In Dublin in 1952, Erwin Schrödinger gave a lecture in which he jocularly warned his audience that what he was about to say might “seem lunatic”. He said that when his equations seemed to describe several different histories, these were “not alternatives, but all really happen simultaneously”. (source)
Over time, the idea of a multiverse has gone from “lunatic” to a legitimate scientific theory.
This is an example of how the standards for what is legitimate and scientific change over time, according to Kuhn these changes follow predictable patterns (paradigms and paradigm shifts).
Since our current paradigms have been unable to explain consciousness or subjective experience, we are probably going to see a paradigm shift in these fields in the future.
So, rebirth and kamma may well be considered legitimate and scientific concepts 50 years from now.
I guess maybe seeing the similarities between the methods described in the EBTs and methods of science.
Since I have access to my own experience, I can try out the EBT practices and see if I am able to reproduce the causal sequences described there, for example the sequence in AN 11.2.
I think the EBTs are extremely rational in this sense; here is the practice, here is the causal sequence of experiences that arises due to the practice.
In this sense, the EBTs are less faith based than science. I am not able to reproduce the experiments done to verify evolution, I have to take textbooks and scientists on faith, i.e. trust that they’re not deceiving me.
However, I can (at least try to) reproduce the experiments of the EBTs (though maybe one has to ordain to do it by the book). All I need is a mind and body