Oolon Colluphid

Two quick points. One is that infrasound -- low-frequency vibrations -- may be behind some hauntings. See eg <a href="http://www.hauntedvalley.com/sound.htm" target="_blank">www.hauntedvalley.com/sound.htm</a> . ‘Ethereal’ energy, for sure, but not inexplicable.

The other is that whatever the cause(s) really are, ghosts are very probably not the spirits of the dead, as shown by the radically different descriptions of them across time and cultures. Their manifestations are culturally dependent, when one would expect the afterlife to be pretty well standard (pace, Terry Pratchett fans ). See Ronald Finucane’s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1573920681/qid=1022756372/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_2/103-3606307-8864650" target="_blank">Ghosts: Appearances of the Dead & Cultural Transformation</a>.

Cheers, Oolon

[ May 30, 2002: Message edited by: Oolon Colluphid ]</p>

Answerer

Hey guys, I have some questions in my mind right now, I hope all of you can help me with it. I was thinking, does the bible mention anything about ghosts or supernatural entities? If so, then why does God allow the ghosts to wander about?

[ May 30, 2002: Message edited by: Answerer ]</p>

Starspun

I didn't realize there was a million dollar 'reward' for solid proof of ghosts. With that in mind, and no one claiming the prize, it says alot about these supposed supernatural occurrences.
The town I live in has a hotel that is supposedly haunted by the original owner (150 years ago).Well, the hotel really talks up there 'ghost' with brochures, writings, etc. A friends wife worked there for a few weeks and told the story of a couple that came in for a room. The couple reported, as they were checking out a couple of hours later that their luggage moved across the room on it's own accord, thus the prompt check-out.
Another couple came in specifically for the ghost and actually claim to have a picture of the ghost in the old model T parked inside. My skeptic side thinks their ghost was nothing more than light reflected off of the windshield, but these type stories continue.
I think with a religious upbringing, the thought of ghosts and such are not that far fetched; after all, if geezus could raise someone from the dead, it would be easy to perpetuate a myth of a ghostly nature. Maybe ones mind is trained to want to believe in such things. Does that make sense?

Anyway, thank you all for the replies. My buddy should be over a little later and I will show him the progress of this thread. The million dollar reward should be enough to convince him that the documentary was a farce, made to perpetuate the myths that plague our society and to plague his pocketbook.

alek0

Does this count as supernatural ?
Seen on a Christian board, topic Harry Potter

Mageth

How is a dead person hanging out with us a natural occurrence?

I didn't say ghosts were necessarily dead persons hanging out with us. Either way, if there is any truth to the phenomenon we refer to as "ghosts", it is happening in our universe ("nature"), and therefore is an as-yet-unexplained natural phenomenon.

Jamie_L

A thing being unexplained is unrelated to a thing being natural or supernatural. What usually happens is that someone sees something unexplained and then explains it with supernaturalism. Once this is done, it does not make the event an unexplained, supernatural event. It makes it an unexplained event with an unproven claim of supernatural origin.

I would thus say that there are plenty of unexplained events. The mere fact that they are unexplained does not challenge my naturalism or atheism. Unproven claims of supernatural origins for these events also do not challenge my naturalism. Only proven supernatural explanations (or supernatural explanations with reliable supporting evidence) would challenge my naturlism.

Jamie

Mike Rosoft

&gt;I was thinking, does the bible mention anything about ghosts or supernatural entities?

Well, God is a supernatural entity. Enough?

If not, the story about <a href="http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/1sam/28.html#8" target="_blank">the witch of Endor</a> might be interesting for you. In short, king Saul visits a witch and she summons Samuel's spirit for him.


Mike Rosoft

MOJO-JOJO

You'll need to watch "The One" with Jet Li, to understand.....

MOJO-JOJO

Talks about the "Holy Ghost" throughout the NT. Funny thing how most christians prefer to say "Holy Spirit" rather than "Holy Ghost". Almost like they're trying to distance themselves from any potential misinterpretation of what it is that possesses them. They don't believe that he lets "ghosts" walk around...that's new age nonsense. But they DO believe that angels walk around! . Just underscores the whole ridiculousnous of their belief system.

The only "Holy Spirit" they are possessed by is the one they have created for themselves in their minds through daily indoctrination of the bible (old-fashioned re-programming). They feel guilty about everything and need some philosophical love-belief thing to prop themselves up on so they can feel good about everyone and everything again. There is nothing supernatural about it.