Do you believe in ghosts?
- Thread starter The Vault Dweller
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Wooz said:
Hà! The old Brucie.
I rly need to get that CD again...
No, I don't believe in ghosts. I won't say definate that they don't exist, but there is no proof that they exist, thus I don't believe in them.
Also, most ghost stories have a natural explanation, and those that don't, how can you ever know that you weren't dreaming/halusinating? Everyone I've asked says "I just know!" wich they can't...
Also, most ghost stories have a natural explanation, and those that don't, how can you ever know that you weren't dreaming/halusinating? Everyone I've asked says "I just know!" wich they can't...
welsh
Junkmaster
It's funny that people will not believe in ghosts, but will believe in angels.
People will believe in extraterrestials but not in the spirits of the dead.
Most belief in ghosts are ridiculed as false in the face of scientific rationality. Yet there are paranormal and parapsychologists who explore these issues.
We believe the dead turn to worm food, but we have psychics and John Edwards to talk to the dead.
It's also ironic that people don't believe in ghost, yet Christians believe in notions of the spiritual paranormal or supernatural world.
Christ's return after the crucifiction appears host-like, the Catholic idea of the Holy Ghost.
Likewise, demonic possession is often not taken seriously, yet exorcisms still are performed and let's not forget the Christian story of Jesus casting out the demon, "legion" (which we can assume means many).
Step back a bit further and you can see all sorts of faith in the supernatural or spiritual world. Ghosts and the supernatural figure prominently in Asia- the Chinese lunar cycle includes the "Season of the Hungry Ghost" where family members make offerings to appease dead ancestors released on the earth because the gates of hell have opened(something actually referred to in reference in The Grudge).
Likewise, in Hindu beliefs one can be reincarnated to a demon.
Our notion of Satan itself is derived from Palestine where people made offerings not only to God but also to the shaetans (I am not sure of the spelling) that lived in the desert.
When I lived in Singapore I heard many ghost stories from both the Singaporeans and the Malaysians about different types of ghosts and demonic possessions. American Indians had their ghosts and monsters as well. The Windingo legend may have to do with a social punishment for cannibalism for northern indian tribes, but there are other stories out there as well.
Virtually every culture has some notion or faith in "uncleaned spirits" or "vengeful dead" or even "bad places."
The reason why I think people don't believe in ghosts, especially in the developed world, is because the ghosts of old have been replaced with new spirits. Where we once had faith in supernatural beliefs as well as their dark opposites (the demons, ghosts and haunted places are, after all, usually the "villians" of faith) we place our faith in science, technology, reason and logic.
Yet most of us don't understand the new spirits and our allegance is more a question of faith than in knowledge. In a sense, we have a belief in new ghosts.
We have had "the ghost in the machines" that screw up devices. Airmen during World War 2 had "gremlins" that broke airplanes (featured in both a great Looney Tunes cartoon and part of Twilight ZOne the movie). Even now we find recurring patterns of behavior despite programs that randomly select. Beliefs in "bad mojo" or "jinxed" people.
So yeah, I'll accept ghosts as a possibility.
People will believe in extraterrestials but not in the spirits of the dead.
Most belief in ghosts are ridiculed as false in the face of scientific rationality. Yet there are paranormal and parapsychologists who explore these issues.
We believe the dead turn to worm food, but we have psychics and John Edwards to talk to the dead.
It's also ironic that people don't believe in ghost, yet Christians believe in notions of the spiritual paranormal or supernatural world.
Christ's return after the crucifiction appears host-like, the Catholic idea of the Holy Ghost.
Likewise, demonic possession is often not taken seriously, yet exorcisms still are performed and let's not forget the Christian story of Jesus casting out the demon, "legion" (which we can assume means many).
Step back a bit further and you can see all sorts of faith in the supernatural or spiritual world. Ghosts and the supernatural figure prominently in Asia- the Chinese lunar cycle includes the "Season of the Hungry Ghost" where family members make offerings to appease dead ancestors released on the earth because the gates of hell have opened(something actually referred to in reference in The Grudge).
Likewise, in Hindu beliefs one can be reincarnated to a demon.
Our notion of Satan itself is derived from Palestine where people made offerings not only to God but also to the shaetans (I am not sure of the spelling) that lived in the desert.
When I lived in Singapore I heard many ghost stories from both the Singaporeans and the Malaysians about different types of ghosts and demonic possessions. American Indians had their ghosts and monsters as well. The Windingo legend may have to do with a social punishment for cannibalism for northern indian tribes, but there are other stories out there as well.
Virtually every culture has some notion or faith in "uncleaned spirits" or "vengeful dead" or even "bad places."
