Thoughts on Buddhism

[Frank]

I always hear these spiritualists talk about evidence of reincarnation (e.g. the story of a kid who remembers being a fighter pilot in a previous war or something to that affect). These stories are commonly centered around something a kid might find pretty cool (like being a fighter pilot, soldier, fireman, etc.). I've never heard of someone remembering their prior life as a cow or insect.

Indeed, but the stories are drummed up in such a way as to make them seem very believable. Most likely discarding important facts that might cast doubt over the claim.

I often wondered why none of the Buddhists I spoke to ever remembered past lives as a fly or a camel, or even as gods (gods in Buddhism are subject to rebirth also).

I think that they are most likely the product of our great ability to fantasize and imagine things in great detail.

My thoughts exactly. Again many of the stories originate with young children (toddlers mostly); not exactly a reliable source (obviously a highly impressionable age, and even if their parents didn't wittingly influence their fantasy, any number of things, most of which probably can't be traced, influence the thoughts of infants and toddlers). Moreover, these stories can be categorized along the lines of culture, which seriously damages their credibility.

I certainly appreciate the fact that people are mostly raised to believe what they believe; and in most cases even clergymen and theologians were raised in their respective belief systems (and sincerely believe the stuff, although I'm sure that's not true in all cases). I think Darwin made a comment at some point about the debate between theism and atheism (or softer varieties of skepticism). He said (I'm paraphrasing) it's not an issue that will be settled through debate; rather religion will wane over time in accordance with scientific advancement and the dissemination of scientific knowledge to the populace. I think he was exactly right.