Posted by: G. Fields
State the Claim: Belief in reincarnation is the belief that the soul, which departs from the body at death, re-enters at birth in another body (human or animal).
Examine the Evidence for the claim: Leading reincarnation researcher Dr. Ian Stephenson believes there is compelling evidence for reincarnation. Here we have five proofs: hypnotic regression, déjà vu, Xenoglossy, birthmarks, and the Bible. The first proof is hypnotic regression. Reincarnation proponents cite examples of individuals giving vivid and accurate descriptions of people, places, and events the individual could not have previously known. However, the accuracy of facts attained from hypnosis remains highly questionable. First, some people are known to have lied under hypnosis. Second, human memory is subject to distortions of all sorts. Third, under hypnosis a patient's awareness of fantasy and reality is blurred. Fourth, studies have shown that under hypnosis, patients are easily influenced by leading questions. In the process of hypnosis, the patient is asked to release control of his/her consciousness and body. In this state, memories can be altered by cues from the hypnotist. For these reasons, many courts of law do not consider testimony under hypnosis reliable evidence. Past life recall can also be attributed to the influence of culture. Cultures heavily steeped in the doctrine of reincarnation create an environment conducive to past life recall. The countries of India, Sri Lanka, Burma, and western Asia have a very high number of cases. Many who make claims of past life recall win the respect of their society. In areas like these, the culture can have a strong influence on one's subconscious mind. If reincarnation is true, past life recall should be prevalent in all cultures, not primarily in one area. Finally, the majority of the incidents occur among children. Dr. Stephenson states, "Many of those claiming to have lived before are children. Often they are very emotional when they talk of the person they used to be, and they give minute details of the life they lived." Children are the most susceptible to suggestion and their testimony should be viewed with caution. At best, the evidence from hypnotic regression can only suggest a possibility of reincarnation, but it does not conclusively prove it.
Déjà vu refers to a distinct feeling you have been to a place or performed an event before, while engaged in something that is presently happening. Reincarnation enthusiasts attribute this to a previous life. However, researchers give alternate explanations. In our subconscious, we often relate a present event with a past one that the conscious mind does not remember. Since the two events are similar we often fuse the events together in our minds, therefore creating an impression that we have experienced this before. Other researchers have shown that the data that enters the eye is sometimes delayed for a microsecond on its way to the brain. This leads one to think that they have seen the data before.
Xenoglossy is the sudden ability to speak a language one has never learned. Reincarnation believers attribute this as the language one spoke in a previous life. However, crypto amnesia can account for this phenomenon. In crypto amnesia, an individual forgets information that was learned earlier and recalls it at a later time, not knowing its source. It is possible that one can hear foreign terms through the media or as a child and recall these when prompted.
The fourth proof is the appearance of unique birthmarks that are similar to those possessed by a deceased individual. However, it is difficult to show any connection to reincarnation. Similarity does not prove sameness.
These alternative explanations can explain most of the evidences for reincarnation. However, we must entertain the possibility of demonic possession where a foreign spirit takes control of the person as demonstrated several times throughout the New Testament. Demonic spirits have existed for thousands of years and are not limited by time and space. The information they possess can be injected into a person's mind during possession. Eastern meditation techniques allow for this possibility. Even reincarnation advocates believe that many cases of past life recall can be attributed to possession. They confess that it is difficult to determine whether a past life recall is the result of reincarnation or possession. Although the evidence can be interpreted to support reincarnation, it cannot conclusively prove it.
Consider Alternative Hypotheses:
Hypothesis 1: Reincarnation is the assumption that there is a pre-existing soul before birth and continues after death.
Hypothesis 2: The accepted belief of reincarnation is that the soul, upon death of the body, comes back to earth in another body or form.
Rate, According to the Criteria of Adequacy, Each Hypothesis:
1. Testability – There is no way to test the hypotheses. Stevenson argued that the 3,000 or so cases he studied supported the possibility of reincarnation, though he was always careful to refer to them as "cases suggestive of reincarnation," or "cases of the reincarnation type.” He also recognized a limitation, or the "modus operandi problem", namely the absence of evidence of a physical process by which a personality could survive death and travel to another body.
2. Fruitfulness – The hypotheses do not yield observable, surprising predictions that would explain this phenomena.
3. Scope - First, reincarnation teaches that the migration of the soul occurs over many lifetimes while resurrection occurs once. Second, reincarnation teaches we inhabit many different bodies while resurrection teaches we inhabit only one body on earth and a glorified immortal body in heaven that resembles our earthly one. Third, reincarnation teaches we are in an evolutionary progress to union with God while resurrection teaches we arrive at our ultimate state immediately at death.
