Expert: Robert Waxman - 8/30/2009

Question
Bob, does Kabbalah teach pre existence of the soul? and if so, my question extends further. If Christianity and Judaism are part of the same teachings why isn't the pre existence of the soul taught in modern Christianity?

Answer
John,

Good question.

The Zohar (primary Kabbalistic text) teaches transmigration of the soul and six incarnations on earth.

Please understand that traditional Judaism does not offer the same teaching, nor does literal Judaism teach any form of reincarnation. This is a philosophical fork in the road between the exoteric and esoteric systems.

Since traditional Christianity finds its roots in the Hebrew Bible, it is logical that the Council Of Nicea in 325 CE decided to prevent references to 'pre-existence of the soul' from being included in The New Testament (there are many other theological reasons for this omission as well). However, these writers did not delete one interesting reference to the pre-existence of the soul. When Jesus refers to John the Baptist as 'Elijah' - who was not recognized, Matt. 11.14-15 - there is an inference of pre-existence. There are also two other minor references to reincarnation in The New Testament - but, they're not as convincing as this one. http://www.reincarnation.ws/reincarnation_in_the_new_testament.html

Many individuals refer to reincarnation as 'the lost chord of Christianity'. However, since no one can definitively prove anything about reincarnation (although Dr. Ian Stevenson comes close in his book, "20 Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation") - it's difficult to understand why it's such a threatening concept to so many people in the West. Conversely, one would think that a brand new soul being stuck with 'original sin' (from day 1) would be a much more terrifying idea.

On the other hand, what if 'original sin' were not 'original', but just the continuation of pre-existing behavioral attributes that are connected to the soul? and what if 'sin' (meaning: to miss the mark) is really our accumulated Karma which the soul is trying to expend during the lifetime? From this perspective, the Kabbalistic and early Christian/Gnostic ideas concerning reincarnation may not be so far apart.

From Wikipedia: "Additionally, there is evidence that some of the earliest Christian sects such as the Sethians and followers of the Gnostic Church of Valentinus believed in reincarnation, and they were persecuted by the Romans for this.[28]"

Excellent question - hope I've been of help to you...all the best, Bob