I was very intrigued by the story on Ian Stevenson on past lives as told by children. It brought up many questions or thoughts about why it is heard of more often in other countries. I suppose it could be a culturally learned thing. But I think more likely it is a problem with a closed minded society here in America. Western philosophy seems to be filled with "ME" more than Eastern I wonder if these countries where more children talk about these things are Eastern or Western in their views.
Maybe it's a stigma or stereotype problem in America. Heaven forbid we believe in something that has not been scientifically proven. If everyone believed this than there would never again be any new scientific discoveries.
I think that since neither side can prove their theory or disprove the other side's theory then we should just leave it up to the individual to decide. We each have our own reality. No two people have the same one.
I personally belive in past lives and reincarnation. Not because I have experienced anything to make me believe I have had one, but because there are way too many things that can not be explained away by modern science. Other similar issues are believing in ghosts, spirit guides, or any other "unexplained phenomena".
Ian Stevenson's story intrigued me enough that I would like to know more about it and would like to know where to look if anyone has any more info than was on the handout.