4. Simplicity – I do not believe the claim could be explained any simpler.
5. Conservatism – Not everyone believes in reincarnation. Those religions which have their origin in India (Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.) believe that this soul survives after death and is reborn in the body of another person or living being. With that being said, it is difficult to say if the hypothesis is consistent with our well-founded beliefs. Paranormal claims are improbable, and they conflict with what we already know.
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Hypothesis 3: People claiming to be reincarnated are actually suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder, a psychological condition.
Testability: As a medical condition, Dissociative Identity Disorder is diagnosed with a great deal of expert input, although it is still controversial and diagnosis can be very subjective. Psychologists and Psychiatrists look at multiple symptoms as criteria for diagnosing the condition. Many of the symptoms are similar to those of individuals claiming to have memories of past lives, especially in cases where the past personality appears to take over the present one. As reincarnation is regarded as a supernatural phenomenon, it is impossible to prove or disprove it, but it is possible to determine whether some alleged cases of reincarnation are actually explainable as DID.
Fruitfulness: This hypothesis provides several observable phenomena in regards to many of the symptoms described in reincarnation cases. When diagnosing Dissociative Identity Disorder a psychologist or psychiatrist would use four main criteria. First, he would determine whether the person had a traumatic experience or exposure to a catastrophic event in which death or serious injury was a possibility. Second, he would look for the demonstration of two or more distinct personalities within the same individual, each with its own name, history, way of thinking and interacting with others. Third, he would determine whether two or more personalities would control the individual, one at a time, and multiple times. Fourth, the person would experience extended periods of forgetfulness that last longer than what would be considered normal. If drugs or substance abuse can be ruled out, and if the individual is not a child demonstrating imaginative play, then that person can be diagnosed with DID. Scope: The criteria for diagnosing Dissociative Identity Disorder explains several common traits of those claiming to be reincarnated individuals. There are several cases where an individual will be "taken over" by their past personality for hours or days at a time, and when they return to their original state, they do not remember what they said or did. Both of these traits are consistent with the symptoms of DID. Also, in many cases, the past personality describes traumatic events, specifically relating to possible causes of death, also consistent with DID. These examples meet all four of the main criteria for diagnosing DID.
Simplicity: DID does not explain the cases of alleged reincarnation where individuals can speak in a language which they've never learned. Also, individuals diagnosed with DID usually have more than one or two personalities (up to 100), and their alternate personalities are not people who have been proven to have actually existed in the past. However, DID does not call into consideration the existence of a soul or a spiritual plane of existence, neither of which can be proven. Still, the questions left unanswered make this a less than satisfactory explanation. Reincarnation is a simpler hypothesis to explain these phenomena.
Conservatism: This hypothesis is consistent with well founded beliefs in Western society, which lean mainly towards scientific explanations over supernatural. DID is a more acceptable theory to the majority of society. However, there is a great deal of controversy surrounding the study and diagnosis of DID, just as there is concerning reincarnation.
Fruitfulness: This hypothesis provides several observable phenomena in regards to many of the symptoms described in reincarnation cases. When diagnosing Dissociative Identity Disorder a psychologist or psychiatrist would use four main criteria. First, he would determine whether the person had a traumatic experience or exposure to a catastrophic event in which death or serious injury was a possibility. Second, he would look for the demonstration of two or more distinct personalities within the same individual, each with its own name, history, way of thinking and interacting with others. Third, he would determine whether two or more personalities would control the individual, one at a time, and multiple times. Fourth, the person would experience extended periods of forgetfulness that last longer than what would be considered normal. If drugs or substance abuse can be ruled out, and if the individual is not a child demonstrating imaginative play, then that person can be diagnosed with DID. Scope: The criteria for diagnosing Dissociative Identity Disorder explains several common traits of those claiming to be reincarnated individuals. There are several cases where an individual will be "taken over" by their past personality for hours or days at a time, and when they return to their original state, they do not remember what they said or did. Both of these traits are consistent with the symptoms of DID. Also, in many cases, the past personality describes traumatic events, specifically relating to possible causes of death, also consistent with DID. These examples meet all four of the main criteria for diagnosing DID.
Simplicity: DID does not explain the cases of alleged reincarnation where individuals can speak in a language which they've never learned. Also, individuals diagnosed with DID usually have more than one or two personalities (up to 100), and their alternate personalities are not people who have been proven to have actually existed in the past. However, DID does not call into consideration the existence of a soul or a spiritual plane of existence, neither of which can be proven. Still, the questions left unanswered make this a less than satisfactory explanation. Reincarnation is a simpler hypothesis to explain these phenomena.
Conservatism: This hypothesis is consistent with well founded beliefs in Western society, which lean mainly towards scientific explanations over supernatural. DID is a more acceptable theory to the majority of society. However, there is a great deal of controversy surrounding the study and diagnosis of DID, just as there is concerning reincarnation.
