Paranormal...Ghosts...Is Any of It Real?

I've always been intrigued by the unknown though I dare not to dabble too much to the otherside. Call me a little paranoid about the paranormal. However, every once in a while, I get caught up in watching creepy little shows like Ghost Adventures, Paranormal State, Paranormal Challenge or Ghost Hunters.

This blog has been triggered by a movie trailer I saw in the theaters for Paranormal Activity 3 and the television show Ghost Adventures that I found myself watching later in the evening of the same day.

First of all, the mere idea that there are people out there who actually dare to pursue the unknown all in an effort to obtain evidence that the paranormal does exist simply amazes me. Who knowingly locks themselves inside of a haunted dwelling all for the purpose of capturing an image or recording of a person who has allegedly died hundreds of years ago, but continues to haunt the present? Some may say that what we see on television is not real and that it's totally fake. I am somewhat as skeptical as the next person about some things such as noises that happen off-camera, supposed voices or words spoken or flashes of light that you can only see in instant replay/slow-motion. However, after having watched a few of these episodes, I tend to believe that these ghost chasers believe in what they are doing and presenting. I don't know that you can make some of this stuff up.

The most interesting thing about shows like Ghost Adventures that I have seen are not so much the ghosts or spirits but the history that supports the existence of the human. There are always circumstances that support why it is these ghosts have not passed to the other side. Their stories are usually tragic and/or lives are ended abruptly.

So, this has led me to ponder an old mystery...Is it possible that if someone meets an abrupt tragic end or spends their time here on earth under neglected or abused circumstances that when they die, they are "trapped between two worlds?" There's a familiar quote that says "You can't take it with you." Is it a case of a being not wanting to let go of someone or something?

In Hebrews 9:27, the bible says “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” So, this would mean that a person’s soul or spirit faces judgement upon death, wouldn't it? Ultimately, for those of us who believe in the Lord and Jesus Christ our savior, we know that the bible also explains that with judgement you either go to Heaven or Hell. However, I don't want to cause an uproar by linking religion to the paranormal because if you know anything about christianity and the bible, you know that the belief is that these are not ghosts of the dead.

So, I couldn't help but to cruise about the internet to better understand what others made of paranormal activity or ghosts. Here's a little bit of what I found:

1. Some believe in what I have outlined above...if you believe in the word of the bible, then these ghosts are not that of the dead but demon or angel beings that have inhabited a space.

2. Some say, it is not clear what ghosts are but that they do exist. They are described as entities that after death kept their personality and somehow moved into a parallel space that also exists within our reality. Some are here because they are emotionally attached to certain person(s), place or thing.

3. The Experts in this area don't even refer to ghosts as ghosts or paranormals but entities.

4. So, I tried not to tie this to religion, however I had to share with you what one christian said about ghosts, spirits and the paranormal.

Quote:

"The Bible states that the dead do not have contact with the living (Luke 16:19-31). The reason for this is because such spirits are not spirits of the dead but rather deceitful spirits under the command of Satan. The Bible calls such spirits "demons", "evil spirits", and "unclean spirits". These demonic spirits are familiar with the departed dead whom they seek to imitate. This is why they are able to supply people with intimate details of names, places, and facts. Indeed, Isaiah 29:4 calls such a spirit a "familiar spirit"." (spotlightministries.org).

I don't know what is real or not real, and more than likely, I won't spend too much more time thinking about it because it does creep me out a little bit..However, for those of you who enjoy a good ghost story, I did want to include a few links below to some interesting tales.

1. http://www.ghoststories.ws/
2. http://www.trueghosttales.com/
3. http://theshadowlands.net/ghost/
4. http://wvghosts.com/index.php
5. http://www.eerietales.com/
6. http://www.studiesoftheparanormal.com/realghoststories.html
7. http://www.haunted-britain.com/
8. http://www.ghostsource.com/
9. http://www.gothichorrorstories.com/category/true-ghost-stories
10. http://www.haunted-london.com/