![]() Personal experience is one thing, but scientific evidence is another matter. Thus, many people who go on record as claiming to have had a ghostly experience didn't necessarily see anything that most people would recognize as a classic "ghost," and in fact they may have had completely different experiences whose only common factor is that it could not be readily explained. When sociologists Dennis and Michele Waskul interviewed ghost experiencers for their 2016 book " Ghostly Encounters: The Hauntings of Everyday Life" (Temple University Press ) they found that "many participants were not sure that they had encountered a ghost and remained uncertain that such phenomena were even possible, simply because they did not see something that approximated the conventional image of a 'ghost.' Instead, many of our respondents were simply convinced that they had experienced something uncanny - something inexplicable, extraordinary, mysterious, or eerie." One difficulty in scientifically evaluating ghosts is that a surprisingly wide variety of phenomena are attributed to ghosts, from a door closing on its own, to missing keys, to a cold area in a hallway, to a vision of a dead relative. That vague criteria for ghostly happenings is part of the reason why myths about the afterlife are more alive than ever. If you look long enough any unexplained light or noise might be evidence of ghosts. All you need is some free time, a dark place, and maybe a few gadgets from an electronics store. ![]() ![]() Their message: You don't need to be an egghead scientist, or even have any training in science or investigation. The two original stars were ordinary guys (plumbers, in fact) who decided to look for evidence of spirits. The show spawned dozens of spinoffs and imitators, and it's not hard to see why the show is so popular: the premise is that anyone can look for ghosts. In America during the late 1800s, many psychic mediums claimed to speak to the dead - but were later exposed as frauds by skeptical investigators such as Harry Houdini. A woman named Eleanor Sidgwick was an investigator (and later president) of that group, and could be considered the original female ghostbuster. Ghost clubs dedicated to searching for ghostly evidence formed at prestigious universities, including Cambridge and Oxford, and in 1882 the most prominent organization, the Society for Psychical Research, was established. People have tried to (or claimed to) communicate with spirits for ages in Victorian England, for example, it was fashionable for upper-crust ladies to hold séances in their parlors after tea and crumpets with friends. The belief offers many people comfort - who doesn't want to believe that our beloved but deceased family members aren't looking out for us, or with us in our times of need? Belief in ghosts is part of a larger web of related paranormal beliefs, including near-death experience, life after death, and spirit communication. The idea that the dead remain with us in spirit is an ancient one, appearing in countless stories, from the Bible to "Macbeth." It even spawned a folklore genre: ghost stories.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |