"Past Lives" redirects here. For the 2002 Black Sabbath album, see Past Lives (album). Reincarnation, literally "to be made flesh again", as a doctrine or mystical belief, holds the notion that some essential part of a living being (or in some variations, only human beings) can survive death in some form, with its integrity partly or wholly retained, to be reborn in a new body. This part is often referred to as the Spirit or Soul, the 'Higher or True Self', 'Divine Spark', 'I' or the 'Ego' (not to be confused with the ego as defined by psychology).

In such beliefs, a new personality is developed during each life in the physical world, based upon past integrated experience and new acquired experiences, but some part of the being remains constantly present throughout these successive lives as well. It is usually believed that there is interaction between predeterminism of certain experiences, or lessons intended to happen during the physical life, and the free-will action of the individual as they live that life.

This doctrine is a central tenet within the majority of Hindu traditions such as Yoga, Vaishnavism, Jainism and Sikhism. Although the concept of Rebirth is also a major part of Buddhist philosophy, this often differs somewhat from the Vedic based viewpoints of the Hindu traditions in defining what it is that is actually born again. Many modern Pagans also believe in reincarnation as do some new Age movements, along with followers of Spiritism and certain African traditions

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L.A. Times - Religious News

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels opens its doors to mariachi camp
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
The L.A. cathedral plays host to young musicians learning the upbeat Mexican genre. Joacim Naranjo plays the trumpet pretty well. But the 16-year-old from East Los Angeles found himself flapping his sore lips like a horse as he and a half dozen other boys tried to master the rapidly cascading sounds of a mariachi song.
How to spot counterfeit True Religion jeans
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
How to spot true blues Want to know if your new dungarees are truly True Religion? Here are some tips to help you separate the bona fide jeans from the fakes:
Retired judge's recusal will delay release of L.A. clergy sex-abuse files
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Plaintiffs' attorneys have requested that a new judge be appointed to decide which L.A. Archdiocese personnel documents will be released to the public. A year-old legal agreement requiring the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles to release confidential personnel records of priests accused of sexual abuse has been thrown into limbo by the departure of a retired judge selected to vet the documents.

RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY | PBS

2008 Campaign: Update on the Candidates and Religion
Obama and McCain step up efforts to meet religious leaders and reach religious voters.
Pediatric AIDS Corps
Young American doctors are going to Africa to treat patients and train local providers.
Interfaith Wedding
The wedding rituals of a Hindu-Sikh couple honor the religious traditions of both.

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