His Holiness Pope Shenouda discusses the topic of spirits and spirit summoning, responding to many ideas found in unscientific books that claim to prove spiritual phenomena outside the Orthodox Christian faith, such as the “etheric body,” “ectoplasm,” “spiritual projection,” and “reincarnation.” He explains that these are not genuine sciences but speculative conclusions based on doubtful séances or visions, and that accepting them without examination or comparison with Scripture is spiritually and doctrinally dangerous.

Refutation of reincarnation

Pope Shenouda refutes the idea of reincarnation, explaining that the soul is created once by God and does not move between bodies. He shows that this is both theologically and logically impossible — a human cannot have more than one soul, nor can a human soul dwell in an animal, since man was created in the image of God. The soul cannot choose its destiny or enter bodies freely; all is under God’s will.

Gifted children and talent

He refutes the claim that gifted children have the souls of past geniuses like Beethoven or Mozart. Their talents, he says, can be explained through heredity or divine gift, since God can endow anyone with talent without reincarnation or spirit transfer.

Gender and biological differences

His Holiness explains that changes in gender or physical traits are biological matters related to genes, hormones, and chromosomes, not spiritual ones.

The danger of spirit summoning and hypnosis

He warns against séances and hypnosis sessions that claim to recall “past lives,” stating that these are the work of deceptive spirits that mislead people, and that the soul cannot reincarnate into other bodies as such claims suggest.

Misinterpretation of the Bible

The Pope strongly criticizes those who misuse Scripture to support reincarnation, clarifying that God’s knowledge of the future is not based on “previous incarnations” but on His divine omniscience. He also warns against misusing the writings of early fathers like Origen, who, despite his brilliance, made theological errors that led to his excommunication.

Final message

He calls believers to return to Scripture and the enlightened mind guided by the Holy Spirit when examining such teachings, and not to follow so-called “spirit sciences.” Orthodox faith rejects reincarnation and affirms one resurrection and one judgment after death.

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