DO YOU BELIEVE IN REINCARNATION? why or why not?

**EbbTide000** · 05-16-2015 02:45 AM

NeverOnce, thank you

This months Australian Readers Digest's cover story is titled "Unlocking the mystery of Past Lives. What children can tell us about reincarnation". Page 32 to 38.

Paragraph 2 on page 35 reads:

"For more 45 years, a team at the Division of Perceptual Studies at the University of Virginia (UVA) has been collecting stories of people who can recall their past lives. (...)"

I only mention the artical in this months Reader's Digest (May 2015) because it is a synchronicity. I havn't bought Reader's Digest in years. I don't usually even notice it but two weeks ago I did and parted with nearly $7.

Originally Posted by NeverOnce

Anyone here ever read Dr. Ian Stevenson reincarnation research? It's really stunning and surprised not many people know about it.

♡

Ian Stevenson, MD Child Reincarnation Stories, Walter Semkiw, MD Reincarnation Expert & Ian Stevenson Advocate

♡

Here is the article in NeverOnce's link:

The Reincarnation Research of*Ian Stevenson, MD

of the University of Virginia Division of Perceptual Studies

Advances in Reincarnation Research: A Tribute to Ian Stevenson, MD, by Walter Semkiw, MD

A Presentation for the Society for Scientific Exploration (SSE)

Dr. Ian Stevenson, MD, who died in 2007, served as Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the*University of Virginia, School of Medicine. *He was also honored as the Carlson Professor of Psychiatry at that institution.* For forty years, Dr. Stevenson investigated children who spontaneously remember past lives that could be factually validated. *He chose to only study children as he reasoned that children were unlikely to fabricate past life memories.* In total, Dr. Stevenson studied almost 2500 children who reported past life memories.* In approximately 1200 of these cases, Dr. Stevenson was able to objectively validate the child's past life memories.

Most of*Stevenson's cases come from Asia, India or other areas where the doctrine of reincarnation is accepted. In locations where reincarnation is not an accepted belief system, it is thought that parents inhibit a child’s expression of past-life memories. The childhood cases studied by Ian Stevenson have a common pattern, marked by the following features:

1.*As soon as the child can communicate, the child starts to describe a previous lifetime. Often, the child declares that his or her name is different from the name given to the child by its biologic parents. The child insists that the current family is not its true family, but that his or her real family lives in a different village or town. The child remembers the names of various family members and geographic locations from the past lifetime. Physical features of the past life house and neighborhood may be recalled.

2. The child remembers details of its death in the prior lifetime. In approximately 50 percent of Dr. Stevenson’s childhood reincarnation cases, a violent or premature death occurred in the previous lifetime. Dr. Stevenson has found that individuals who died of traumatic wounds, such as bullet or knife wounds, often are born in a subsequent incarnation with birthmarks or scars that mirror the wounds incurred in the past lifetime. In the contemporary lifetime, the child may have a phobia related to the cause of death in the past life.

3. Based on information provided by the child to the biologic family, the child’s family from the prior incarnation is eventually identified. When the child meets this family for the first time, the child is able to identify family members by name or by relationship. The child often knows family secrets that only members of the prior family would know. As a result, the family from the past lifetime often accepts the child as the reincarnation of their deceased relative.

The biologic parents of the child in the current incarnation often fear that the child will leave them for the family from the prior incarnation, as the mutual bond between the child and past life family becomes so strong. This fear turns out to be unwarranted, as the bond between the child and the contemporary parents endures. A long-term relationship, though, typically ensues between the child and family from the prior lifetime.

4. Personality traits, personal preferences, and habits often persist from one incarnation to another.

5. Gender*usually stays the same.* In 90 percent of Dr. Stevenson’s cases, the child returns assuming the same sex as in the past lifetime. Thus, in ten percent of cases, gender is reversed from one lifetime to another. The observation that gender only changes in 10 percent of*reincarnation cases can bring insights on homosexuality, transsexuallism and gender identity problems.

