atheism is the default position

Don’t Donate Your Organs! You Need Them When You’re Reincarnated!

Found this discussion on the Friendly Atheist.

Seems that in India there is a shortage of organ donors because they believe in reincarnation.  In the discussion they mentioned that Hindus place a high value on karma – the idea that positive actions and altruism are returned cosmically.  But this belief is in opposition to the irrational concept of reincarnation.  The probablem being, if you give up that liver in this life, when you’re reincarnated as a fly or dog or human or whatever, you’ll be a fly or dog or human without a liver.  Or something along those lines.

I know very little about India — except that nothing makes me feel as good as a massive bowl of keema curry and some hot nan.  But, I wonder if there is a bit of classism going on here.  I know that India still has a lot of problems stemming from its caste system.  Though officially outlawed, we all know that old habits and old prejudices die hard.  So I wonder if elite families don’t want to donate organs which might end up in the bodies of people of lower social standing.  It’s just conjecture, but I wonder…

If I’m not mistaken, some sects of Buddhism also believe in reincarnation.  I’m curious if there’s a correlation between organ donation and belief in reincarnation here in Japan.  However, Japan is extremely secular.  In fact most people maintain their religious observances as tradition only while openly denying the existence of any deities.  Still there are those who….

reincarnation - how's that karma workin' out for ya?