Phoenixes:

Species basics: The phoenixes are a species of dragon who live 3 lives- One in child life, the adult life, and parenthood.

In the first life the phoenix lives with her parents until he or she is 5, at which point they begin the “teen” years, straying farther from home but still maintaining strong ties with their parents and siblings. During this time phoenixes remain the same size, about 6 feet across. Throughout their first life the phoenix collects energy, or life force, whatever, growing not in size, but luminosity. (the phoenixes are born black and grow steadily bright red and orange) When they are bright enough they release all the energy in one, brilliant death.

The phoenix is reborn a dark burgundy (males generally are reborn more red). But in exchange for the loss of energy, the phoenix gains size. Between lives the phoenixes grow from a mere 6ft to about 20ft. The adult life is the freest, as the phoenix lives wandering, settling, however they wish to do so. During this life the phoenix searches for a mate, and once the mate-for-life is found, the couple prepares for the transition into parenthood. Female phoenixes search for males based both on energy level (how bright red) and personality, can they be a father. When they are ready, the phoenixes come together in one more spectacular death.

This time when the phoenixes are reborn, they are 10ft long. But in exchange they have 3 children, who are about 6ft. The phoenixes are still dark brown, the children are black. The phoenixes, in their last life, care for their children and live their lives in peace, together. Eventually, their life forces dwindles and they grow old (usually around 110 yrs in this life) and the dragons die one last time, giving their life energy back to their land.

Overall the phoenixes live for 150-200 yrs (the adult life is most varied, depending on how soon the phoenix finds a partner)

If a phoenix is killed in any life it will move on to the next. Child phoenixes over 3 who die and are made into stunted adults are called the Blessed. Like Earthian creatures, the stunted phoenix will slumber, or hibernate for a long period of time, regaining his strength. Only during this slumber may a phoenix actually grow in size. It’s like a second chance.

An adult who is killed misses out on the opportunity for being a parent. They are simply reborn as “parents” but actually it’s basically a rebirth of what they are now, no extra anything. Then they live ‘bout 100 yrs. Killed adults who move on are called the Lucky.

Exceptions: A parent who is killed will stay dead. Any phoenix killed twice will stay that way, regardless if they had a previous life or not. So you can’t get killed as a child, then get killed as an adult, and expect to be reborn again.... A phoenix less than 3 yrs old who is killed will also stay that way, they simply have no energy for rebirth. Finally: if the killer manages to completely destroy the body before it can release energy (which takes about 3 min) the phoenix is dead. So like, if its eaten or shot repeatedly.

Culture: Make no mistake, the phoenix’s do not spend their lives hunting energy...it doesn’t even work that way. Over time the energy is just built up in their bodies. Phoenixes do not eat; however they do use herbs and whatnot to heal infection, muscle cramps, what-have-you. They have a culture in the first and last life very attached to family. and that was a bad sentence. a horrible fail sentence. umm.... the adult life is more solitary or spent with friends. (Sometimes siblings or friends may make their travels together across the lands in this life). K, just assume anything following refers to the adult life? Phoenixes are generally peaceful, but will join a war if the cause makes sense. They do not believe in territorial disputes, and seeing as they don’t eat why do territories matter? Phoenixes learn to defend themselves against predators and “evil” phoenixes who run around trying to kill and obtain life-force (since that makes them live longer, and sabrina don’t ask me if there’s a limit, i don’t know). Phoenixes have an intricate culture where a parent is highly respected, an adult is listened to, and the children are to be taken care of. Adults generally don’t bother themselves with the kids unless the child is in danger. A child need not acknowledge the higher status of adult, but they must respect parents. Adults also acknowledge parents. Among parents those whose kids are adults are respected more than the young parents. Yah so its pretty simple.

Weaknesses: bright colored, not much training in fighting.

Cool fact: their eyes have steel lids. I don’t know why-- it was just an idea, so don’t shoot them in the eye.

Personally, I don't think the "reincarnation" of Phoenixes is a problem, provided that they aren't spiritually equivalent to humans. If that condition holds, rebirth is just part of the system they live in--which is not the system we live in. As I understand it, the only parts of theology with which reincarnation is incompatible are eschatology and the theology of humanity/the human condition. If a phoenix's "reincarnation" system does not affect our destiny or the ontology of the human spirit, then I don't think there's any problem.

Personally, I don't think the "reincarnation" of Phoenixes is a problem, provided that they aren't spiritually equivalent to humans. If that condition holds, rebirth is just part of the system they live in--which is not the system we live in.

On the other hand, in traditional myth as I remember it, what phoenixes do isn't precisely reincarnation---they're not dying (or otherwise leaving their body) and being given a new body so much as de-aging back to infancy or before.

I think the phoenix is one of those cases where the lines get blurred between reincarnation and regeneration. I think it could go either way, depending on how it was written. (I really, really need to write a phoenix story some day...)

It does... I think I will give the major antagonist in my series this ability. >:3

*evil maniacal laugh*

So that's how all the bad guys "magically" survive the climatic catastrophe to come back for a sequel!

Great, now I'm in a sci-fi mood. I'm supposed to be revising my Ruritanian novel today...

"The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, says the LORD." (Isaiah 65: 25, NIV)

I think it's important to think about that sort of thing, and be careful, but I think that as long as you distinguish some important differences, you can have at least something similar to reincarnation.
The philosophy behind something is amazingly important: if something dies and comes back as something different depending on their actions in their previous life, that's totally not Biblical, or Biblically compatible. But I think that it could work to do something similar to it with something other than humans, that have been created in such a way that they do come back to 'earth' again in a new body. But if someone did that it would be important to establish reasons for this and make sure they communicate that that is how God made them-not us.

Yes, I agree with Alina. Reincarnation is a religious concept at its roots, so if one is going to use it (or anything close to it, or by the same name), you need to be cautious of the religious connotations, even if what you're portraying isn't true reincarnation. Regeneration, however, if properly distinguished and executed, is a scientific concept and not a religious concept, so I do not think it has the same pagan connotations. Regeneration is something that happens in God's creation, so handled properly, you could use science to "take it to the next level" and not be toying with false spiritual concepts.

Yes, I agree with Alina. Reincarnation is a religious concept at its roots, so if one is going to use it (or anything close to it, or by the same name), you need to be cautious of the religious connotations, even if what you're portraying isn't true reincarnation. Regeneration, however, if properly distinguished and executed, is a scientific concept and not a religious concept, so I do not think it has the same pagan connotations. Regeneration is something that happens in God's creation, so handled properly, you could use science to "take it to the next level" and not be toying with false spiritual concepts.

But the Bible seems to suggest that some animals may be in heaven.

When it comes to creating new creatures, new worlds and the like, you aren't dabbling in other religions, but when you start using something like reincarnation, you are.

RunningWolf's point about slightly-similar-but-very-different forms being potentially judged differently is a good one; I am somewhat reassured about my inclusion of a form of reincarnation a few times in my own work, as it's always obviously God deciding to "write the same character into a later scene" rather than anything like karma, in addition to it only being a definitely limited and rare phenomenon. (And, I think, always way off-stage, and only coming into a story tangentially.)

Also I think certain things with souls could be resurrected/regenerated (like Gandalf).

Awesome discussion here.
:head/desk: *mumbles* Why didn't I think of him?

What about Gandalf, or other angels that have taken on human form? Is it fine for them to reincarnate? My pheonix are basically angelic creatures that are 'stuck' (for lack of a better term) in a physical body so that question would apply more than the previous one.

Gandalf is an angel???