6.*Physical appearance is similar from one lifetime to another

Stevenson cases show that physical appearance can remain the same from one incarnation to another. Two cases in particular dramatically demonstrate how facial*features can remain consistent from one lifetime to another.**Ian Stevenson studied*Suzanne Ghanem*and*Daniel Jurdiin the late 1960's,*when they were small children.* Photographs of these individuals from their prior incarnations were available.* Stevenson revisited Suzanne and Daniel in 1998 and found that*these two people, now full grown adults, had the same facial features as in their past incarnations.**These cases were published in Tom Shroder's book,*Old Souls. Two other Ian Stevenson reincarnation cases, in which photo comparison's are available (and provided to the right) that demonstrate similar facial features involve:*Burmese Twins

In his book,*Where Reincarnation and Biology Intersect, Dr. Stevenson advised that researchers*systematically study “facial resemblances between subjects and previous personalities.”

To review other Stevenson case with similar appearance, go to:*Ian Stevenson, MD Reincarnation Cases with Physical Resemblance

7.*Relationships are renewed through reincarnation

As noted above, Stevenson cases that demonstrate physical resemblance involves*Burmese twins, who were sisters in their past lifetimes.* They were part of astudy involving 31 sets of twins, whose past lives were objectively validated. In 100% of these cases, the twins had significant past life relationships, concretely demonstrating that souls plan lifetimes to be reunited with loved ones through reincarnation.

Society for Scientific Exploration

I also would like to share that I had the opportunity to visit Dr. Stevenson at the Univeristy of Virginia at Charlottesville in the year 2001.* He was a very gracious host and he*spent an entire day with me.* I was very honored that at the conclusion of my visit, he offered to sponsor me for membership in the*Society for Scientific Exploration, an academic organization that he co-founded. I did join the SSE and I highly recommend this organization.

The world owes a great debt to Dr. Stevenson for the important work he did over his long career.* IISIS hopes to build upon his contributions and as a gesture of respect and acknowledgement, a posthumous**IISIS Award*has been given to Dr. Stevenson.*Reincarnation research continues at the University of Virginia under the guidance of*Jim Tucker, MD.

It should be noted that Dr. Stevenson wrote in a very academic style as his target audience was fellow scientists.* On the IISIS website, his past life cases are presented as*reincarnation stories*to make his academic work easier to understand. For those interested in appreciating the*scientific rigor of his research, such as his use of multiple witnesses to establish corroborated testimony, please refer to the original reports written by Dr. Ian Stevenson.

Web Site:*University of Virginia, Division of Perceptual Studies

**figurefly** · 07-05-2015 10:06 PM

To be honest this is the only thing I "believe" that is related to religion/spirituality. I have this blind faith about soul/consciousness continuing after life and I could swear reincarnation exists. Even for me it is funny to read what I just typed, I can't help but think it is stupid to "claim" knowledge. But I just "know" and I can't help it.

Now overthinking and analyzing myself I came up with these,

I CLAIM KNOWLEDGE ON REINCARNATION BEING THE TRUE AFTERLIFE SCENARIO BECAUSE,

1. It gives my heart a warm, safe, beautiful feeling and it feels like "I'm home".
2. It gives my heart a warm, safe, beautiful feeling and it feels like "I'm home".
3. It gives my heart a warm, safe, beautiful feeling and it feels like "I'm home".

This subject is not open to logical reasoning or experiments. This is a matter of "belief". And if one digs deeper, might get close to finding out why she "prefers" to believe in what she believes in.

**NeverOnce** · 07-05-2015 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by figurefly

To be honest this is the only thing I "believe" that is related to religion/spirituality. I have this blind faith about soul/consciousness continuing after life and I could swear reincarnation exists. Even for me it is funny to read what I just typed, I can't help but think it is stupid to "claim" knowledge. But I just "know" and I can't help it.

Now overthinking and analyzing myself I came up with these,

I CLAIM KNOWLEDGE ON REINCARNATION BEING THE TRUE AFTERLIFE SCENARIO BECAUSE,

1. It gives my heart a warm, safe, beautiful feeling and it feels like "I'm home".
2. It gives my heart a warm, safe, beautiful feeling and it feels like "I'm home".
3. It gives my heart a warm, safe, beautiful feeling and it feels like "I'm home".

This subject is not open to logical reasoning or experiments. This is a matter of "belief". And if one digs deeper, might get close to finding out why she "prefers" to believe in what she believes in.

