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Religious Studies & Theology vocabulary · Beliefs and Doctrine

Reincarnation

Meaning in religious studies & theology, with examples

/ˌriːɪnkɑːˈneɪʃən/nounCommon term

In religious studies & theology, reincarnation means: The belief that after death a soul or self is born again in a new body, human or otherwise; it is found in Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and other traditions.

In Turkish: reenkarnasyon, ruh göçü, tenasüh

How it is used

Linked to the cycle of birth, death and rebirth called samsara and to the doctrine of karma. Transmigration is an older synonym. For Buddhism, scholars usually prefer rebirth, because Buddhist teaching denies a permanent soul that moves from life to life.

Example sentences

  1. Belief in reincarnation is closely linked to the doctrine of karma.

  2. Because Buddhism denies a permanent soul, many scholars avoid the word reincarnation and speak of rebirth.

Common collocations

  • belief in reincarnation
  • cycle of reincarnation
  • reincarnation and karma
  • rebirth
  • karmaIn Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, the principle that a person's intentional actions have consequences that shape their future, including future lives.
  • nirvanaIn Buddhism, the final goal of the spiritual path: the ending of craving, suffering and the cycle of rebirth.
  • afterlifeExistence after death as a religious tradition describes it, for example resurrection and judgement, paradise and hell, or rebirth in a new life.
  • HinduismA family of religious traditions that developed in South Asia, with no single founder, sharing scriptures such as the Vedas and ideas such as dharma, karma and rebirth.

More terms: Beliefs and Doctrine

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