Essay Instructions: What follows is my approved abstract for this thesis paper. Kindly write a paper that follows its' theme(s). You can use any of the sources mentioned in the bibliography. You may also use alternative sources, which I can then incorporate into my bibliography.
Thank you.
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Origen’s Doctrine of Reincarnation and its’ Official Rejection: An Analysis.
In this paper I intend to focus on the issue of the doctrine of metempsychosis (or
reincarnation) in fourth-century Christianity. Although several sects of early Christians believed
in the idea of the transmigration of the soul, Origen is one of the most important figures within
this specific topic. Paying special attention to Book I, Chapter VIII, of his On First Principles, I
desire to research whether or not Origen un-ambiguously believed in ??" and wrote about ??"
reincarnation. From my preliminary readings, it seems that the common understanding among
Origen scholars is that Origen did put forward the idea of a distinct soul that incarnates into
successive bodies (be they human or non-human), culminating (after many lifetimes) in the
release of the soul back to heaven. Taking this for granted, an interesting question follows. Why
did this view not become an important canonical component of the early Christian creed under
Emperor Justinian? To answer this question I deem it important to delve into the historical
context of fourth century Christianity. I want to shed light on the apparent dichotomy between
Origen’s rather straightforward views regarding metempsychosis on the one hand, and ??" on the
other hand, the Papal Edict of the 553 AD ecumenical council in which the powers that be
officially stated that the belief in reincarnation is anathema. On what grounds was Origen’s
doctrine of reincarnation rejected?
De Césarée, Eusèbe de Césarée. 2002. Apologie pour Origène, tome 1 : Sur la falsi?cation des
livres d'Origène. Paris: Le Cerf.
Denis, Jacques Francois. 2011. De la philosophie d'Origène. Adegi Graphics LLC; Elibron
Classics Series Edition.
Dively Lauro, Elizabeth. 2010. The Soul and Spirit of Scripture within Origen's Exegesis (Bible
in Ancient Christianity. Society of Biblical Literature.
Drewery, Benjamin. 2009. Origen and the Doctrine of Grace. Eugene: Wipf & Stock Publishers.
Frieling, Rudolf. 1977. Christianity and Reincarnation. Edinburgh: Floris books.
Grafton, Anthony. 2008. Christianity and the Transformation of the Book: Origen, Eusebius, and
the Library of Caesarea. Cambridge: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
Hall, Stewart. 2011. Doctrine and Practice in the Early Church, 2nd edition. Cascade Books.
Heine, Ronald E. 2011. Origen: Scholarship in the Service of the Church. New York: Oxford
University Press.
Henne, Philippe. 2004. Introduction à Origène suivie d'une Anthologie. Paris: Cerf.
Howe, Quincy. 1987. Reincarnation for the Christian. The Theosophical Publishing House.
Kruger, Manfred. 2006. La Naissance du Moi : Origène et la genèse de l'idée chrétienne de
réincarnation dans le courant de pensée de Pythagore à Lessing. Translated by Thomas Letouze.
Paris: Triades.
Kung, Hans. 1994. Great Christian Thinkers: Paul, Origen, Augustine, Aquinas, Luther,
Schleiermacher, Barth. London: Continuum.
Larson, Martin. 1977. The Story of Christian Origins. Washington, DC: Joseph J. Binns/New
republic.
Lynch, Joseph. 2009. Early Christianity: A Brief History.
New York: Oxford University Press.
MacGregor, Geddes. Reincarnation in Christianity: A New Vision of the Role of Rebirth in
Christian Thought. 1990. Wheaton: Quest Books.
Martens, Peter. 2012. Origen and Scripture: The Contours of the Exegetical Life. New York:
Oxford University Press. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Boys-Stones. 2001. Post-Hellenistic Philosophy: A Study in Its Development from the Stoics to
Origen. New York: Oxford University Press, USA
Bowen, Francis. “Christian Metempsychosis,” Princeton Review, May 1881.
Clergymen of the Church of England. 2010. Reincarnation and Christianity. Kila: Kessinger
Publishings.
De Lubac, Henri. 2007. History and Spirit: The Understanding of Scripture According to Origen.
Ignatius Press. Chesnut Hill: Adamant Media Corp.
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Although I cannot tell you how many, I would naturally like a good amount of direct quotes in this paper.
As I mention in the abstract, my argument is that Origen did indeed believe and teach reincarnation. I am not so familiar with the ins- and outs of why his doctrine (on reincarnation) did not "make it" into the canon. On the whole, I ideally would like the paper to deal with reincarnation for about 2 thirds of its length, and with the Papal Edict of the 553 AD ecumenical council for one third. You can also write briefly about other groups and/or theologians of Origen's time who also believed in reincarnation.
Also, I strongly request that the writer be a male. I have nothing against women - none at all. I just prefer the writer to be a male. And, of course - given that it is a masters thesis for a prestigious university - I would prefer that the author have a Ph.D, preferably in the field of Patristics/early Christianity.
There are faxes for this order.
