reasons for rejecting the validity of the idea of reincarnation

PHILOSOPHICAL REASONS:

What is reincarnation based on? It is yet another example of the - good deed meets with reward - system, which is also propagated in other religions such as Islam and Christianity. Retribution seems to be a very humanly concept. Only a human, who is aware of mortal afflictions would think of using such a mechanism to preclude people from doing things that he deems 'wrong'. As Einstein put it - "If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed."

Also, the Hindus might feel like this concept somehow justifies god giving aids to children in Africa, but it doesn't. In fact it makes it all worse. Thinking that someone is destined to live a certain life based on unfounded religious claims is abhorrent. The story of reincarnation was perhaps made up to keep the poor and underprivileged "in check". To make them accept their 'reality' without question. To have them tolerating the unfairness of it all. Not to mention that the things they did in their 'previous lives' are supposed to be immoral according to religion. The belief in reincarnation gives them the gall to tell a deprived person, that his condition is a result of the 'sins' he committed, which neither of them are aware of.

SCIENTIFIC AND LOGICAL REASONS:

Well, this should be fairly obvious to a rational human being. First off, this belief is based upon an outright un-falsifiability fallacy. As for the technical part, there are many explanations for the apparent knowledge of past lives, such as Cryptoamnesia. Also, the religious should provide empirical evidence to substantiate their claims as, for an un-falsifiable claim, the burden of proof lies on the person who makes it. All 'evidence' given is very weak, disputable and anecdotal. Check out this insightful article:

https://www.livescience.com/7737-reality-reincarnation.html

This concept being true would mean that human "souls"(which somehow only religions seems to understand) are inter convertible to animal souls and compatible with animal bodies. The sentience of an animal is simply not as complex as that of a human. It is rather amusing how religion, which is comprised of concepts as illogical and primitive as sexism and homophobia, is perfectly capable of wrapping its head around the insanely hard problem of consciousness.