Not true, there has been credible scientific research that shows that reincarnation exists by Dr. Ian Stevenson, I suggest you read it

Ian Stevenson, MD Child Reincarnation Stories, Walter Semkiw, MD Reincarnation Expert & Ian Stevenson Advocate

**VinceField** · 07-06-2015 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by figurefly

I CLAIM KNOWLEDGE ON REINCARNATION BEING THE TRUE AFTERLIFE SCENARIO BECAUSE,

1. It gives my heart a warm, safe, beautiful feeling and it feels like "I'm home".
2. It gives my heart a warm, safe, beautiful feeling and it feels like "I'm home".
3. It gives my heart a warm, safe, beautiful feeling and it feels like "I'm home".

This subject is not open to logical reasoning or experiments. This is a matter of "belief". And if one digs deeper, might get close to finding out why she "prefers" to believe in what she believes in.

One thing that is open to logical reasoning is belief. Beliefs give rise to warm, safe, beautiful feelings generally when they provide comfort to the ego. It has little to do with truth and more to do with the ego's attachments, desires, and aversions. The thought of reincarnation may give another person the complete opposite feeling if they have aversion to the idea of living another life on earth. Again, this feeling has little to do with the truth of the matter.

**LouaiB** · 07-06-2015 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by NeverOnce

Not true, there has been credible scientific research that shows that reincarnation exists by Dr. Ian Stevenson, I suggest you read it

Ian Stevenson, MD Child Reincarnation Stories, Walter Semkiw, MD Reincarnation Expert & Ian Stevenson Advocate

Is it peer reviewed?? Cuz there are lots of bs scientists tbh.

**figurefly** · 07-06-2015 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by VinceField

It has little to do with truth and more to do with the ego's attachments, desires, and aversions.

This is exactly why we call it "belief" and not "knowledge".

**VinceField** · 07-06-2015 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by figurefly

This is exactly why we call it "belief" and not "knowledge".

I was commenting on the statement "I claim knowledge on reincarnation...." and your statement that the subject is not open to reasoning. I believe that beliefs should always be held up to the scrutiny of logic and critical reasoning. Otherwise one is simply deluding oneself. In this case, that means accepting both possibilities for and against the existence of reincarnation.

**Ginsan** · 07-07-2015 01:51 PM

I don't believe in reincarnation because it seems incompatable with the world as I know it, the laws of nature as I know them and I have never seen or heard or read anything that suggested that reïncarnation is possible.

**VinceField** · 07-07-2015 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by Ginsan

I don't believe in reincarnation because it seems incompatable with the world as I know it, the laws of nature as I know them and I have never seen or heard or read anything that suggested that reïncarnation is possible.

There is a wide array of evidence which suggests that reincarnation is not just possible, but probable. Some of it is even posted right here in this thread! Education defeats ignorance!

**Ginsan** · 07-08-2015 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by VinceField

There is a wide array of evidence which suggests that reincarnation is not just possible, but probable. Some of it is even posted right here in this thread! Education defeats ignorance!

We had a long discussion in another thread and I didn't like it, and I'm not going to do it again.

**LouaiB** · 07-08-2015 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by VinceField

There is a wide array of evidence which suggests that reincarnation is not just possible, but probable. Some of it is even posted right here in this thread! Education defeats ignorance!

Are these studies peer reviewed??

**VinceField** · 07-08-2015 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by Ginsan

We had a long discussion in another thread and I didn't like it, and I'm not going to do it again.

My point was that not being informed of something does not excuse acting like it doesn't exist, especially in our current Google era when almost any information you can think of is a click away. This is why you go to jail for committing a crime whether or not you knew the act was illegal. I'm simply encouraging research and acquiring knowledge before jumping to conclusions about something.

Originally Posted by LouaiB

Are these studies peer reviewed??

Some are, some aren't. You can google it!

**Sageous** · 07-08-2015 11:42 PM

^^ Well...

A whole lot of misinformation, personal opinion, and decidedly not fact-based theory is also just a click away -- indeed the questionable, anecdotal, and opinion-based stuff is likely the overwhelming majority of content on the internet... so just clicking doesn't necessarily equal informed. Web-based research must be done very carefully, lest the "knowledge" acquired leads us to extremely incorrect conclusions, jumping or not.

