Reincarnation, and the problem of an open mind

[AUTHOR'S NOTE: As a Christian, I will admit this is information that I have trouble reconciling with my religious beliefs, and it especially bothers me because it's something that wouldn't upset me if true -- it actually solves theological issues I have about sticky issues such as the premature death of a child. As a human being, curiosity got the better of me, and I've learned that I cannot simply reject the idea of reincarnation. Like Dr. Tucker, I'm merely more open to the possibility, in the light of evidence such as that I'm about to describe.] Little five-year-old Ryan from rural Muskogee County, Oklahoma began having nightmares involving a past life. Ryan claimed he had been a well-known actor who lived in Hollywood, had a sister who was a famous dancer, and once knew Rita Hayworth. He said that he had been really rich, married multiple times, loved Chinatown and Chinese food, lived in a house with a swimming pool on “rocks” drive, owned some sort of agency that changed names, and provided a host of other details about this mysterious "previous life." Ryan's father Kevin, a police officer with thirteen years experience, proposed that mother Cyndi should keep track of all Ryan’s past-life claims. To be precise, over a period of several months Cyndi documented 102 unique claims that her son made about a past life. Meanwhile, Ryan's nightmares continued to get worse. He would turn white and gasp for air, struggling for every breath. He talked about things that seemed gibberish, like a meeting in a New York graveyard with someone he called "Senator … [Read more...]