Aug 25 2013, 12:04 pm
In response to Roofie raccoon
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TheDarkChakra
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This is evidence for reincarnation. We just need to study it more to conclude it. So far it only suggests reincarnation. But I know one day if we continue investigating this it will be proven as fact.
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I was looking for an academic position paper / journal. The academic reviews of that book only go as far as to assert the book makes a good case that there is a phenomenon to study in those case-studies. Not that the case-studies provide a solid body of evidence for reincarnation, or indeed, that the book scientifically asserts a workable explanation of what reincarnation is.
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Contact the University of Virginia for their peer-reviewed journals and books. Life Before Life wS also peer reviewed.
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I know the book is peer reviewed. I just read one such peer review, that stated what I'd just said to you.
http://www.scientificexploration.org/journal/reviews/ reviews_19_4_levin.pdf | |
For you to read them, too, before asserting what you are asserting. That particular peer review essentially states "This book does not make a strong case for reincarnation, or evidence for it. It does make a strong case that there is a phenomenon though, which is worth study."
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Considering that I do not believe in a soul/spirit, then obviously reincarnation goes right out the window.
Everything that I am is created by, and contained within, my physical body and brain. Everything that is "me"; my consciousness, my memories, my personality, my thoughts, my feelings... Everything, is solely due to the chemical and physical reactions within the cells of my body. So, then, what happens to "me" when this body dies? I cease to be. No more living tissue to generate and sustain my mind = no more me. There is, therefore, nothing to pass on to another "incarnation" of me. Therefore, no reincarnation. "You see I was sick with mental illness and in depression and I even forgot about it." You have to see this through an outside perspective, though... It seems to me (and likely others) that you only came to your beliefs because you were in a vulnerable mental state. This happens to many people. Most "born-again" religious individuals came to their new belief through some unbearable mental duress. They then cling to this new belief with all of their might, because they feel a huge debt of (misplaced) gratitude towards it. | |
But in the book Tucker disproved everything but reincarnation. And even Carl Sagan says this evidence makes it look like it can't be anything but reincarnation. Stevenson's book is called 20 cases suggesting reincarnation. In the university it is done officially as reincarnation studies.
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But the peer review of the book states quite clearly that all the book manages to do is confirm there is a phenomenon in the cases it cites. The book does not even manage to set up a workable definition for reincarnation, so it cannot possibly make sensible assertions about reincarnation on those cases.
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I disagree. But maybe you should read a review of the book Where Reincarnation and Biology Intersect too.
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Well, I appreciate that you disagree. But at the same time, the peer review raises some important questions, that the book's author would need to address. This really isn't as water-tight as you're trying to have us believe it is.
There are 4 notable, academically journaled peer reviews of this book, 3 psychology journals and this one. All 4 make the same assertion, that the book raises interesting questions, makes a case that there is a phenomenon to be studied here, but no more. | |
"If some good evidence for life after death were announced, I'd be eager to examine it; but it would have to be real scientific data, not mere anecdote. As with the face on Mars and alien abductions, better the hard truth, I say, than the comforting fantasy." - Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World
Admitting that cases exist does not necessarily equal believing the stories to be true. It would be too easy to feed the subject information about the "past life", or distort the facts about this "past life" to fit the story. | |
In your opinion. Where-as other, academically respected people have found logical flaws in the assessments presented by the book. You see how this works?
By all means, please, do hold a belief in reincarnation. That is entirely your own decision, and it is not my place to change that. But do be careful, in distinguishing your belief, from the scientific status-quo. | |
I am aware some people criticize thesw cases but it seems many more do support them. Reincarnation is getting closer to being proven but so far these cases only suggest reincarnation.
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You should do more research on the guys you quote before standing behind their statements.
Look up that Ian Stevenson guy on Wikipedia. There's a section towards the bottom that talks about his assistant who describes his terrible research habits, how there were no controls or other good scientific practice. It also mentions how the vast majority of investigated cases came from India/SE Asia, where belief in reincarnation is common, and almost zero cases from anywhere else. | |