The belief that people may have more than one existence on earth, and not necessarily always in human form, is very widespread especially in India and in eastern cultures where it forms part of the Buddhist and Hindu faiths.

The idea is that souls migrate from one body to another until complete purification is achieved, when they are finally released altogether from their earthly state. There is no scientific evidence for this belief, although sometimes people claim to have visited places before, or to have had dreams which point to a previous existence.

Whilst not specifically addressing this question, the Bible says that we live once and die once and that we must look to Jesus Christ who is Lord of both life and death. Jesus speaks clearly about the reality of eternal life with him. “ And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:11-12

• Is there life on other planets?
• What about reincarnation?
• Hasn’t science disproved the Bible?
• Why is religion so dull?