Editing Afterlife (section)

===Reincarnation===
{{main|Reincarnation}}

Reincarnation is the philosophical or religious concept that an aspect of a living being starts a new life in a different [[physical body]] or form after each death. This concept is also known as rebirth or transmigration and is part of the [[Saṃsāra]]/karma doctrine of cyclic existence. Samsara refers to the process in which souls ([[jiva]]s) go through a sequence of human and animal forms. Traditional Hinduism teaches that each life helps the soul (jivas) learn until the soul becomes purified to the point of [[Moksha|liberation]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Aiken |first=Lewis R. |url=https://archive.org/details/dyingdeathbereav0000aike_h4a8 |title=Dying, death, and bereavement |date=2000 |publisher=Lawrence Erlbaum Associates |isbn=0-585-30171-9 |edition=4th |location=Mahwah, NJ |oclc=45729833 |url-access=registration}}</ref> All major [[Indian religions]], namely [[Buddhism]], [[Hinduism]], [[Jainism]], and [[Sikhism]] have their own interpretations of the idea of reincarnation.<!--{{Sfn|Mark Juergensmeyer|Wade Clark Roof|2011|pp=271-272}}{{sfn|Stephen J. Laumakis|2008|pp=90–99}}--><ref name="Gross1993p148">{{cite book|author=Rita M. Gross |title=Buddhism After Patriarchy: A Feminist History, Analysis, and Reconstruction of Buddhism |url=https://archive.org/details/buddhismafterpat00gros |url-access=registration |year=1993|publisher=State University of New York Press|isbn=978-1-4384-0513-1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/buddhismafterpat00gros/page/148 148]}}</ref> The human idea of reincarnation is found in many diverse ancient cultures,<!--{{Sfn|Norman C. McClelland|2010|pp=102–03}}--><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Anakwue |first=Nicholas Chukwudike |date=2018-02-22 |title=The African Origins of Greek Philosophy: Ancient Egypt in Retrospect |journal=Phronimon |volume=18 |pages=167–180 |doi=10.25159/2413-3086/2361 |issn=2413-3086|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=McClelland |first=Norman |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S_Leq4U5ihkC |title=Encyclopedia of Reincarnation and Karma |publisher=McFarland |year=2018 |isbn=978-0786456758 |pages=1–320 |language=English}}</ref> and a belief in rebirth/[[metempsychosis]] was held by historic Greek figures, such as [[Pythagoras]] and [[Plato]].<ref>see Charles Taliaferro, Paul Draper, Philip L. Quinn, ''A Companion to Philosophy of Religion''. John Wiley and Sons, 2010, p. 640, [https://books.google.com/books?id=SSCx-67Tk6cC&pg=PA640 Google Books]

For Plato, see Kamtekar 2016 and Campbell 2022.

Kamtekar, Rachana. "The Soul's (After-) Life," ''Ancient Philosophy'' 36 (2016): 1–18.

Campbell, Douglas R. "Plato's Theory of Reincarnation: Eschatology and Natural Philosophy," ''Review of Metaphysics'' 75 4 (2022): 643–665.</ref> It is a common belief of various ancient and modern religions, such as [[Kardecist spiritism|Spiritism]], [[Theosophy (Boehmian)|theosophy]], and [[Eckankar]]. It is found as well in many tribal societies around the world, in places such as Australia, East Asia, [[Siberia]], and South America.<ref>Gananath Obeyesekere, ''Imagining Karma: Ethical Transformation in Amerindian, Buddhist, and Greek Rebirth''. University of California Press, 2002, p. 15.</ref>
[[File:Traditional bhavachakra wall mural of Yama holding the wheel of life, Buddha pointing the way out.jpg|thumb|alt=This Bhavachakra mural depicts the six realms of existence for reincarnation in Buddhism, with Yama holding the Wheel of Life.|The twelve nidanas in Buddhist artwork]]
[[File:Aztec - Mask - Walters 2009201.jpg|thumb|alt=Aztec wooden mask|Aztec mask depicting transformation and rebirth]]

Although the majority of denominations within the [[Abrahamic religions]] of Judaism, Christianity, and [[Islam]] do not believe that individuals reincarnate, particular groups within these religions do refer to reincarnation; these groups include the mainstream historical and contemporary followers of [[Kabbalah]], the [[Catharism|Cathars]], [[Alawites]], the [[Druze]],<ref>Hitti, Philip K (2007) [1924]. ''[[iarchive:originsofdruzepe0000hitt|Origins of the Druze People and Religion, with Extracts from their Sacred Writings (New Edition)]]''. Columbia University Oriental Studies. '''28'''. London: Saqi. pp. 13–14. {{ISBN|0-86356-690-1}}</ref> and the [[Rosicrucians]].<ref name=":1">[[Max Heindel|Heindel, Max]] (1985) [1939, 1908] ''[[iarchive:rosicrucianchris0000hein|The Rosicrucian Christianity Lectures (Collected Works)]]'': [http://www.rosicrucian.com/rcl/rcleng01.htm#lecture1 The Riddle of Life and Death] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629063357/http://www.rosicrucian.com/rcl/rcleng01.htm#lecture1 |date=29 June 2010 }}. Oceanside, California. 4th edition. {{ISBN|0-911274-84-7}}</ref> The historical relations between these sects and the beliefs about reincarnation that were characteristic of [[neoplatonism]], [[Orphism (religion)|Orphism]], [[Hermeticism]], [[Manicheanism]], and [[Gnosticism]] of the [[Roman era]] as well as the Indian religions have been the subject of scholarly research.<ref>An important recent work discussing the mutual influence of ancient Greek and Indian philosophy regarding these matters is ''[[The Shape of Ancient Thought]]'' by [[Thomas McEvilley]].</ref> [[Unity Church]] and its founder [[Charles Fillmore (Unity Church)|Charles Fillmore]] teach reincarnation.

Rosicrucians<ref name=":1" /> speak of a [[life review]] period occurring immediately after death and before entering the afterlife's [[Plane (esotericism)|planes of existence]] (before the [[silver cord]] is broken), followed by a [[Last Judgment#Esoteric Christian traditions|judgment]], more akin to a final review or end report over one's life.<ref>Max Heindel, [http://www.rosicrucian.com/zineen/death5.htm Death and Life in Purgatory] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060711223116/http://www.rosicrucian.com/zineen/death5.htm |date=11 July 2006 }}—[http://www.rosicrucian.com/zineen/death6.htm Life and Activity in Heaven] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060711223133/http://www.rosicrucian.com/zineen/death6.htm |date=11 July 2006 }}</ref>