**VinceField** · 07-09-2015 01:55 AM

Yes, there is a lot of misinformation out there. Much discernment is needed in navigating through it all.

**Ginsan** · 07-09-2015 08:09 AM

You're right, I haven't done much research so I acknowledge my immaturity, ignorance or unwillingness to learn or whatever you want to call it.

Just like I haven't spent much time researching Zeus, the existence of aliens (especially those that visited the earth), ECK (a divine spirit from a religion founded by John Paul Twitchell in 1965, Las Vegas), Krishna, Brahman, the gods of the Mayan religion, Cronus, Rea, the existence of demigods and probably hundreds of other gods and godlike figures, my unwillingness to learn about things also extends to the existence of the Yeti, Vampires, Werewolves, the Eastern Bunny, Santa Claus, dragons, the Loch Ness monster, Ghosts, psychic powers that many mystical guru's are claimed to have by MILLIONS of followers.

I think you get the point. In defense of aliens and Vampires, Vampires make for great fiction and aliens are possibly quite fascinating creatures.

Originally Posted by LouaiB

Are these studies peer reviewed??

Spoiler for Uuuhhhh....:

**VinceField** · 07-09-2015 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by Ginsan

You're right, I haven't done much research so I acknowledge my immaturity, ignorance or unwillingness to learn or whatever you want to call it.

Just like I haven't spent much time researching Zeus, the existence of aliens (especially those that visited the earth), ECK (a divine spirit from a religion founded by John Paul Twitchell in 1965, Las Vegas), Krishna, Brahman, the gods of the Mayan religion, Cronus, Rea, the existence of demigods and probably hundreds of other gods and godlike figures, my unwillingness to learn about things also extends to the existence of the Yeti, Vampires, Werewolves, the Eastern Bunny, Santa Claus, dragons, the Loch Ness monster, Ghosts, psychic powers that many mystical guru's are claimed to have by MILLIONS of followers.

I think you get the point. In defense of aliens and Vampires, Vampires make for great fiction and aliens are possibly quite fascinating creatures.

Sure, you're not interested in such things. There is nothing wrong with that. My point is that until you do research these things, you lack the knowledge to form an accurate belief about them. Without this knowledge, you are left with little more than preconceptions and misconceptions. Of course, it may not be all that important to know about most of these things, but I would surely be discreet in voicing my opinions about them without being informed.

**Ginsan** · 07-09-2015 03:08 PM

The fact that I have never come across any reason that I found compelling enough to believe that these things exist, convinces me to rule out their existence and be confident that there is no reason to research it. And I won't change my mind about it until I come across such a reason.

Do you think that these things and dozens, maybe hundreds of simlar things to the things I listed are likely to exist? Do you think that there might be an invisible untouchable unsmellable undectable monster in your closet that will only be detectable when it decides to eat you exists? If not, it's probably not because you have spent time researching this possibility.

**VinceField** · 07-09-2015 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by Ginsan

The fact that I have never come across any reason that I found compelling enough to believe that these things exist, convinces me to rule out their existence and be confident that there is no reason to research it. And I won't change my mind about it until I come across such a reason.

How could you come across a reason when you have never looked into it, and how will you ever come across such a reason when you presume that there is no reason to research it to begin with? Are you expecting to see that stuff on the 6 o'clock news?! Do you see the flaw in your logic here? You're doing things backwards. Only by researching will you know if there is a reason to believe that these things are possible. Until then, like I said before, you are trusting your preconceptions and misconceptions (these two usually go hand in hand), which is never a better choice than educating oneself.

Personally, I've had enough extraordinary experiences and come across some compelling evidence for things which I would have never believe were possible had I not done research and put in a little effort to provide the insight that nothing should be rejected out of hand.

**Ginsan** · 07-09-2015 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by VinceField

Are you expecting to see that s*** on the 6 o'clock news?!

No. I do no expect to find it on the 6 o'clock news. And for your information, I do not watch the 6 o'clock news or any o'clock news or any news for that matter. With the exception of this case: someone happened to start the television, open a channel where the news programme is being broadcast and I happened to be there, then I will obviously be watching the news.

Spoiler for I'm sorry. What I actually meant to say was......: