Do You Believe in Ghosts?
There is something to be said for the popularity of countless books, movies and TV shows that deal with ghosts, poltergeists and other supernatural occurrences. Humans are intrigued by that which they can't explain, whether they truly believe in it or just enjoy the thrill of a good scary story. However, when it comes to paranormal phenomena, the line between fact and fiction is about as transparent as a ghostly apparition.
People from all walks of life have reported ghostly encounters as far back as records are kept. Even Abraham Lincoln claimed to have seen ghosts in the White House, and many other famous figures have reportedly seen Lincoln's ghost roaming the same halls. Most religions across the globe believe in some form of afterlife, so the existence of ghosts shouldn't be much of a stretch for them. Then there's the mountains of photographic, audio and video evidence that have been captured by paranormal researchers since the early 20th century. So why is it that society continues to deny the existence of ghosts? One should not live in fear of ridicule by admitting a first-hand paranormal experience to one's peers. Granted, some cultures are more accepting of such occurrences than others, but closed-mindedness and ignorance usually wins in keeping us from believing the unbelievable.
The real issue preventing universal acceptance of the paranormal is science. The generally accepted scientific method relies on observable and measurable behavior that can be tested to achieve a consistent result. Unfortunately, ghosts don't really work that way, but advances in paranormal research technology continue to yield incredible results. Thermal, infrared and full-spectrum imaging has been used by the likes of T.A.P.S. and other famous ghost hunting groups for years, capturing compelling evidence that experts can't debunk. But this evidence is still not consistent or measurable enough to fit the scientific mold, thus the field of paranormal research is considered a form of "pseudoscience". Perhaps we need a new scientific method, as the old one has been around since the 17th century. Furthermore, the current method basically refuted eastern medicinal practices that have been used throughout Asia for thousands of years. Again, this is a product of the closed-minded, ignorant mentality that's taken ahold of the modern world. People refuse to believe in supernatural forces occurring all around them, simply because they do not understand them.
So what is a ghost? What is a poltergeist? What makes a place "haunted"? The answers to these questions vary depending on the source. If you ever watch Ghost Hunters or a similar paranormal investigation show, for instance, you may understand that there can be 2 types of hauntings: residual and intelligent. Residual hauntings occur whether or not someone is there to witness them, and can be audible or visible in nature. They behave like a recording played on repeat, with the same words or motions, often at the same time every day or maybe just once in a while. They also seem to be more prevalent based on certain conditions, like the presence of limestone, proximity to water or even weather patterns. It's as if certain elements have the ability to store or fuel the energy that ghosts need to manifest. The same can be said for intelligent hauntings, though these tend to occur in response to the presence or actions of people. Intelligent ghosts have been known to respond directly to questions, either audibly, through EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon), or by manipulating an object. The latter, on rare occasions, can include physical contact with people. Research suggests that this is more of a way for ghosts to get attention and make their presence known than a blatant act of aggression. However, people have been known to get scratched or bitten by unseen forces from time to time, leading some to believe the entity may be evil or demonic. This is otherwise known as an inhuman spirit, and is a bit more of a controversial topic that will be discussed in a future post, along with poltergeists.
The intention of this blog is certainly not to frighten anyone, particularly those who are already plagued by paranormal activity. Rather, it should provide a greater understanding of the very real supernatural forces that are still denied by many. Aside from inhuman spirits and poltergeists, future posts will also delve into such topics as the difference between ghosts and spirits, and what to do if you think your home may be haunted. Stay tuned for explorations into other areas of so-called pseudoscience, as well.
Thanks for reading!
People from all walks of life have reported ghostly encounters as far back as records are kept. Even Abraham Lincoln claimed to have seen ghosts in the White House, and many other famous figures have reportedly seen Lincoln's ghost roaming the same halls. Most religions across the globe believe in some form of afterlife, so the existence of ghosts shouldn't be much of a stretch for them. Then there's the mountains of photographic, audio and video evidence that have been captured by paranormal researchers since the early 20th century. So why is it that society continues to deny the existence of ghosts? One should not live in fear of ridicule by admitting a first-hand paranormal experience to one's peers. Granted, some cultures are more accepting of such occurrences than others, but closed-mindedness and ignorance usually wins in keeping us from believing the unbelievable.
The real issue preventing universal acceptance of the paranormal is science. The generally accepted scientific method relies on observable and measurable behavior that can be tested to achieve a consistent result. Unfortunately, ghosts don't really work that way, but advances in paranormal research technology continue to yield incredible results. Thermal, infrared and full-spectrum imaging has been used by the likes of T.A.P.S. and other famous ghost hunting groups for years, capturing compelling evidence that experts can't debunk. But this evidence is still not consistent or measurable enough to fit the scientific mold, thus the field of paranormal research is considered a form of "pseudoscience". Perhaps we need a new scientific method, as the old one has been around since the 17th century. Furthermore, the current method basically refuted eastern medicinal practices that have been used throughout Asia for thousands of years. Again, this is a product of the closed-minded, ignorant mentality that's taken ahold of the modern world. People refuse to believe in supernatural forces occurring all around them, simply because they do not understand them.
So what is a ghost? What is a poltergeist? What makes a place "haunted"? The answers to these questions vary depending on the source. If you ever watch Ghost Hunters or a similar paranormal investigation show, for instance, you may understand that there can be 2 types of hauntings: residual and intelligent. Residual hauntings occur whether or not someone is there to witness them, and can be audible or visible in nature. They behave like a recording played on repeat, with the same words or motions, often at the same time every day or maybe just once in a while. They also seem to be more prevalent based on certain conditions, like the presence of limestone, proximity to water or even weather patterns. It's as if certain elements have the ability to store or fuel the energy that ghosts need to manifest. The same can be said for intelligent hauntings, though these tend to occur in response to the presence or actions of people. Intelligent ghosts have been known to respond directly to questions, either audibly, through EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon), or by manipulating an object. The latter, on rare occasions, can include physical contact with people. Research suggests that this is more of a way for ghosts to get attention and make their presence known than a blatant act of aggression. However, people have been known to get scratched or bitten by unseen forces from time to time, leading some to believe the entity may be evil or demonic. This is otherwise known as an inhuman spirit, and is a bit more of a controversial topic that will be discussed in a future post, along with poltergeists.
The intention of this blog is certainly not to frighten anyone, particularly those who are already plagued by paranormal activity. Rather, it should provide a greater understanding of the very real supernatural forces that are still denied by many. Aside from inhuman spirits and poltergeists, future posts will also delve into such topics as the difference between ghosts and spirits, and what to do if you think your home may be haunted. Stay tuned for explorations into other areas of so-called pseudoscience, as well.
Thanks for reading!
Very well written and informative! Your comment about how closed minded and ignorant the world mentality has become is spot on! I look forward to future posts
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