Theos-Talk Archives (July 1996 Message tt00024)

I have been waiting almost 9 years for the publication of this
book! I quote from the dustjacket of the book and then add my two
cents worth.  See below.  Daniel H.  Caldwell

R E I N C A R N A T I O N: A Critical Examination by Paul Edwards

Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books, 1996.  313 pp.  Cloth,
$28.95

How to order: From your local bookstore or call toll free & order
on your credit card: 1-800-421-0351 (Prometheus Books)

"In this book....[Paul Edwards] aims his razor-sharp intellect at
the delusions of yet another myth: reincarnation.  The book is
extremely comprehensive: all major arguments for reincarnation
are refuted...."

Adolf Grunbaum
Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Philosophy
University of Pittsburgh

"Paul Edwards bring his usual incisiveness, clarity, and wit to
bear on ancient beliefs that underlie much of the fuzzy thinking
of the New Age movement.  He deftly exposes the philosophical and
practical deficiencies of the concept of Karma and provides a
trenchant critique of the evidence in favor of reincarnation."

Barry L. Beyerstein
Brain-Behavior Laboratory
Simon Fraser University

> "This book is the first comprehensive and systematic evaluation
> of reincarnation and Karma in any language.  Several chapters are
> devoted to the alleged evidence for reincarnation---child
> prodigies, deja vu experiences, hypnotic regressions, and the
> reincarnation memories of a number of children, but also some
> adults, especially in India and in other countries where belief
> in reincarnation is widespread.  One chapter discusses the
> so-called Law of Karma showing that it is no law at all, offering
> only *post hoc* explanations."
>
> "There are both empirical and conceptual objections to
> reincarnation.  The theory is shown to be inconsistent with the
> population increases on the earth, the relative recency of life
> in the universe, and various features of evolutionary history.
> Reincarnationists are also faced with the problem of giving a
> coherent account of the identity of a person who is said to be
> the same in two different lives.  Equally seriously, they cannot
> offer a credible description of how the mind could make its
> transition from a dead body into the womb of the mother of its
> next incarnation.  They have to resort to the fantastic theory of
> an 'astral body' or 'spiritual' body.  Furthermore, we have
> enormous evidence that the mind or consciousness cannot exist
> without the brain.  The brain-mind-dependence facts undermine
> most forms of survival including reincarnation.  "
>
> "In addition to reincarnation and Karma, the book discusses in
> some detail the claims of the leading figures in the new
> immortality movement, which arose in the United States in the
> mid-1970s.  The writers targeted in this connection are Elisabeth
> Kubler-Ross; Raymond Moody, the author of the best-selling *Life
> After Life*, and Dr.  Stanislov Grof, who bases his belief on the
> experiences of patients during LSD sessions."
>
> Quoted from the dustjacket of Dr. Edwards' book.

> Paul Edwards (1923-- ) is the author of *The Logic of Moral
> Discourse,* *Heidegger and Death* and numerous articles in
> philosophical journals.  He is the editor of *The Encyclopedia of
> Philosophy,* *Voltaire,* and *Immortality." He has contributed to
> numerous reference works including *The Encyclopedia of
> Unbelief," *The Encyclopedia of Ethics," and most recently, *The
> Oxford Companion to Philosophy." In 1979, Columbia University
> awarded him the Nicholas Murray Butler Silver Medal for
> distinguished contributions to philosophy.  He currently teaches
> at the New School for Social Research in New York City.
>
> Quoted from the dustjacket of Dr. Edwards' book.

MY TWO CENTS WORTH

There are 17 chapters in this thought provoking book.  One of my
favorites is entitled: "The Dependence of Consciousness on the
Brain." In Chapter 16 on "More about Dr.  Ian Stevenson, the
'Galileo of Reincarnation', " Dr.  Edwards writes the following:

"Ian Wilson [in his book] ends his highly critical chapter of
Stevenson with the remark that in spite of all objections he has
raised, 'Stevenson may yet prove himself the Galileo of
reincarnation.' I do not see any danger of that.  What is
unfortunately very likely is that for a long time to come
ignorant and superstitious people all over the world will
continue to refer to Stevenson as the man who has provided strong
scientific evidence, if not indeed conclusive proof, of
reincarnation." (p.  277)

Students of Blavatsky, Theosophy, the New Age, various esoteric
disciplines, parapsychology, religion, philosophy, etc.  should
read this book.  Here is a healthy dose of scepticism and
commonsense.  You may not always agree with what Dr.  Edwards
writes, but his work makes for interesting reading.  Food for
thought!

Daniel H. Caldwell
The Blavatsky Foundation