FINDING MY RELIGION: Psychiatrist Jim B. Tucker studies past-life memories of children

No one knows for sure what happens to us after death. But Dr. Jim Tucker is trying to find out.

Tucker is medical director of the Child and Family Psychiatric Clinic at the University of Virginia. He also works at the university's Division of Perceptual Studies, which scientifically investigates paranormal phenomena such as near-death experiences, ghosts and reincarnation.

His book "Life Before Life: A Scientific Investigation of Children's Memories of Previous Lives" (St. Martin's Press, 2005) tries to verify statements from children who claim to have had past-life experiences. The work continues the research of Dr. Ian Stevenson, who began studying children's apparent past-life recollections 45 years ago at the University of Virginia.

It's controversial terrain for a scientist, but Tucker takes his work quite seriously. The book has been heralded as "a first-rate piece of research" by Harvard biologist Michael Levin, and Booklist described it as "powerful grounds for credulous speculation." I spoke with him recently by phone from his office in Charlottesville, Va.

I got interested after I was remarried. I was trained at UVA in child psychiatry and wasn't feeling particularly fulfilled by that work. My wife was open to a lot of alternative things like psychic phenomena and New Age ideas, and that got me curious about them, too.

I think when I started looking at things, I became open to the possibility that we're more than just our physical bodies, that there is more to the world than just the physical universe. That's basically why I'm doing the work. Because I'm open to it, I want to see what I can learn about it.

No one knows for sure what happens to us after death. But Dr. Jim Tucker is trying to find out.

Now, how in the world does anyone make a claim like this? How does Tucker know that nobody knows what happens to us after death?

I mean, I know what happens to us. But, I have no expectation that anyone will take my word for it. So, why should I take his word? Because he is a doctor? Blah!

This article speaks of the good Dr. going to study Near-Death encounters. But what about people who have had death encounters? Not near death, but actual death? If he wants the real deal, he should seek out those who have actually died, then, came back to life.

Near-death encounters are as variant in experience as there are religions.

And the whole reincarnation thingy....please...here is a thought, and it is just as valid as any "expert" on reincarnation: Perhaps these "past lives" that "doctors" of the paranormal say are being recounted in children are nothing more than a spark of remembrance from one of their progenitors. Perhaps we carry the culmination of the memories of all our progenitors in our genetic make-up. I mean, that would certainly explain why more than two people have claimed to be Alexander the Great in a "past life."

I think this doctor is just another wacko out there trying to make a name for himself. He will never understand those of us who HAVE died, then, lived to tell about it. And telling the world is of no real significant consequence. It would change nothing. This doctor says this; this doctor says that; who cares? Well, evidently, this man does. And he should. He looks like death warmed over.

Arrowhead>>>---quacks-->

"Perhaps these "past lives" that "doctors" of the paranormal say are being recounted in children are nothing more than a spark of remembrance from one of their progenitors. Perhaps we carry the culmination of the memories of all our progenitors in our genetic make-up. I mean, that would certainly explain why more than two people have claimed to be Alexander the Great in a "past life."

I know, from my own experience, that all people possess innate "psychic" functioning. My opinion regarding "past lives" memories is that they are possibly getting flashes of past events, just as they can get flashes of present or future events. These tidbits of information aren't built into our physical DNA, but they are accessible because mind exists outside of time and space.

...because mind exists outside of time and space.

I am not so sure there is a such thing as being "outside of space and time." I am of the opinion that all things are in space and that space is eternal, meaning, that space goes on forever. Now, if that is true, then all things would be contained therein.

I also believe that matter, (which includes mind, energy, spirit) literally fills the immensity of space, making existence itself absolute density. Scientists having been trying to break down matter to a degree where they can find "nothing" in between whatever perceived particles they discover. However, they always discover something else.

I believe they never will because I think there is no such thing as nothing. As a matter of fact, even with some of the science I have read regarding this subject, scientists cannot even describe "nothing" without using terms of something. Which would certainly support my belief that matter fills the immensity of space.

I was in a dialogue with a college student several years back on the internet which stemmed from the topic of intelligent design. Of course he thought that intelligent design was a kooky notice and that we who believe in a supreme being had no evidence to back up our claims. He eventually asserted-which could be wrong because I know he does not speak for the scientific community-once scientists show that there is "nothing" between matter, that would prove that there is no God.

Well, considering that I have died once, seeing the otherside of the veil of death, there is no sufficient evidence that any scientist could mount to convince this ol fart there is no God. And the concepts of such nonsense from which people are subjecting themselves seem to do nothing more than confuse the issue.

Last night I visited a very spiritual member of my church. He shared a story with my wife and I saying that his daughter gave him a book outlaying what her personal beliefs are about Life. He conveyed her notions that she should be free enough to decide who or what God is or is not. Imagine that! She gets to decide who and what God is and is not. That is like saying I get to decide who YOU are only because I am free to do it.

It is sad that this nonsense seems so prevailing. But, then, I wonder if it is really confusion or is it a pathetic attempt to avoid what they know is true because they want to gratify their pride and cover their sins. How much more simpler it would be if everyone on this planet understood that the Source of our divine heritage all comes from the same Source.

Arrowhead>>>---confusion-->

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.