[Ronin]

A person's word is considered evidence in courts of law. Just how much weight it gets depends on the the court, the person and his/her credibility.

I did not say it was evidence you would accept. I didn't even say I accepted it. But the fact that neither you nor I accept it does not preclude others from accepting it.

[beavus]

But the fact that neither you nor I accept it does not preclude others from accepting it.

People can claim to accept anything I suppose. I was just curious about your standards of evidence for, well, claims that really defy all experience and observation.

I suppose if the Buddha was a good and decent man, and he preached reincarnation, then that's a pretty darn good case for the existence of reincarnation. Especially against some nasty slob skeptic who probably beats his cows.

You're right, we tend to put far to much weight in the merits of arguments and not nearly enough in the characters of the arguers.