Reincarnation

Press, 21 March 1983, Page 20

Reincarnation

Sir,—With reference to the article on reincarnation (“The Press,” March 11) it is ironic that Professor lan Stevenson’s “poison pen” mail should come from “Christians.” The irony lies in the hard reality that the early church fathers, including Clement of Alexandria, and his pupil Origen, expounded that very doctrine, based on the teachings of, oddly enough, the Bible itself. Needless to say, Western man, with his lust for power and possession, and through the agency of his priests, soon made short work of discrediting such an inconvenient doctrine. He knew that he could never rationalise a life of exploitation and opportunism while threatened by the consummate justice inherent in repeated rebirth and ultimate atonement. He also knew that by careful manipulation of scriptural doctrine, and consequently the minds of the masses, an unprecedented degree of power might be obtained over them. Thus was devised the obnoxious, but potent, doctrine of fear—damnation, forgiveness, salvation.—Yours, etc.,

BILL FILSHIE. March 14, 1983.