...and a simple, single postulate is good to illustrate the logical truth "From false premises, anything follows." Copernicus' theory was testable, but was, as you note, resisted until ways were devised to demonstrate and support it.

There are so many ways to explain the 'notion' of past lives with REAL data, that propping it up with recounting of coincidences, interesting stories and wishful thinking requires a pretty elaborate bit of Gerrymandering of the logical landscape.

So VERY many ideas are put forth these days prefaced by, "I believe that..." and then defended by reference to almost any collection of vaguely supportive affirmations by others who also believe.
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"Probable impossibilities are to be preferred to improbable possibilities."        Aristotle
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"Results! Why man, I have gotten a lot of results. I know several thousand things that won't work"   - Thomas Alva Edison

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Religion (n) - The awe in which we hold our ignorance.
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"Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned."

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