[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.

[Ronin]

Point in fact, Buddha never claimed reincarnation was on the schedule. Buddhist sects that claim reincarnation as doctrine came into existence after his death.

If I recall correctly, Siddhartha Gautama refused to speculate on any existence other than the one he was experiencing at the time. Reincarnation as a doctrine and as it relates to karma is Hinduism in origin.