Citation:
Haraldsson, Erlendur. “Persistence of Past-Life Memories: Study of Adults Who Claimed in
Their Childhood to Remember a Past Life.” Journal of Scientific Exploration, vol. 22, no.
3, Fall 2008, pp. 385–394. EBSCOhost,
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The article named “Persistence of Past-Life Memories: Study of Adults Who Claimed in
Their Childhood to Remember a Past Life” refers to the case study done on adults from the ages of 19 to 49 who once had past life experiences. The study used a questionnaire and also took into account the relatives of these subjects as a way to verify the information; they too received a questionnaire. The study finds that over ⅓ of the participants have retained this childhood memory. From this, 55% of people found that their memories have been wiped, but 12% claim to have clear memories, and 45% are in the middle, but more towards having some type of memory. While some children had negative experiences that worked into their adult life, for the most part, the adults have not been magnificently affecting by their past life experiences as a child.
Author(s):
The author is Erlendur Haraldsson, who is a professor of psychology at the University of Iceland. He has published several academic papers and books about parapsychology. His contribution to children’s past-life memories was expanded when he was involved with research with well-known psychiatrist Ian Stevenson. This academic journal of one of many that tackles both reincarnation/children’s past lives.
Key Terms:
Past life memory: The study uses the term memory to describe how well the subjects still remember their childhood past life experiences.
Adult life: The study also emphasized the effects of one’s adult life since these subject’s childhood could be viewed as “abnormal.”
Three Quotes:
“Of 16 persons who reported still having past-life memories as a continuation of their childhood memories, five stated that they most clearly remembered persons that they knew in the previous life, four remembered clearly events or circumstances that led to their death, or how they died, and three most clearly remembered what they used to do or sometimes did.” (Haraldsson 388)
“Half of the subjects (51%) stated that their memories had been helpful and had a positive impact on them.” (Haraldsson 390)
“Generally speaking, these children seem to have fared well in life, and a larger number of them than their peers managed to reach a high level of education” (Haraldsson 392)
Value:
When looking at “the fade” or the cross-section of when childhood memories and adult memories merge, this study considers the realities for adults with past lives. The statistical numbers mentioned will provide a reasonable basis for any additional information that I find to support or deny these claims and feed into exploring this faded memory.
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