Inquiry

The ability of those choosing to be locked into passed down religious traditions full of errors that are somehow considered ultimate truth are not likely to budge on their version of non-empiracal considerations. This would tend to drive them further into the fear that already obscures the truth that is all about them. Madam Blavatsky appears profoundly aware of this in her works appearing more than 120 years ago. Edgar Cayces' life appears to embody someone who although a devout Sunday school Bible teacher encountered aspects of his own being that rather demanded he seriously consider that something like reincarnation was always in effect but this has yet to have any significant acceptance by masses of "born again evangelicals" who continue to buy into the theological dupery of certain religious authority who still perceive great profit in keeping millions in the dark about the profound depths of truth that their brand of worship tends to deride as "pantheism" or paganism. This is quite ironic since the early church writers including some of the ancient Hebrews plagerized much of the pre existing "pagan" doctrines then demonized them as being of the "devil". These "pagan" beliefs included the idea of immaculate conception, casting out demons, and rising from the dead. It does appear that fear is a weapon still skillfully used to keep the spiritually naive from asking too many questions that may cause a loss of market share in their particular versions of cornering "Gods" favor. There is of course those whose mind although confounded has not been completly obliterated asks for some kind of Truth that will set them free from the falsehoods that passes for truth. These with some devotion will find books, movements, other religions that will tend to satisfy their spiritual curiosity if it hasn't been put to sleep by the droning of semiconscious zealots who tend to kill off those who don't fit their flocks. The fairly popular; A Course In Miracles  strongly implies that the God of the Christ cannot create anything that is not eternal and it further indicates that most beliefs eventually obscure the truth and that a belief in reincarnation is still an illusion from the view point of the Formless. For the most part the current "theistic" tradition will have to die out or evolve in order to allow such considerations as "reincarnation" any room in their view of the universe. Dr. David Hawkins has written some very interesting books on the levels of conciousness that generally concludes that only about four percent of the current world's population actually have the consciousness to effectively and sanely teach on the subject of God, Deity, or Transrational "facts". Many of these beings keep silent with the idea that the effect of the "Guru's grace"which is something like a morphogenetic field raises consciousness without speech.  Very Fortunately for those who tend to go along with KW's considerations. He is well within the top level of that 4 percent. 

Warner

I find the terra incognita  that this thread suggests rather fascinating. There is a DVD being advertised on the Integral Life site called "The Future of Christianity." When I saw this in the weekly update a week or so ago it really peaked my curiosity. I grew up in a household that was as dysfunctionally amber as it was Christian so as you might imagine I've had very little use or regard for conventional Christian views and practices in my adult life. Having been involved in the Integral dialog for some time now my capacity to "hold space" for amber outlooks, viewpoints and behaviors has increased markedly - rather than being so inclined to alienate myself from that segment of humanity.

I've struggled as well in dealing with notion of re-incarnation. Realizing, I think, that the notion that re-incarnation is something that one "believes in" is misleading. You must be capable of a level of realization that is beyond the conventional (orange) rational mind in order to deal with the truth of what the notion of re-incarnation has to offer. It is not something to be believed in. That being said I sincerely wonder if their might be a more enlightened future for Christianity ahead. The fact that KW, Thomas Keating and the rest of us are having this dialog is significant in and of itself. Mostly because we're involved in a process that is in fact integral. All of us who are involved in this dialog are very much done with theologies that control, distort or seek to limit our experience of the truth. So now what?

Thomas Keating can perhaps be said to be a person who, while still connected to a particular brand of cultural/spiritual transmission, is capable of playing in a sandbox that is much deeper or broader than amber. What does that say about the future of spiritual traditions such as Christianity and Islam? Or maybe the question should be why should the future of such institutions matter to the relatively small segment of the world population that is capable of and interested in functioning in an integral fashion?

Its a good question I think. Compassion goes a long way.

When considering whether or not it is possible to adopt the concept of reincarnation into western theistic traditions, I think we should first step back and consider the benefits and risks of doing so.  I think the concept of reincarnation can be an entirely healthy and useful one at centers of gravity orange or higher but at amber, I think it could be a very dangerous tool. 

Look at India and see how grossly misused the concept has helped the caste system endure (I recognize it is not the only factor at play but I think it does support it).  I think the last thing we need is fundamental ministers in Western traditions receiving even added authority from misuse of the concept in this, or similar manners.

That being said, I think reincarnation is an entirely a feasible concept at higher centers of gravity within a contemplative context and if that is what this question is aiming for I certainly think it is something we should explore.  I just thought it would be useful to distinguish that because the question seems to suggest introducing reincarnation into the entire current of Western theistic traditions, which in my opinion would have some undesirable consequences.