Pop Patristic Reincarnation? A Critique of Origen’s Alleged Doctrine of Reincarnation
Issued Date: 25 Nov 2012
Abstract
This paper offers an analysis of popular contemporary claims that Origen proclaimed a theory of reincarnation. Establishing the difference, often based on linguistic subtleties, between a Platonic idea of the pre-existence of the soul and a generic definition of reincarnation as often conceived by mainstream parapsychology and Hindu beliefs, I argue that Origen’s conception of the self—being anchored in a clearly Biblical conception—is evidently distinct from the idea that an individual soul survives death and literally transmigrates into a new psycho-physical complex. When we pry into Origen’s actual writings on this topic, we can only conclude that he did not believe in reincarnation as such. The rejection of Origen’s doctrine on the soul, therefore, does not reflect an accurate reading of his teachings.
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2005 The Soul and Spirit of Scripture within Origen’s Exegesis. Boston: Brill Academic Publishers.
Clark, Elizabeth.
1992 The Origenist Controversy: The Cultural Construction of an Early Christian
Debate.
Couture, André.
2000 La Réincarnation au-delà des idées recues. Paris: Editions de L’Atelier.
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1985 Origen. Translated by A. S. Worral. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark Ltd.
1988 “Theological Construction and Research: Origen on Freewill.” In Scriptural Tradition and Reason: A Study in the Criteria of Christian Doctrine. Edited by B. Drewery and R. Bauckham, 239–265. Edinburgh: T & T Clark
Edwards, M. J.
2002 Origen Against Plato. Aldershot: Ashgate.
2005 “La Réincarnation et l’occident, I: De Platon a Origène.” Journal of Ecclesiastical History 56: 546–547. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0022046905354388
Goldberg, Philip.
2010 American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation—How Indian Spirituality Changed the West. New York: Crown Books.
Harl, Marguerite.
1993 Le Déchiffrement du sens: Etudes sur l’herméneutique chrétienne d’Origène à Grégoire de Nysse. Paris: Institut d’Etudes Augustiennes.
Henne, Philippe.
2004 Introduction à Origène suivie d’une Anthologie. Paris: Cerf.
2010 La Bible et les Pères: Parcours historique de l’utilisation des Ecritures dans les premiers siècles de l’Eglise. 2010. Paris: Cerf.
Hombergen, Daniel.
2001 The Second Origenist Controversy: A New Perspective on Cyril of Scythopolis’ Monastic Biographies as Historical Sources for Sixth-Century Origenism. Rome: Centro Studi S. Anselmo.
Hubaut, Michel.
1998 Croire en la réincarnation? Brussels: Desclée de Brouwer.
Junod, E.
1993 “L’Apologie pour Origène de Pamphile et la naissance de l’Origénisme.” Studia Patristica 26: 267-286.
Origen.
1966 On First Principles, Book I, Chapter VIII. Translated by B.W. Butterworth. New York: Harper & Row.
Poirier, Paul Hubert.
1992 “Observations sur les témoignages des Pères de l’Eglise invoqués en faveur de la réincarnation.” In La Réincarnation: théories, science ou croyance?, 51–63. Montreal: Editions Paulines.
Poupin, Roland.
2000 Les Cathares, l’Ame et la Réincarnation. Portet-sur-Garonne: Loubatières.
Rath, Noel.
1998 La Réincarnation: La réponse chrétienne. Paris: Cerf.
Tzamalikos, Panaylotis.
2006 Origen: Cosmology and Ontology of Time. Leiden: Brill.
2007 Origen: Philosophy of History and Eschatology. Leiden: Brill. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/ej.9789004156487.i-498
Uebersax ,John S.
n.d. “Early Christianity and Reincarnation: Modern Misrepresentation of Quotes by Origen.” (http://www.john-uebersax.com/plato/origen1.htm, retrieved on August 24, 2012).
Walter, Tony and Helen Waterhouse.
1999 “A Very Private Belief: Reincarnation in Contemporary England.” Sociology of Religion 60: 187–197. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3711748
Weil, Simone.
1957 Ecrits de londres et dernieres lettres. Paris: Gallimard.
2005 The Soul and Spirit of Scripture within Origen’s Exegesis. Boston: Brill Academic Publishers.
Clark, Elizabeth.
1992 The Origenist Controversy: The Cultural Construction of an Early Christian
Debate.
Couture, André.
2000 La Réincarnation au-delà des idées recues. Paris: Editions de L’Atelier.
Crouzel, Henri.
1985 Origen. Translated by A. S. Worral. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark Ltd.
1988 “Theological Construction and Research: Origen on Freewill.” In Scriptural Tradition and Reason: A Study in the Criteria of Christian Doctrine. Edited by B. Drewery and R. Bauckham, 239–265. Edinburgh: T & T Clark
Edwards, M. J.
2002 Origen Against Plato. Aldershot: Ashgate.
2005 “La Réincarnation et l’occident, I: De Platon a Origène.” Journal of Ecclesiastical History 56: 546–547. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0022046905354388
Goldberg, Philip.
2010 American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation—How Indian Spirituality Changed the West. New York: Crown Books.
Harl, Marguerite.
1993 Le Déchiffrement du sens: Etudes sur l’herméneutique chrétienne d’Origène à Grégoire de Nysse. Paris: Institut d’Etudes Augustiennes.
Henne, Philippe.
2004 Introduction à Origène suivie d’une Anthologie. Paris: Cerf.
2010 La Bible et les Pères: Parcours historique de l’utilisation des Ecritures dans les premiers siècles de l’Eglise. 2010. Paris: Cerf.
Hombergen, Daniel.
2001 The Second Origenist Controversy: A New Perspective on Cyril of Scythopolis’ Monastic Biographies as Historical Sources for Sixth-Century Origenism. Rome: Centro Studi S. Anselmo.
Hubaut, Michel.
1998 Croire en la réincarnation? Brussels: Desclée de Brouwer.
Junod, E.
1993 “L’Apologie pour Origène de Pamphile et la naissance de l’Origénisme.” Studia Patristica 26: 267-286.
Origen.
1966 On First Principles, Book I, Chapter VIII. Translated by B.W. Butterworth. New York: Harper & Row.
Poirier, Paul Hubert.
1992 “Observations sur les témoignages des Pères de l’Eglise invoqués en faveur de la réincarnation.” In La Réincarnation: théories, science ou croyance?, 51–63. Montreal: Editions Paulines.
Poupin, Roland.
2000 Les Cathares, l’Ame et la Réincarnation. Portet-sur-Garonne: Loubatières.
Rath, Noel.
1998 La Réincarnation: La réponse chrétienne. Paris: Cerf.
Tzamalikos, Panaylotis.
2006 Origen: Cosmology and Ontology of Time. Leiden: Brill.
2007 Origen: Philosophy of History and Eschatology. Leiden: Brill. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/ej.9789004156487.i-498
Uebersax ,John S.
n.d. “Early Christianity and Reincarnation: Modern Misrepresentation of Quotes by Origen.” (http://www.john-uebersax.com/plato/origen1.htm, retrieved on August 24, 2012).
Walter, Tony and Helen Waterhouse.
1999 “A Very Private Belief: Reincarnation in Contemporary England.” Sociology of Religion 60: 187–197. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3711748
Weil, Simone.
1957 Ecrits de londres et dernieres lettres. Paris: Gallimard.
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