An 18th Century Jesuit “Refutation of Metempsychosis” in Sanskrit

Journal Title: Religions - Year 2017, Vol 8, Issue 9

Abstract

The Punarjanmak ¯ s.epa, a work in Sanskrit from the 17th–18th century Jesuit milieu, aims at refuting the notion of reincarnation as believed by the Hindus in India. It discloses an interesting historical perspective of missionary comprehension and criticism of the belief. This paper briefly examines the context, purpose and the rhetorical strategies of the work and incidentally situates the subject of reincarnation in the 18th century European intellectual ideologies.

Authors and Affiliations

Gérard Colas and Usha Colas-Chauhan

Keywords

Related Articles

Modern Restlessness, from Hobbes to Augustine

Only with difficulty do modern readers grasp the full import of Augustine’s confession, “Restless is our heart, until it rests in you”, or seriously consider that it might be true. An unexpected remedy is to be found i...

Charisma and Moral Reasoning

Charisma is morally problematic insofar as it replaces followers’ capacity to engage in genuine moral reasoning. When followers defer to charismatic leaders and act in ways that are morally wrong they are not only blam...

Mourning, Memorials, and Religion: A Psychoanalytic Perspective on the Park51 Controversy

This article summarizes a version of the “mourning religion” thesis—derived from the work of Peter Homans and further developed and advanced by William Parsons, Diane Jonte-Pace, and Susan Henking—and then demonstrates...

“To Sing with the Spirit:” Psalms, Hymns and the Spirituality of Late Eighteen Century American Presbyterians

This paper contends that the contemporary discussion among theologians regarding the relationship between theology and spirituality can offer new insight into the eighteenth century religious world. This theological di...

Diversity vs. Pluralism: Reflections on the Current Situation in the United States

The United States has considerable religious and ethnic diversity; it has not always embraced pluralism. Known as “a nation of immigrants”, religion has often been seen as a way to integrate newcomers into its national...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP25785
  • DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/rel8090192
  • Views 298
  • Downloads 11

How To Cite

Gérard Colas and Usha Colas-Chauhan (2017). An 18th Century Jesuit “Refutation of Metempsychosis” in Sanskrit. Religions, 8(9), -. https://www.europub.co.uk/articles/-A-25785