebirths based on karma, which is the law of cause and effect. The next life is always based on the karma — good or bad — created in this life.
Islam
Muslims do not believe in reincarnation; instead they believe that heaven or hell is a final destination.
Judaism
Traditional Judaism believes that the dead will be resurrected. Olam Ha-Ba (the World to Come) refers to the spiritual afterlife. The messiah will come to create a peaceful and prosperous world, where the righteous dead will resurrect and the wicked dead will not.
Photo caption: Yeshi Namkhai watches a dance performed in his honor during his enthronement ceremony (as the reincarnation of Khyentse Rinpoche)
Credit: Luigi Ottaviani
Sources:
» BBC. Religion.
» Beliefnet. "Reincarnation in Your Religion."
» Judaism 101.
» Religion Facts. "The Big Religion Chart."