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Word Gems 

exploring self-realization, sacred personhood, and full humanity

 

Reincarnation On Trial

Eric Hoffer and The True Believer

 

 

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 Eric Hoffer and his seminal work, The True Believer

 

 

Eric Hoffer, The True Believer: “People who see their lives as irremediably spoiled cannot find a worth-while purpose in self-advancement… They look on self-interest as on something tainted and evil; something unclean and unlucky. Anything undertaken under the auspices of the self seems to them foredoomed… Their innermost craving is for a new life – a rebirth – or, failing this, a chance to acquire new elements of pride, confidence, hope, a sense of purpose and worth by an identification with a holy cause."

 

 

Elsewhere on the Word Gems site, I offer an article discussing how the Church, over the centuries, has politicized the work and nature of Jesus, making claims about him that are not true.

Part of the discussion there centers about the writings of Eric Hoffer, renowned for his insights regarding the psychology of mass-movements.

During my writing for the "Jesus" article, it occurred to me that the Small Ego's desire for a "savior," that is, a "substitute self," due to seeing oneself as "not enough" and "spoiled," also applies to the doctrine of reincarnation - another attempt to evade personal responsibility for one's life and deeds. 

 

everybody's looking for something, some of them want to abuse you, some of them want to be abused...

Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This

everybody's looking for something
some of them want to use you
some of them want to get used by you
some of them want to abuse you
some of them want to be abused...

 

 

Hope for a "re-birth" (see above quotation) applies not only to those who seek to lose themselves in being "born again" religiously - but also becomes germane for those intent upon chucking this mortal body for another spin-of-the-wheel.

I invite you to read the Hoffer article, originally posted in service to the discussion of Jesus. You will find, I believe, that the content there easily transfers to our review of reincarnation.

Notice, especially, among Hoffer's posted quotations, the emphasis on self-disrespect, self-minimization - which is the hidden impetus of unenlightened mass-movements.

Read the article by CLICKING HERE.

 

 

Editor's note: The following is channeled information from the other side. Notice how the speaker's sense of "spoiled self" prompts him to think wistfully of the Earth, about wishing to return - which is clear to see in his words - if only he could. 

 

Charlotte Dresser, Life Here And Hereafter

“I have not been here very long, and perhaps that is the reason I look a little longingly back to the old home place on earth. Everything here is so far above me, so far advanced, that I feel sometimes that I do not belong here, that I am in a great and wonderful world without proper equipment; in a society of wonderful people, yet feeling myself hopelessly ignorant. Can you guess how that is? I have been slow to adapt myself because I had no fitness to begin with... And here I am; glad to be accepted, but feeling my ignorance and unworthiness painfully.”

Mary added:—

“We have brought this friend to you because we wish you to know what happens to the souls who have never thought of or aspired to anything better; for these are the ones we wish to influence there.”

 

 

 

Editor's last word:

Notice how Spirit Guide Mary says that those burdened with the error of reincarnation are subjects of missionary work.