世界宗教中,主要是西方宗教才有復活的觀念,東方宗教多教導輪迴,而輪迴的最高峰是自我殲滅(進入涅槃或與梵天合一),復活和這樣的觀念不和諧,所以上邊的事例多是猶太教和有關人士的例子。大概因為新紀元運動,東風西漸,或西風東漸,今天在印度教中也有幾個復活故事,而大部分都在印度大師尤迦南達(Paramahansa Yogananda)的自傳《一個瑜伽行者的自傳》(Autobiography of a Yogi)中找到﹕
除了尤迦南達的事情 之外,最多人知道的復活宣稱是另一個印度大師賽巴巴(Sathya Sai Baba)的事情。據說,他曾經叫美國人寇溫(Walter Cowen)復活。事情經過是這樣的﹕寇溫突然心臟病發作,被送到醫院後,宣佈死亡,但是當天不久之後,其他人發現他又活過來。寇溫事後描述,賽巴巴說服他回到自己的身體,所以說是賽巴巴叫他復活。賽巴巴解釋說﹕「這事發生在寇溫的心靈中,賽巴巴導引著他的思想。」[17]換言之,寇溫所經歷的可能是一個瀕死經歷,而不是真正的死亡和真正的復活。一處世俗的評論表示﹕醫學上同意,人在「死亡」後九個小時之內,可以被救活復甦;況且,賽巴巴的很多神蹟都被人質疑。[18]
[1] Kenneth L. Woodward, The Book of Miracles (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000), p. 27. [2] 對各神靈的描述,請參中文和英文的維基百科,或者“Greek Mythology”(https://www.greekmythology.com/);或者一般有關的書藉,例﹕Greg Woolf, ed., Ancient Civilization: The Illustrated Guide to Belief, Mythology and Art (Barnes & Noble, 2007); Stephanie Dalley, Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, the Flood, Gilgamesh, and Others (Oxford University Press, 2008)等等。[3] Richard Carrier, “Dying-and-Rising Gods: It’s Pagan, Guys. Get Over It," (https://www.richardcarrier.info/archives/13890 ). [4] Hugh Bowden, Mystery Cults of the Ancient World (Princeton University Press, 2010 ), p. 12-22. [5] Jon Klimo, Channeling (Berkeley, CA; North Atlantic Books, 1998), p. 111. [6] Ibid., p. 81. [7] Bowden, Mystery Cults of the Ancient World, p. 207. [8] “Dying-and-rising deity,” Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dying-and-rising_deity#cite_note-JZSmith-34 ). [9] Ibid. [10] Ray Konig, “Christianity was not influenced by paganism,” (http://www.about-jesus.org/paganism.htm). [11] James M. Rochford, “Was Christianity Copied from Pagan Myths?” (http://www.evidenceunseen.com/christ/was-christianity-copied-from-pagan-myths/ ). [12] Gary R. Habermas, “Resurrection Claims in Non-Christian Religions,” Religious Studies, v25.n2 (June 1989): pp167(9). (http://www.garyhabermas.com/articles/religious_studies/rel_stud_res_claims_in_non-christian_religions.htm ). [13] Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi (LA, CA: Self-Realization Fellowship, 1993), p. 335-38. [14] Ibid., p. 349-50. [15] Ibid., p. 396-97. [16] Ibid., p. 475-76. [17] John S. Hislop, My Baba and I (San Diego, CA: Birth Day Publishing Company, 1985), p. 28-31. [18] NationalMaster Encyclopedia s. v. “Resurrection.” (http://www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Resurrection)