Expert: Michael Clark, Ph.D. - 12/24/2007

Question
As Christians, we believe in the RESURRECTION, not in the hypothesis of reincarnation. But Gnostic Christianity affirms reincarnation rather than resurrection.Do we go into heaven if we merely believe in Jesus? If that one just believe in Jesus so that they can go to heaven, isn't that out of fear and greed? Does this mean devotion to other religions like Kabbala/Buddhism won't lead you to heaven? Why it seems modern Christianity focus so much on faith in Jesus itself and not moral/relationship building? Shouldn't we love Jesus as much as we love others?

Answer
These are some good questions. In the New Testament Jesus says we should love God and love one another. I think the problem is that imperfect human beings often interpret this according to their personal biases. Thus conflicts among Christians arise. In my view, Gnostics tend to not appreciate the spirituality in organized religion. And those in organized religion often react negatively to things they don't understand.

As for other religions, only God knows what happens to these people.

I don't believe in reincarnation in terms of a single soul progressing through time by leaving and returning to bodies for a series of complete lifetimes. But it does seem that there might be some mysterious connection between the past, present and possibly even the future.

Some Christians don't like my mentioning the future as if it's already "out there" somehow. They say that God knows the future but it hasn't happened yet. While this could be true, I also think it's a statement made by regimented minds who feel uneasy with the idea that time isn't just a one-way vector but is perhaps more like an interactive field. New ways of thinking probably threaten them.