Christianity rejecting Reincarnation?

Early Christian's taught reincarnation as a part of their belief systems for almost 300 years before the council of Constantinople declared it heresy in 533 AD. Bishop Saint Gregory of Nyssa (died approximately 394) said "'It is absolutely necessary that the soul shall be healed and purified, and if it doesn't take place in one life on earth, it must be accomplished in future earthly lives"

They "deleted" the references towards reincarnation and it was essentially banned all together from the religion. There are however some passages remaining that people consider to be proof of reincarnation.
I'm going to show two examples and then I would like to hear some feedback!

"The first text concerns the identity of John the Baptist, supposed to be the reincarnation of the prophet Elijah. In Matthew 11,14 Jesus says: "And if you are willing to accept it, he (John the Baptist) is the Elijah who was to come." In the same Gospel, while answering the apostles about the coming of Elijah, Jesus told them: "But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." The commentary adds: "Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist" (Matthew 17,12-13; see also Mark 9,12-13)."

"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. IF THEY HAD BEEN THINKING OF THE COUNTRY THEY HAD LEFT, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN.
Instead they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. (Heb 11:13-16)"

We do know that they DID infact teach reincarnation in early Christianity and that it was eventually banned (as many subjects have been removed from the bible throughout history). What do you all think about this subject. Let's get a good discussion going! lol.

I consider myself to be a gnostic christian, and I believe in reincarnation.

There are so many proofs of reincarnation. There have been many children born with memories of their past lives...all over the world. These children would speak of previous families around the ages of 2-5, and usually the memory fades. There's lots of information out there if you look for it and have the ability to consider it.
My brother is a hardcore 'bible christian' and we debate this all the time.

Quoting Laia:“ I consider myself to be a gnostic christian, and I believe in reincarnation. There are so many proofs ... [snip!] ... look for it and have the ability to consider it. My brother is a hardcore 'bible christian' and we debate this all the time.”

I'm not exactly sure if I believe in Christianity in the context we view it in today. I made another post about the "Lost Books" from the Bible and I am really interested in the Gospel of Mary Magdalene which stresses that the 2nd coming of christ is an internal journey to enlightenment. I think Christianity has been taken apart and molded to what a few leaders wanted it to be througout history. But I do believe in a god figure and reincarnation and some historical views from the bible.

I definitely think the bible has truth to it, but it was also written by (fallible) men, and has been changed throughout history according to their needs. The lost gospels are proof that not all of the spiritual writings in that time were included in the bible.
Many intepret it literally, when it can just as well be read symbolically...

Quoting Laia:“ I definitely think the bible has truth to it, but it was also written by (fallible) men, and has been ... [snip!] ... in that time were included in the bible. Many intepret it literally, when it can just as well be read symbolically...”

Completely Agreed!

I believe in God and I also believe in reincarnation.I have a past life that I remember talking about as a child in which I was a boy in New York somewhere and I remember Pluto being discovered. (*this probably sounds silly to some, but I assure you, my memories or whatever they were, were quite vivid in my childhood).

That's really interesting Nvoytek! Have people been skeptical of your memories? I'd love to hear more about it. I wish I could remember my past lives...

Quoting Laia:“ That's really interesting Nvoytek! Have people been skeptical of your memories? I'd love to hear more about it. I wish I could remember my past lives...”

I told my preschool teacher that it was really cool that Pluto was discovered and she told me it was impossible, that I was too young. I still remember the shock on her face when I said "it was in like 1930, so no...I'm not too young" lol. I remember having a grey and black cap that felt like a rug. And I remember having a wooden yo yo thing.

Quoting nvoytek:“ I believe in God and I also believe in reincarnation.I have a past life that I remember talking about ... [snip!] ... (*this probably sounds silly to some, but I assure you, my memories or whatever they were, were quite vivid in my childhood).”

Omg. that's awesome. I forgot to post this before but when I was a child I always remembered my earliest "memory" as me between lives (right before this one) and I literally chose my family. I never questioned it when I was younger but as I got older I realized that meant I was reincarnated lol! It's pretty much why I believe in reincarnation as well as everyone else's stories. I would love tohave a past life regression hypnotism session (or whatever they're called).

Quoting Beth [due 12-1-08]:“ Omg. that's awesome. I forgot to post this before but when I was a child I always remembered my earliest ... [snip!] ... as well as everyone else's stories. I would love tohave a past life regression hypnotism session (or whatever they're called).”

yea, I totally believe in it. All my memories of my past life stop when I was about 7 during it. It just stops at a memory of sitting on my stone steps outside of my house outside in the dark...but it wasnt really a house...it was like a townhome in a sense...like a row home or something. My gut says I died at that age, but Im not sure

I want to get the hypnosis too. I want to "remember" more.

I should add too that I believe that the soul needs to "mature" in a sense and is possibly why there are reincarnations.

Quoting nvoytek:“ I should add too that I believe that the soul needs to "mature" in a sense and is possibly why there are reincarnations.”

That's exactly what I believe too. I believe we are on a spiritual journey to become enlightened (idk what other word to use lol) and until we do we have to return to earth after dying and learn whatever lesson we need to become complete. Do you believe in a heaven or nirvana?

Quoting Beth [due 12-1-08]:“ That's exactly what I believe too. I believe we are on a spiritual journey to become enlightened (idk ... [snip!] ... to return to earth after dying and learn whatever lesson we need to become complete. Do you believe in a heaven or nirvana?”

What I believe in is a place where everyone looks the same age wise and that its wonderful and peaceful and that we choose to be born. I believe in God, but I believe that there is a Mother God as well. When they say Father, Son, Holy Spirit, I believe the Holy Spirit is the Mother God. But you know how those men were thousands of years ago...they dont like powerful women.

I completely agree with these same points. I believe inmultipleafterlife realms, rather than a nirvana (nothingness)...I believe we grow to heaven, we don't 'go' to heaven.