It is difficult to find people who take a scientific research approach
to reincarnation. Many people collect different types of evidence on
specific cases that could potentially be used to test a scientifically
formulated hypothesis, but it is usually not collected or evaluated to
meet the criterion of objectivity required by scientists.*
Science
requires a simple, but rigorous process: Acceptance of a hypothesis
requires (1) that the evidence for and against it can be tested by both
the believer and the skeptic, (2) that verifiable evidence best
explains the hypothetical assumption, and (3) that such evidence cannot
be attributed to chance or accident. When these conditions are met, one
can then claim a plausible, working hypothesis—until further scientific
efforts improve on it. (A good example is the ongoing public debate
about "black holes" and "dark energy.")
However, since most
scientists dismiss the notion of reincarnation, little professional
thought has been given to the formulation of a testable hypothesis. At
this point, it not possible to prove the general theory of
reincarnation since science cannot prove something that is claimed to
take place in other dimensions (like an ethereal soul that lives between
lifetimes). Several theoretical explanations (archetypes, holistic
memory, morphic fields, and others) can equally explain the memories,
habits, and features often attributed to reincarnation.**
Prior
to this project (read the comments from Mishlove, Shealy and others at
the Peer Review page) no one had developed a testable scientific model
of what appears to be reincarnated and how it seems to occur. Until a
testable model along the lines suggested by this experiment is used by
a large number of people, people who believe in individual, linear
reincarnation will not be able to prove that theory is better than some
other explanation.
We can use scientific methods to develop a
persuasive case that the measurable similarities that Ian Stevenson,
this project, and others have found between present and previous lives
require a mechanism like the Greek notion of reincarnation to explain
them. Stevenson tentatively labeled that mechanism psychophore, but did
not develop a model that could be tested. The Reincarnation Experiment
has developed a more detailed model than Stevenson's known as a
psychoplasm (or soul genome). It can be tested by specific and
measurable factors that show to what extent a person today objectively
resembles a previous personality.
This model produces data
which suggests that there is little likelihood that another explanation
can explain the correspondences in the cases reported in the project
and many other strong cases we know about. At this stage of research,
this is the best we can do to make a scientific case for sequential
reincarnation.
Only after we develop a large number of strong
cases based on objective data (or at least data that different people
can evaluate for themselves) that cannot be logically attributed to
chance, can we support the claim of a scientific approach to the
implications of and processes involved in what we popularly call
reincarnation.
We believe that the best current summary of the
scientific state of reincarnation is contained on this site and in the
publications it discusses. As new areas are targeted, we will note them here. For example, click here for discussion of iris
patterns in reincarnation research.
A long-term goal of the project is to
organize a symposium for researchers to discuss how their particular
areas of evidence or procedures could contribute to building a science
of reincarnation. Its aim would be to help each specialist
(psychologist, regression therapist, dream analyst, personality
theorist, channel of an extra-dimensional being, past-life-based coach,
geneticist, psychic reader, biometric analyst, historical
biographer, etc.) to develop an understanding of how their data
collections could help build a credible and comprehensive, scientific data-base. Only
after such interdisciplinary cooperation will we see the emergence of a
science of reincarnation.
___________________
*(Chapter 11 of
The Soul Genome discusses sources and methods that would improve the scientific quality of reincarnation research.)
** (These alternative arguments are described on pages 80-81 in
The Soul Genome.)