We're
Here: An Investigation Into Gay Reincarnation by
Lynn Kear
This book, the first of its kind, is a guide to
reincarnation. You will read true stories about souls who have
reincarnated as gay men and lesbians. You will also learn:
What is reincarnation and who believes in it?
What do scholars, researchers, and others say
about the connection between reincarnation and sexuality?
What do gay individuals believe about
reincarnation?
"Like many first-of-a-kind books, this one
has some of the roughness of newly-plowed ground. The author, Dr.
Lynn Kear, Ph.D., has done a monumental job of collecting together
literally hundreds of footnoted references to reincarnation and
homosexuality -- a worthy task which, as far as I know, has never
been done before. This alone makes the book worth buying, as a
valuable reference for anyone in the reincarnation field.
However, don't expect this section of the book
to be an inspiring bedtime read. The style is more like a thesis,
with copious footnotes and language leaning heavily toward
academe. The author's two previous works were annotated
bibliographies, and her skill in that area is evident here, too.
Those who prefer more human interest may want to
read the second half of the book first. In the second half, there
are 11 interviews with lesbians and gay males who believe in
reincarnation, and who express a wide range of beliefs about how
that is connected to their sexuality and their lives in general.
Not surprisingly, the gay perspectives on reincarnation are just
as varied as those in the non-gay world.
In the conclusion, the author, herself a
lesbian, explores what this study meant to her own spiritual
search. Although she is not totally convinced of the reality of
reincarnation, she finds it a fascinating topic as one of the many
ways that spirituality expresses itself.
My main complaint about the book is that the
typesetting layout in the first half leaves much to be desired. It
follows the indentation format of an academic thesis, which works
on a typewritten page, but is difficult to read in the smaller
font of a printed book. Inserting a space above and below the
quoted-indent paragraphs would have made it much easier on the
eyes.
Still, this is a relatively minor point compared
to the value of the information this book contains. I highly
recommend it for both gay and reincarnation studies." -- Rabbi Yonassan Gershom
"This book is a very interesting blend of
research and anecdotal references. The author includes field case
studies about reincarnation and combines it with her own informal
research. I especially enjoyed the interview section of the book,
which included past life stories told by a number of gays and
lesbians. The stories were poignant and intimate. I felt as if I
was sitting in the room with the author and the interviewees,
almost like a voyeur. I highly recommend this book for anyone
wanting a unique look into the connections between sexual
orientation and past life experiences." -- Anonymous Review
About the Author
Lynn Kear is an award winning screenwriter and author of Reincarnation:
A Selected Annotated Bibliography.
