Shaan Russell
Do you believe in ghosts ?
May 27, 2007 |
15 comments
Image Credit: iStockPhoto
Do you believe in ghosts? This is a question that is thrown around with many different agendas. It can be used as a conversational starter, simply being put out there to see if anyone comes up with any credible answers, possibly to start an interesting conversation. It may be asked by a skeptic in a bid to 'judge the person's personality'. Occasionally though, it will be asked by someone who has had an experience and wishes to reach out to others who have too, experienced paranormal phenomena. I believe the question should not be "Do you believe in ghosts?", but rather " What do you think ghosts are?". As far as I can see there are pages upon pages of eye-witness accounts, photographs and EVP's that have been proved to not be faked and for some people, real life encounters with the supernatural. There is no doubt in my mind that 'ghosts' are as real as you and I, the question is what they are not whether they exist. Admitting to believing in ghosts does not instantly stamp you as strange, some of the worlds most hardened skeptics have admitted to witnessing 'strange phenomena'. The question you must ask is what causes this phenomena? There have been many theories over the years, these are some to consider:
Earthbound spirits of the deadThe oldest theory is that the ghosts we see are in fact souls of the departed. This is perhaps due to the many hauntings involving places where a tragic event has taken place. People may see or hear people who once lived in a house but have since passed on, or a person who frequented a certain place in life may be seen there after death. It may be suggested that the death was so sudden and violent that the soul never knew it was dead and so lives on in a limbo-like state. How many stories have been told of lost souls searching for revenge or perhaps simply not knowing they are dead at all? Could it be that they are really stuck not knowing where to go or what to do?
Residual HauntingsThe theory of this sort of haunting can be compared to viewing a loop of film. They aren't actually real, aware beings, they are simply old recordings being played over and over. The energy created when the event actually took place is somehow etched into time and replayed time after time. One of the most famous hauntings in that of the Gettysburg Battlefields. There are constant sightings of soldiers and of battles themselves etched into time.
Angels and DemonsThere is this theory that splits everything supernatural into two. It is either good or evil, angels or demons. The more malevolent spirits are actually demons come to destroy and wreak havock and the beign, friendly spirits are in fact angels sent from above. There are indeed many cases that seem to deal with both these elements, from possesion to near death encounters with seemingly divine beings.
The Electrical Energy TheoryAlbert Einstein said it first that, " Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only change from one form to another". This theory basically states that the body is made up of electricity and chemical compounds. When the body dies and the chemicals start to decompose, the electricity must go somewhere and so lingers creating this phenomena. This theory would explain why EMF meters can sense the presence of entities.
Tulpa'sThe theory behind the Tulpa is that if you think hard enough about something that it will manifest through your visualisation. When you were a child you may have been worried sick about the 'boogyman' coming to get you, so much so that something paranormal does occur. It has been noted that when you start becoming more involved in paranormal research, the level of activity will increase around you. Could it be that simply giving something enough though is enough to create a manifestation?
Parallel dimensionsThis theory suggests that there are one or even an infinite amount of dimensions that parallel this one. Every once in a while the dimensions will 'cross' and apparitions will occur. Some even suggest that we have versions of ourselves living in alternate universes, hence explaining the 'doppelganger phenomena'. This theory is also used to explain the existence of cryptozoological creatures such as Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. The reason that we don't see them all the time and never find dead ones is that they live mostly in an alternate dimension.
There are always many theories on this subject, everyone seems to have their own idea of what is fact and what is fiction. Some even believe that it is all in our minds, mass hallucinations and overactive imaginations. Whatever the reality is, the facts are simple. Ghosts are most certainly real, far too many people have had experiences for them not to be. The question is what are they?
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