|
|
 |
|
|
TV investigates boy’s past life claim
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
 GLASGOW, SCOTLAND. In her search for an explanation of her son’s apparent memories of a past life, on the island of Barra, in the Outer Hebrides, 220 miles from his Glasgow home, his mother has taken him to various experts.
Since he could speak, Cameron has referred to that life in various ways. “I’m a Barra boy”, he declares, as well as indicating a strong emotional attachment to his mother in that life. His past life memories follow a similar pattern to those we see in other cases.
Fortunately, he and his mother, Norma, were followed by a TV crew from UK’s Channel 5 who were making a series on “Extraordinary People”, currently being shown, so we are given insights not only into what is going on in the mind of this five-year-old, but also the minds of the experts who mostly prefer alternative theories – none of which totally satisfied his mother. The programme was screened on 18 September, 2006.
A sceptical psychologist suggests he has picked up information about Barra from watching television or from a family friend. But an educational psychologist says the way he speaks of his past life is not the same as how young children talk about imaginary friends. They know the friends are not real and are in control. Cameron, on the other hand, appears to believe what he talks about.
But it is clear to the viewer that Cameron is in no doubt that what he is remembering is real. At the encouragement of Dr Jim Tucker, who has investigated many cases of children recalling past lives and has flown to Scotland from the University of Virginia, US, to investigate it further, Norma takes Cameron to Barra to see whether a visit will improve his memories and, perhaps, provide corroboration of his story.
His memories of small planes landing in the beach, and his desciption of a house in which he claims to have lived, seem to be confirmed by the visit. But when the house's owners are traced, there are no reported deaths in the family or associated with the house. In other words, there is no one who could have reincarnated as Cameron.
And yet, the TV documentary records the marked change in Cameron's personality when he enters the house he seems to recall as “home". It was an inconclusive but nevertheless fascinating and unsensational investigation, with Cameron's mother impressively trying to be matter-of-fact and open-minded about the situation she found herself in.
|
Posted on Monday, September 18, 2006
Category: Reincarnation
|
| Return |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|