Reinkarnationism i Nya Testamentet Paramahansa Yogananda tolkar Johannesprologen

Sammanfattning: Abstract: In this following thesis I enquire the teaching of reincarnation within the New Testament. More specifically I examine how the author Paramahansa Yogananda’s interprets the teaching of reincarnation and his analysis of the prologue to the Gospel according to John. The idea of reincarnation is not a teaching commonly associated with Christian teachings and it has never been advocated within Christian orthodoxy. However, the idea of reincarnation has recurringly been advocated by Christians. Thus, in this literature study I am analyzing what specific support Yogananda finds in the beginning of the Gospel according to John. This is a text generally considered as one of the most influential texts within the New Testament and can also be seen as a summary of the Gospel according to John. Thereby I argue that this study can provide an overall idea of how the doctrine of reincarnation can be interpreted within the broader context of the New Testament. In this study I have found that Yogananda sees the prologue of John as the Genesis of the New Testament. He considers this text analogue with the Hindu cosmologies. In his view all creation is essentially made of Godsubstance all evolving back to its source. Man made in the image of God with the inherent qualities to be a god is bound by the cosmic ethical law karma, cause and effect. Since the fall of Adam and Eve according to Yogananda man is bound through the law of reincarnation until man meets the prerequisites of salvation, perfection. God has an ongoing plan of salvation to lead His errant children back to liberation, eternal life. Yoganandas interpretation of this God’s plan of salvation means that God incarnates by sending already saved souls to live among man as rightful sons of God. To Yogananda this means that to have achieved perfection these agents of salvation had already gone through many reincarnations. According to Yogananda Jesus of Nazareth was such an incarnation of God.