Why Some Religions Teach Reincarnation and Others Don't

Some religions teach that a person is born again and again, while others teach one life. Why do they differ? This article describes the structure of each view. It does not say which is right, and it has not been reviewed by faith leaders.

What do the reincarnation traditions teach?

That actions shape rebirth, and that release is the goal. Britannica says the major religions with this belief are the Asian religions that arose in India: Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. The New World Encyclopedia describes karma as the sum of one’s actions and the force that determines the next birth, and calls the cycle of death and rebirth samsara. In Hinduism, Britannica says rebirth continues until a person achieves moksha, or liberation. Buddhism teaches rebirth without an unchanging soul, aiming for nirvana. EBSCO notes that in Jainism, all karma must be removed to escape the cycle.

What do the other traditions teach?

One life, then resurrection and judgment. The Jerusalem Post says that officially, many mainstream religions, particularly the Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, do not believe in reincarnation. It says resurrection is part of each: the resurrection of the dead in Judaism, Jesus’s resurrection in Christianity, and Judgment Day in Islam. It also notes that reincarnation is not explicitly mentioned in the Torah, the Christian Bible, or the Quran. America magazine, a Jesuit publication, notes that the Letter to the Hebrews says people die once and then face judgment.

Are there exceptions?

Yes. The Jerusalem Post says the Druze, a religious group in the Middle East, believe reincarnation happens right at death. It also says gilgul, reincarnation in Kabbalistic Judaism, has been rejected by many rabbis but adopted by others, and is widely accepted in Hasidic Judaism. It adds that gilgul is unlike most other reincarnation beliefs, because it is not automatic and is neither punishment nor reward.

Does each structure shape ideas about justice?

In outline, yes. In the traditions of karma, actions bring results in a future life. In the traditions of one life, the Jerusalem Post and America point to a judgment after death. These are summaries of doctrine; each tradition has more nuance.

What do people actually believe?

Often more than their tradition teaches. Pew found a median of 33 percent of adults believe in reincarnation across 35 countries. The Christian Century reports on a Pew survey in which 33 percent of American adults, including 30 percent of Christians, said they believe in it, though it notes no major branch of Christianity teaches it.

Which is correct?

This site does not rule on that. To go deeper, see What Different Religions Teach About Reincarnation, How Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain Views Differ, and What Do Different Religions Believe Happens After We Die?.