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    What is Reincarnation Research?

    Reincarnation: A Natural Phenomenon

    Most people think of reincarnation as purely a religious or spiritual idea. Not surprising, when every major religion either fully embraces reincarnation (e.g., Buddhism, Hinduism), includes reincarnationist sects (e.g., Islam, Judaism), or was once reincarnationist (e.g., early Christianity). However, if reincarnation happens, it’s a natural phenomenon worth studying.

    Dr. Ian Stevenson: The Pioneer of Scientific Reincarnation Research

    A Life Dedicated to Discovery

    Dr. Ian Stevenson (1918–2007) was a Canadian doctor and psychiatrist whose research at the University of Virginia transformed the study of reincarnation from a philosophical concept into a field of scientific inquiry.

     

    Photo of Dr. Ian Stevenson courtesy of the Division of Perceptual Studies, University of Virginia

    A New Scientific Approach to Reincarnation

    In 1959, Dr. Stevenson recognized that reincarnation could be studied scientifically by focusing on people—especially children—who claimed to remember details from past lives. Over the next 45 years, he developed a rigorous methodology to investigate these claims.

    The Research Process

    1. Interviews

      • With the subject (the person with memories).
      • With others who had heard the subject discuss their memories.

    2. Documentation

      • Collecting records or any physical evidence related to the memories.

    What He Investigated

    • Memories: Names, places, activities, and major events recalled from the past life.
    • Behaviors: Unusual likes, dislikes, fears, abilities, or desires that reflected past-life influences.
    • Physical Signs: Birthmarks or scars corresponding to injuries from the past life.

    Confirming Past Lives

    Dr. Stevenson’s work didn’t stop at identifying memories; he worked to confirm their accuracy by:

    • Matching the Memories
      Finding a deceased individual whose life matched the subject’s memories.

    • Fact-Checking
      Interviewing those who knew the deceased, and verifying details using:

      • Military records
      • Hospital records
      • Police reports
      • Autopsy reports

    If the match was statistically unlikely to happen by chance, Stevenson took the research further.

    Ruling Out Alternative Explanations

    Dr. Stevenson scrutinized each case, ruling out:

    • Knowledge acquired through other means (e.g., books, movies, or hearsay).
    • Fraud (e.g., families seeking attention or financial gain).
    • Delusion or mental health issues.
    • Psychic activity as an alternative explanation.

    Only when reincarnation was the only plausible explanation would he publish the case or add it to his collection.

    A Remarkable Legacy

    A Vast Collection of Evidence

    During his first research trip to Asia in 1960, Dr. Stevenson expected challenges in finding cases. Instead, he was inundated with reports, collecting cases by the dozen. By the end of his career, he and his team had amassed:

    • 2,500 total cases
    • 1,700 conclusively solved cases
    • 500 published cases

    Continuing the Work

    Dr. Ian Stevenson passed away in 2007, but his legacy lives on through the researchers he trained. The field of reincarnation studies continues to evolve, with new methods, directions, and support ensuring its growth.

    Investigating cases is only the first step. What comes next could unlock deeper truths about human consciousness.

     

     

    How Reincarnation Cases Are Typically investigated

    Collection, followed by investigation, are the first steps that investigators take when exploring a case typical of reincarnation.

    In cases that are characterized as typical of reincarnation, the investigative process usually begins with a systematic approach to gathering information and evidence.

    Here’s how an investigator might approach these first steps in a single case:

    Step One

    INVESTIGATING AND COLLECTING CASES

    • Collection of Claims and Testimonies

      The initial phase involves collecting detailed accounts from the individual who claims to have memories of a past life. This also includes gathering testimonies from family, friends, and others who might have heard the individual speak about these memories.

    • Documentation and Verification

      The investigator documents all the details provided about the past life memories, such as names, dates, locations, and specific events. The next step is to verify these details against historical records, birth and death registers, and any other relevant documents.

    • Analysis of the Information

      This step involves analyzing the information for consistency and checking for any possible natural explanations such as cryptomnesia (unconscious memory recall), fraud, or exposure to information about the alleged past life through media or other sources.

    • Interviews and Psychological Assessment

      The investigator may conduct further interviews not only with the claimant but also with others relevant to the claimed past life. Psychological assessments may also be performed to understand the mental state of the claimant and to rule out any psychological disorders that might influence their memories.

    • Cross-Verification

      If the reincarnation claim involves memories of being a specific person, efforts will be made to cross-verify the details with the history and known facts of that person’s life. This could involve traveling to locations from the claimed past life, interviewing people who knew the deceased person, or accessing private records.

    • Compilation of Findings

      Finally, all the gathered information and the results from the verification process are compiled into a comprehensive report. This report assesses the credibility of the reincarnation claim and may include any unexplained phenomena or inconsistencies.

    Step Two

    ANALYSIS OF CORRELATIONS AND PATTERNS

    The second step in investigating reincarnation cases, which involves the analysis of correlations and patterns, seeks to uncover any regularities or systematic features that might suggest reincarnation functions as a genuine natural phenomenon.

    • Collection and Preparation of Data

      Investigators gather comprehensive data from multiple cases of reported reincarnation. This data includes specific details about the individual's memories, any corroborative evidence provided, psychological assessments, and details about the socio-cultural context of the claimants.

    • Statistical Analysis

      With the data collected, investigators employ statistical methods to analyze it. They look for commonalities across different cases, such as the age at which individuals recall past life memories, the nature of these memories (e.g., violent or peaceful past life experiences), and any recurring themes or details (like names, places, gender or professions). The goal is to identify statistically significant patterns that recur across cases which could not be attributed to chance.

    • Surveys and Additional Research

      Surveys may be conducted among people who report past life memories to gather more structured and quantitative data about their experiences. This might include questions about the clarity of their memories, any emotional or psychological effects related to these memories, and how these experiences align with their current life circumstances.

    • Identification of Patterns

      The analysis often reveals patterns that suggest a certain predictability or regularity in how these reincarnation experiences manifest. For example, investigators might find that certain types of past life memories are more prevalent in specific cultural or geographic regions, or that certain psychological traits are common among those who report reincarnation memories.

    • Hypothesis Formation

      Based on observed patterns, researchers can form hypotheses regarding the mechanisms of reincarnation. For instance, if a significant number of cases involve individuals recalling past lives as specific types of people (like artisans, soldiers, etc.), one might hypothesize about the relevance of certain life experiences that carry over through reincarnation.

    • Testing and Refinement

      The hypotheses are then tested through further investigations and analyses. This may involve longitudinal studies to track how reported past life memories impact individuals over time or controlled experiments designed to test specific aspects of the reincarnation phenomenon.