To say that Sam was obsessed with reincarnation would not have been too wide off the mark. His childhood experience pointed in that direction, but how could he be sure? How could anyone be sure?
In his search for the truth in this regard, he discovered that early Church Fathers, like Origen, definitely held the immortality of the spirit to be a fact; as did many of the classic (and many more recent) philosophers. But did they know? Or just speculate? Pythagoras, Plato, Plotinus. Did they know?
Also, the cynic in him was convinced that political as well as economic interests had seen the early Church leaders (and translators) purge the Bible of any mention of, or reference to, or even hint of, reincarnation. Surviving death made a mockery of Hell and was very bad for business.
What does happen after we die? It was a question he would not, could not let go of. He simply had to find out.
His curiosity knew no bounds.