M.J. Rose

Click the photo below to watch sneak peeks of Past Life, which premieres tomorrow night, right after American Idol!

According to a December 2009 study by the Pew Research Center, 22% of Christians in the U.S. believe in reincarnation, a revelation the Christian community didn’t welcome. Instead of exploring why a significant percentage of Christians believe in reincarnation, I think it’s interesting why the other 78% don’t believe in it.

For some it’s a matter of memory. Or more specifically a lack of memory. If we all lived previous lives, skeptics ask, we’d have conscious memories of those lives, wouldn’t we?

But when presented with people who do have memories of past lives, the same skeptics suggest those memories are pleas for attention or lies fabricated for financial gain.

Josh Ryder first started having memories of his past life in ancient Rome after he was nearly killed by a bomb explosion while on assignment in Italy. A photojournalist from New York City, when Ryder woke up in his hospital bed, he had overwhelmingly vivid memories of a past life in ancient Rome. His regressions became so powerful and disturbing they invaded his present life to the point of distraction. He was certain there was something he’d not completed in a previous life that he had to finish in this one. His career suffered and his marriage fell apart. Ryder’s past life was destroying his present reality.

That’s the story of the lead character in “The Reincarnationist.” My novel, which is just where most people believe reincarnation belongs. But memories of past lives don’t just live between the covers of thrillers, and it’s not only fictional characters whose lives today are being invaded by memories of past lives.

Read an excerpt of “The Reincarnationist”

Dr. Jim Tucker, assistant professor in the Division of Perceptual Studies at the University of Virginia has spent his entire career studying children who have past life and prenatal memories. He has filing cabinets filled with the stories of these children and his fact-checking of their stories has led him to believe that their past life memories are exactly that – fact-based memories of a previous existence.

Even though there are many who don’t believe in reincarnation, most of us are fascinated by it. My own fascination with the subject led me to write a suspense novel with a reincarnation theme, and it’s the public’s fascination that led Fox to create an emotional dramatic TV series called “Past Life” which was inspired by my book.

If you are one of the many who are fascinated (even secretly) by reincarnation click here to download a free excerpt of “The Reincarnationist” and read Josh Ryder’s reincarnation story. I also invite you to watch a documentary about a small boy in Scotland who had vivid past life memories and Dr. Tucker’s investigation of that in the videos below.

• Find out more about the “Past Life” TV series premiering on FOX February 9, 2009
• Read about the “many world” theory about why there is no such thing as death
• More research about reincarnation

Children with Past Life Memories – Part 1

Download a free excerpt of “The Reincarnationist”

Children with Past Life Memories – Part 2

Children with Past Life Memories – Part 3

Find out more about “Past Life” TV series premiere on FOX February 9th

Children with Past Life Memories – Part 4

Children with Past Life Memories – Part 5

Read Josh Ryder’s reincarnation story

Thank you to Durga Holzhauser, a reader of our blog, and author of Jesus The Book, for answering our Reincarnationist Q&A!

What is your most marked characteristic that you believe could be a hold over from a past life?

Probably the most marked characteristic that could be a hold over from my past lives is that I always believe in the power of love and light.

What is your principle defect that you believe may be inherited from a previous incarnation?

There is a very subtle idea in my mind that I could still be burned for my thoughts and beliefs.

Which of your favorite heroes do you think you could have been and why?

A close friend of Mary Magdalene because I was…
(Historically the name is “Maria of Bethany”).

What three people from history would you like to have over to dinner for a discussion about reincarnation?

The three people that I would like to have over for dinner to discuss reincarnation would be Jesus, the Dalai Lama and the former caretaker of my treasures as a Maharani in my last life in India. Jesus and the Dalai Lama could discuss the different concepts of reincarnation between the Buddhist belief and the Christian belief. The Buddhist leaders like to be recognized in a constant heritage line over the centuries.  In contrast, Jesus was reincarnated only once, as far as we know, with an immense imprint on history and never again since. Discussions with my former caretaker would entail ascertaining what happened to my royal jewelry collection.

What do you think happens when you die?

When one dies, the physical body dissolves and we detach from it. We reawaken our light body and according to the level of our spiritual development, we are able to go on to a light level that corresponds to our own development – where we consciously prepare our next incarnation (or conscious), and we are karmically thrown from one incarnation to another.  The Buddhists train their entire life through meditations, to manage the crossing over. When we are completely “conscious”, we are able to fuse with our blissful soul in heaven and return freely to earth along a path of our choosing.

When you come back next time, who (or what) would you like to be?

Myself. Because wherever or whatever I am, I cannot escape from me.

About Jesus The Book: “Today the heavens open up and solve the mysteries of the forgotten years of Jesus. His teachings, as never told before, arise in the dawn of a new age of light. Your heart will be inspired by his words of truth and love. You will learn about his mysteries and your life may change beyond your wildest dreams.
Now we all are able to join the holy circle connected through His divine light.
It is the time for the prophecies to become reality.”

More about the book can be found here.