Ha, I didnt even realize that was you. Ended up telling you pretty much the same thing twice, lol.

I do think that suffering has enough implications in everyday reality to be very practical as well though. I think it wouldn't be unfair to assume that a large many of Buddhists are drawn to the teaching for this very reason.

But I do see your point though, with this and the Thanissaro book. I don't doubt that the Buddha did mean what he said by these things. Just from a personal perspective, I've always veiwed it as "hey, what do I know. There may be past lives and rebirth, or not." I cant rule out that the Buddha was actually correct that this actually does happen. Or it may be that he was witnessing a hallucination caused by delving deeply into these meditative states with religious things in mind. Or even that he was just misleading people. But for me to make that decision is a moot point because I cannot at this point know.

Buddhism does have an element of faith involved, but honestly, I dont think much more is required than to sort of take up an attitude of "testing" the teaching sort of scientifically in your personal experience. As is mentioned in the Kalama Suttra:

"Just as gold is tested by being burnt, cut and rubbed, the learned should accept my words only after examining them, not simply out of faith or other such reasons....

He goes on in this sutra to say:

Do not believe something thinking, "This is what our teacher says". [Do not be led by what your teacher tells you is so.]

Kalamas, when you yourselves directly know, "This is [these things are] unwholesome, this is blameworthy, this is condemned or censured by the wise, these things when accepted and practised lead to poverty and harm and suffering," then you should give them up.

Kalamas, when you yourselves directly know, "These things are wholesome, blameless, praised by the wise; when adopted and carried out they lead to well-being, prosperity and happiness," then you should accept and practise them."

But then also this Sutra does have the oft overlooked element of "not disregarding something based on your sensibilities or prior ways of thinking", which can be taken as telling you to go into the teaching fully, mystical elements and all. But still, the aspect of "testing" the worth and trueness of the teaching yourself is definitely important.

So, I guess you can say the element of faith in Buddhism is pretty nuanced.