How did the belief of reincarnation strengthen the caste system?

Answer 1

The Caste System was strengthened by the belief that there was such thing as reincarnation because people in the lower castes tried to have good karma and by doing this, they weren't rude or unkind to those in a higher caste.

Answer 2

IN fact reincarnation never strengthened the divisions, it actually united people. In India they believe in many lives and people consider their problems as part of this life and they have hope to become better in the next life.

Answer 3

Before trying to understand the relationship between Reincarnation and Varnas we must know what Reincarnation is.

The popular concept of Reincarnation:

Reincarnation is supposed to be recycling of the soul in a different body after death. According to this belief, after our death our body perishes but our soul enters a different body, even that of an animal.

If our deeds are good we may be born with a higher Varna and if our deeds are bad we would be born with a lower Varna.

The Absolute Fact about Reincarnation:

In Hinduism Reincarnation is associated with Moksha and with nothing else. Originally Moksha meant freedom to change Varna. Changing of Varna was banned as that would give exaggerated freedom to the individual and the society and make both unstable.

Thus, only the socially most acceptable Hindu religious leader had the right to attain Moksha and redefine Dharma for all the four Varnas, as he could understand the life of Hindus of all the four Varnas.

Ban of Original Moksha:

Every Hindu started claiming that he had attained Moksha as it was the highest state a Hindu could attain. Therefore, Karma, Reincarnation and Moksha had to be redefined to make attaining Moksha a closely guarded secret.

Redefined Moksha:

Originally, the term 'Reincarnation' was associated with just an activity. To attain Moksha one had to prevent Reincarnation or transformation of an activity every time it is executed. The aim was to make it Involuntary or automatic.

In the new definition, the word 'activity' was replaced by the word 'life'. Therefore, one had to prevent Reincarnation of life and not just an activity. This meant that Moksha could be attained and Varna could be changed after death only!

Strengthening of divisions in Hindu society:

The belief in the redefined Reincarnation did strenghten the divisions in the Hindu society, as that effectively banned changing of Varnas.

Hope for the lower classes:

The hope for the lower classes is illusory. However good their Karma or deeds may be, in this life they wouldn't have the right to change their Varna.

One can change Varnas by understanding Original Karma and Original Reincarnation and by attaining Original Moksha.

Answer 4

it provided hope for the lower classes by believing reincarnation

Answer 5

it never did.