Why Jesus Taught Reincarnation: A Better News Gospel [Paperback]

Herbert Puryear (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1993

Dr. Puryear makes a powerful and eloquent case for the evidence of reincarnation teachings throughout the bible, with special focus on the philosophy and teachings of Jesus. In particular, Dr. Puryear hoped to reach the 25 million Americans who profess a belief in the bible, believe in the teachings of Jesus and also have an interest in reincarnation teachings.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Puryear is a clinical psychologist, ordained minister and author of seven books, including the best-selling "Edgar Cayce Primer." He is a graduate of Stanford University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and taught at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas for seven years. He is the co-founder and president of Logos World University Church in Scottsdale, AZ.

Product Details

• Paperback: 262 pages
• Publisher: New Paradigm Pr (April 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963496492
• ISBN-13: 978-0963496492
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,067,882 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 96 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Born again" means reincarnation, not conversion!, July 4, 2000

By 

Rabbi Yonassan Gershom (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Why Jesus Taught Reincarnation: A Better News Gospel (Paperback)

As a religious Jew who is perfectly happy with his own faith, I rarely read Christian theology. And frankly, I'm turned off by cover art that combines the Cross with the Star of David. An eclectic I am not! But, since the book was sent to me by the publisher in my capacity as a writer/reviewer on reincarnation topics, I decided to give it a try. I'm very glad I did.

Admittedly, it took a while for me to get used to the "fundamentalist" style of this author, who is clearly aiming at the more traditional end of the Christian spectrum. But if you want a clear, chapter-and-verse explanation of why reincarnation is compatible with Chrisitianity, this book is the best I have see so far.

I was especially impressed with chapter four, "Ye shall be born again," which argues that this line was originally a reference to reincarnation, not to changing one's religion! Puryear's argument goes something like this: In the original Gospel reference (John 3:-13), a Pharisee named Nicodemus comes to Jesus and says, in effect, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher from God, because nobody can do these miracles unless God is with him." The unspoken question is, how did Jesus get to be such a holy man in the first place? Puryear assumes this conversation is not an attack by a "hypocritical" Pharisee, but a sincere question from one religious Jew to another. Jesus then replies to Nicodemus, "Truly, truly I say to you: Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus seems skeptical and wants further clarification. He asks if it is necesary to go back into his mother's womb to be born again, and if so, how is this possible?

Now, here is the crux of the argument: Most Gospel readers assume that Nicodemus' question about going back into the womb is said in a mocking tone, simply because he is a Pharisee. But there is nothing in his words to support this. Personal skepticism is there, yes -- but he is not mocking. He addresses Jesus respectfully as "Rabbi," and he says he knows he is from God. Why would he say that, if he were mocking? What if it was a sincere question, and Nicodemus was seeking to clarify if "rebirth" was literally rebirth in the womb, and, if so, how does it happen? Then the next statements by Jesus -- about how one must be born of "water and the spirit," that "flesh begets flesh and spirit begets spirit," and that the wind (in Hebrew or Greek, the same word means "spirit") goes "where it wills," make sense as references to reincarnation. Jesus is not telling Nicodemus to get baptized, he is saying that a soul must be born over and over again to become a Zaddik (saint). Not into his mother's womb again in this life, but into another womb when the spirit goes "where it wills" in the next life.

Puryear's explanation of this encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus opened up a whole new way of seeing this story for me. What a fantastic insight! Unfortunately, in spite of seeing the sincerity in this particular Pharisee's questions, Puryear sometimes falls into the old stereotype of Pharisees as nothing but legalistic hypocrites who are too "blind" to see the truth. His case would have been greatly strengthened if he had realized that the "Pharisees" are the rabbis of the Talmud, who practiced forms of meditation and mysticism as well as legal debates about the Torah. In this area of Jewish-Christian relations, Puryear fell short. Still, we must keep in mind who his intended audience is: traditional Christians who take the Bible literally. His goal is not to do textual criticism of the Gospels, but to present a Bible-as-truth argument for reincarnation from within a believing POV. Given those parameters, he does an excellent job with his thesis. If you are a Christian interested in reincarnation, this book may well prove that it is compatible with your own faith.

37 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ONE book on Jesus that I can recommend..completely!, December 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Why Jesus Taught Reincarnation: A Better News Gospel (Paperback)

This book is excellent! I had rejected the teachings in the Bible until I read this book. The tradional teaching I had been exposed to turned me off completely to the idea of Christianity..I did want to learn more about Jesus however and this book bridged the gap between my own personal spiritual understanding of "The Oneness" That is spoken of and illuminated in Jesus' own words! I was so delighted to find this scholarly and historical book that unveiled the mistruths passsed down for century by the tradional Church. I thank this author for sharing with me his wisdom.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Reconciliation of the Bible with Reincarnation, April 13, 2004

By 

A Student of Esoteric Sciences (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why Jesus Taught Reincarnation: A Better News Gospel (Paperback)

In one sentence, this book is a masterpiece. It provides a thorough examination of the words of Jesus and uses biblical insight to essentially prove the existence of reincarnation. If you are a student of metaphysics, the New Age, Edgar Cayce, or New Thought, and have conservative religious friends or relatives who are convinced you have somehow gone off the deep end, this book is the one for you and for them. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.