Would this be decent evidence for reincarnation?

[Fidel_Castronaut]

Still zero evidence, though.

Statically these accounts are significant as there are only a certain number of things anyone would by coincidence be able to guess. And these aren't general statements that could apply to anyone like cold reading technique or astrology. So yes this is evidence of some kind for something.

Statistically they are meaningless without evidence to back them up. They very well could be evidence of something, which is to say, they could be evidence of nothing at all.

Until all other avenues have been explained, the the assertions succeed in holding up to rigorous scrutiny, I still dismiss it as woo.

But this is something you can put to the test by seeing if they actually remember where they lived and what details of their families. They're getting these details right with an alarmingly rate of accuracy. Adults may have the means pull a con job for some media attention/money as there's a motivation there. But a 5 year old would have to be some kind of super genius and they would lack these motivations. So these are excellent specimens overall. This is a potential lead into something an interesting phenomenon.

But, again, that does not thus equate to the thesis of reincarnation being right. You're putting the cart before the horse and presuming the thesis is correct using the suppositional 'evidence' that is provided. This is the wrong way around.

Eliminate all other possiblities. What you are left with must be a semblance of the truth. The research currently conducted seems eons away from that at the moment. It could be explained away perfectly by natural, easily verified data. It could be nothing, just a blip of coincidence. It could be lies.

You automatically infer 'past life memories' in your above. There is no evidence of this, which is why I dismiss it.

It would apparently be the the best explanation. I once read a Muslims (they reject reincarnation) account that past life memories are formed from encounters/conversations with departing souls heading up to heaven just before you're born. That's technically possible as well I suppose but the simple explanation is the best one.

Not good enough. 'Apparently the best explaination' to me = no evidence, just presumption and guesswork. Again, I refuse to accept this as 'true' until all avenues of exploration have been conducted and all other explanations dismissed. This is not the case. Even the book you cite admits this.

Parsimony doesn't equate to adequate, especially not in this case, and especially when the data is so lacking.
[/b]