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What is the current belief among Christians about the resurrection? Paul's gospel presents at least two and maybe even three, according to how one interprets the text.

1. The apostles storys takes on a physical resurrection after physical death. A flesh and blood new body.

2. The apostles storys also presents the born-again experience as being resurrected in Christ. Thus the second death has no power.(once saved always saved). Opposition seemed to engage itself within this belief when the church fathers were constructing their creeds. The substance of Christ in the physical aspect of being raised from the dead.

3. The apostles teach a first resurrection in Christ and also a second resurrection after the physical death of the individual physical body of believers.

4. There is an incarnation aspect also, in that Paul said it was not known with which body the body would come forth to life.

I may be missing a few more interpretations as to the way the resurrection occurs. Feel free to include others.

Different denominations may have revised their beliefs somewhat, but basically, I think they still maintain the physical resurrection after physical death and in a new body. A few may be leaning toward a born-again experience only. Progressive Christians seem to be on this trail. But are these calling themselves "independent" Christians?

So, who stands where on what platform today?

Christians usually stand on the Republican platform.

My understanding of the Bible says that when a person who is born again, (saved), has
died, his spirit goes immediately to heaven.

When Jesus come back for the church..(known as the rapture) All born again believers who
are still alive will be changed instantly and given a new glorified body. Those who have died
will come out of the graves, (or wherever they are)...their corrupted bodies will also be
changed into incorruptible bodies, and all will meet the Lord Jesus in the air. Then all will
go back to heaven with him. Paul does speak about being buried with Christ, and also
being resurrected with Him into a new life. (born again).

Jesus was physically raised from the dead. I do not believe in that reincarnation thing tho'.
I don't believe that is an accurate interpretation of the Bible.

Be Blessed...

Clean'

CS, I was discussing the reincarnation thing with a friend(Allan) recently. He teaches the adult Sunday school class at his church. He made the point that when Paul was speaking of not knowing with which body one would come forth, he was teaching a form of reincarnation, mainly, as he thinks, because the spirit is said to go where it will go as the wind. One cannot tell from where it originates or where it will reside. He said this relates to teaching the word, and the word is the spirit.

Would Paul's teaching on the resurrection be close to what Buddists believe?

I'm curious where your friend attends church. I was a member of a Methodist Church for
some time. Even though some Methodist churches are fundamentalist, most do not believe
in taking the Bible literally. They accept some parts as true and some parts as fables.

I believe that it was Jesus who was talking about the spirit as being like the wind, not
Paul. However, I don't believe what Paul taught was in any way similar to what
Buddists believe.

Be Blessed...

Clean'

I'm not so sure about your assessment here, CS...Especially if you consider what the reply was to Jesus' question(s) in Mark and Luke when He asked "Who do people say that I am?"

There seems to be a Scriptural precedent for reincarnation, as the responses included the names and positions of those who were no longer among the living. This would indicate that 'reincarnation' seemed to be somewhat acknowledged by the folks back then, folks who were doing their best to live "by the Book" as they understood it. In addition, Jesus gave no indication that the people were wrong for having said what they did, which seems to give even further credence to the concept of reincarnation, if only on a Scriptural basis.

We've had some reincarnations here in this forum.

For example, Christians who say they are leaving forever and then........deja vu.

Reincarnation.

Allan attends a non-denominational "bible-believing" church. Everyone welcome even if they disagree on interpretations, (man errs, not God) and as long as they worship the bible god of course. (Jesus is God in the flesh)

When Jesus was speaking of John he said "this is Elijah if ye will accept it". Sounds like Jesus implied a reincarnation episode. The spirit of Elijah in John?

pssst... your pitchfork is showing..

When someone dies they wait in the grave until they are resurrected. There is no floating off to here or there, set to reside in some rat, bat, or cow walking the streets of New Delhi nor taking up residence in some unseen nether world.

The soul that sins will die. The wages (what we earn) for sin is death.

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. - Daniel 12:2

So you say.

No, I don't say....the Word of God says. Everything else is just a guess.

Word of God? And which word is that? Koran? Gita? Agama? Upanishad? Dhammpada? Avesta? Torah?

Oh, you mean that Word Of God™. Well, I'm not at all impressed by that one. I have another one I much rather prefer. One you are completely ignorant of. But that's my little secret.

So you say...