The reason why I think people don't believe in ghosts, especially in the developed world, is because the ghosts of old have been replaced with new spirits. Where we once had faith in supernatural beliefs as well as their dark opposites (the demons, ghosts and haunted places are, after all, usually the "villians" of faith) we place our faith in science, technology, reason and logic.
Yet most of us don't understand the new spirits and our allegance is more a question of faith than in knowledge. In a sense, we have a belief in new ghosts.
We have had "the ghost in the machines" that screw up devices. Airmen during World War 2 had "gremlins" that broke airplanes (featured in both a great Looney Tunes cartoon and part of Twilight ZOne the movie). Even now we find recurring patterns of behavior despite programs that randomly select. Beliefs in "bad mojo" or "jinxed" people.
So yeah, I'll accept ghosts as a possibility.
My Dad claims that he heard one once. He was working down London and got a job painting an old Victorian house. He had no place to sleep over night, so he went down to the old servants quatres in the basement. apparently he heard the shuffling of feet and voices. He checked to see if anyone was around, but the other guys working there were down the pub, and there was no sign of entry into the house. He never went back after that night.
I don't believe in ghosts though, i just think my dad was pissed, (this was the time when he had problems with alchahol).
I don't believe in ghosts though, i just think my dad was pissed, (this was the time when he had problems with alchahol).
welsh said:
Is that so strange? Belief in intelligent life elsewhere and the spirits of the dead is to me quite different.
welsh said:
Even though I don't believe in any ghosts or spirits of the dead, I would perhaps not choose to have a picknick in a cemetary around midnight anyway because I would feel quite uncomfortable.
welsh said:
I agree. I mean, everyone believes in something, weather or not has any ties to religion, right? Faith in reason and logic is more popular now than it was a couple of hundred years ago. Had I been born a caveman of old, I'm quite sure I would have believed in the great cave spirit, or whatever was popular at that time.
Sol Invictus
First time out of the vault
Extraterrestrial life is definitely a more plausible belief than the belief in the 'supernatural' which by itself is an oxymoron. While there's no proof that intelligent or sentient extraterrestrial lifeforms exist, the possibility exists due to the very size of the ever-expanding universe we live in. It is also boosted by the fact that we, as humans, exist - and thus it is not implausible that somewhere elsewhere in the galaxy, a similar evolution may have occured though they are probably nothing like humans in form. The possibility that they understand and perceive life and death as we do is very likely, however, given the fate all lifeforms eventually come to experience (death and entropy).
But I don't believe in ghosts, because there's no proof of the existence of ghosts, and the only 'proof' seems to come from unreliable second hand accounts and 'personal interaction' with ghosts, which could either be complete fabrications or the result of hallucinations/dementia/drug or alcohol induced states/insanity. A lot of Chinese people (like my friends) believe in ghosts and are raised to believe in, and therefore inclined to believe in the supernatural, but I don't. I think it's a waste of mental energy to think about stuff that probably doesn't exist. Driving home late at night and thinking about whether ghosts exist is a good way to sap your spirits and cause you to do stupid things (like drive into a wall).
But I don't believe in ghosts, because there's no proof of the existence of ghosts, and the only 'proof' seems to come from unreliable second hand accounts and 'personal interaction' with ghosts, which could either be complete fabrications or the result of hallucinations/dementia/drug or alcohol induced states/insanity. A lot of Chinese people (like my friends) believe in ghosts and are raised to believe in, and therefore inclined to believe in the supernatural, but I don't. I think it's a waste of mental energy to think about stuff that probably doesn't exist. Driving home late at night and thinking about whether ghosts exist is a good way to sap your spirits and cause you to do stupid things (like drive into a wall).
bob_the_rambler
Where'd That 6th Toe Come From?
Well why not........I have seen a "ghost", i was in A old hotel in Globe (a town a few hours away from my own) and i woke up with that feeling that you get when you are being sat upon by a huge fat lady....and i saw a little red headed kid peering over my little sisters travel crib......but when i called out he just kinda disappeared.
I was also in my granmothers house once, the place was huge and i didnt know it at the time but had one time housed a local Mafia ring. So its really dark in the hallways (no lighting) and there are lots of rooms on each side, i was exploring one day and when i opened one of the doors i stumbled into a group of men justing there in silence.........and when i called out they just went away....
i later watched some OLD mafia movies and the "ghosts" i saw were dressed just like them......
I was also in my granmothers house once, the place was huge and i didnt know it at the time but had one time housed a local Mafia ring. So its really dark in the hallways (no lighting) and there are lots of rooms on each side, i was exploring one day and when i opened one of the doors i stumbled into a group of men justing there in silence.........and when i called out they just went away....
i later watched some OLD mafia movies and the "ghosts" i saw were dressed just like them......
Lost Metal
Olde Skull
Most, if not all, belief in ghosts, stems from a fear of death.
Truth is, being dead and that being the end of you, is also another rational explanation. But no one ever seems to want to discuss, or side, with that one.
Truth is, being dead and that being the end of you, is also another rational explanation. But no one ever seems to want to discuss, or side, with that one.
Sol Invictus
First time out of the vault
I believe that. Heh. That when you die, you die. No heaven or astral planes or anything. I honestly don't see what the big deal is. Live for the moment!
Lost Metal
Olde Skull
My favorite paranormal myth, is the one where we "only use 10% of our brain."
and there's some "untapped" power, to be had in the other 90% unused portion.
But if you do a search through any textbook on the brain, or even on the internet. You will find out, that humans in fact do use 100% of their brain. They just don't use all 100% at the same time, mainly because we don't need to. Certain activities, require only certain parts of the brain.
Like drawing, playing an instrument driving a car, etc... only certain parts of the brain are needed for certain types of functions.
You will, most likely, never find an activity that requires more than 10%+ of the brain, at any single moment, and that's probably where the myth came from.
and there's some "untapped" power, to be had in the other 90% unused portion.
But if you do a search through any textbook on the brain, or even on the internet. You will find out, that humans in fact do use 100% of their brain. They just don't use all 100% at the same time, mainly because we don't need to. Certain activities, require only certain parts of the brain.
Like drawing, playing an instrument driving a car, etc... only certain parts of the brain are needed for certain types of functions.
You will, most likely, never find an activity that requires more than 10%+ of the brain, at any single moment, and that's probably where the myth came from.
John Uskglass
Venerable Relic of the Wastes
I don't believe in ghosts generally because they don't make sense on a purley theological level; as God's will is absolute, it would apppear unlikely that spirits could or would be able to slip iinto our world.welsh said:
I hold that they could, and perhaps do, exsist. However, I am prone to not believe psedoscientists.
Because this notion warps people (as it has you), and because a belief in the hereafter is as old has human consciousness?Exitium said:
Fez said:
pwned.
I don't believe in ghosts because I don't believe in souls as non-physical, seperate, entitities.
The concept of physicalism kinda doesn't mix well with the belief in spirits, ghosts and related. Maybe except for zombies and the like, but I personally don't believe reanimation is practicable at the moment.
I believe in ghosts. Well, not exactly the Ghostbusters kinda ghosts. But I do believe that there's more than meets the eye.
I had some sort of a weird thingy once. I was standing at the top of the stairs and I wanted to go down. But somehow I misplaced my foot and I was about to fall. Then all of a sudden I was pulled backwards. If that didn't happen, I know for certain I would've come crashing down. Anyway, I was the only one up there, and I don't really think it was my own body, cause I felt my shoulder being pulled back before the rest of my body. Just as if someone pulled me back. But there was no one there... I still don't really know what happened... but I've never been the same again... or something. Nah, j/k, but the thing really happened
I had some sort of a weird thingy once. I was standing at the top of the stairs and I wanted to go down. But somehow I misplaced my foot and I was about to fall. Then all of a sudden I was pulled backwards. If that didn't happen, I know for certain I would've come crashing down. Anyway, I was the only one up there, and I don't really think it was my own body, cause I felt my shoulder being pulled back before the rest of my body. Just as if someone pulled me back. But there was no one there... I still don't really know what happened... but I've never been the same again... or something. Nah, j/k, but the thing really happened
Reflexes.
Jesus saves.
Jesus saves.
I don't believe in ghosts myself, but i don't disregard the possibility of their existance either.
Science hasn't proven that they exist, but it hasn't disproven it either.
Good points on the conversion of faith from the supernatural to science and logic. As mans understamding of the world grows, and science begins to explain things that were once only explainable through faith or the supernatural, man begins to leave faith behind in favor of understanding.
Remember the Greek gods of old? Man used to believe that tsunamis and the like were caused by Posiedon. Now we know that its all about underground quakes and the moons gravity.
That's just my opinion though, i tend to lean more toward science and logic myself rather than religion. Nothing at all wrong with religion however.
Science hasn't proven that they exist, but it hasn't disproven it either.
Good points on the conversion of faith from the supernatural to science and logic. As mans understamding of the world grows, and science begins to explain things that were once only explainable through faith or the supernatural, man begins to leave faith behind in favor of understanding.
Remember the Greek gods of old? Man used to believe that tsunamis and the like were caused by Posiedon. Now we know that its all about underground quakes and the moons gravity.
That's just my opinion though, i tend to lean more toward science and logic myself rather than religion. Nothing at all wrong with religion however.
The Vault Dweller
always looking for water.
I like science, but physics is not my fort'e. Thoughts?
Sincerely,
The Vault Dweller