Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Starspun · 05-29-2002, 01:05 PM

Is there a such thing as ghosts or traces of ethereal energy that can not be explained? It seems to me that this is impossible, but, a friend points out that there have been documented cases of inexplicable energy traces that are believed to be corellated to actual "hauntings".
I don't have specific examples, but, I'm sure we all have seen documentaries on the subject.
Can these claims be refuted?

Mageth · 05-29-2002, 01:25 PM

Some questions:

How were these "inexplicable energy traces" supposedly measured? What kind of instrument do you use to measure "inexplicable energy traces?" What form of "energy" is being detected?

Undercurrent · 05-29-2002, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Starspun:
Is there a such thing as ghosts or traces of ethereal energy that can not be explained?
It seems to me that this is impossible, but, a friend points out that there have been documented cases of inexplicable energy traces that are believed to be corellated to actual "hauntings".

So what would an "etherial energy trace" look like? Do the documented cases say what this is or how it can be detected?

Quote:

I don't have specific examples, but, I'm sure we all have seen documentaries on the subject.
Can these claims be refuted?

Not without specific examples. If I were a cynic, Id say that's why usually none are forthcoming.

m.

Starspun · 05-29-2002, 01:44 PM

The name of the documentary eludes him atm, but he will look for the name.
So, let me turn this around in the mean time: Is there ANY evidence for the existence of ghosts or hauntings?

BTW Mageth, New Braunfels here.

Mageth · 05-29-2002, 01:51 PM

Is there ANY evidence for the existence of ghosts or hauntings?

According to what your friend says, there is at least some "evidence," right? The question is whether the evidence holds up when subjected to scrutiny by unbiased observers.

I've yet to see any evidence presented for ghosts or hauntings that does.

Mecha_Dude · 05-29-2002, 01:55 PM

I think it has something to do with the multiverse.

Starspun · 05-29-2002, 01:57 PM

Quote:

I think it has something to do with the multiverse.

The what?

Gar · 05-29-2002, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mageth:
Some questions:

What kind of instrument do you use to measure "inexplicable energy traces?"

an inexplictrometer

Mageth · 05-29-2002, 02:59 PM

Next time they need to take a bullshit meter.

wordsmyth · 05-29-2002, 03:22 PM

When I was about 8 years old, I had what, at the time, I believed to be a supernatural experience. I thought I had seen a ghost. There is just one tiny little catch though. The ghost I thought I saw was of someone who wasn't dead and who is still alive today. The image I saw was of my sister who is 4 years older than me and at that time was almost 25 miles away. Obviously it couldn't have been a ghost if my sister wasn't dead.

However, for years I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that I had seen some type of ghostly image. As I got older and began looking at other supernatural claims with a critical eye, I was easily able explain the event. I remember that I had awoke in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. It was on my way to the bathroom that I saw the image. I must have been in a near sleep-walking state and what I saw was some sort of dream-like after image. A simple case of the mind playing tricks due to insufficient sleep. There has been quite a bit of research done on sleep deprivation and one common effect is hallucinations. This seems like the most logical explanation to me now, though for years I strongly believed I had actually seen a ghost.

05-29-2002, 01:05 PM	#1
Starspun Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 334	The Supernatural? Is there a such thing as ghosts or traces of ethereal energy that can not be explained? It seems to me that this is impossible, but, a friend points out that there have been documented cases of inexplicable energy traces that are believed to be corellated to actual "hauntings". I don't have specific examples, but, I'm sure we all have seen documentaries on the subject. Can these claims be refuted?

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05-29-2002, 01:25 PM	#2
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	Some questions: How were these "inexplicable energy traces" supposedly measured? What kind of instrument do you use to measure "inexplicable energy traces?" What form of "energy" is being detected?

05-29-2002, 01:44 PM	#4
Starspun Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 334	The name of the documentary eludes him atm, but he will look for the name. So, let me turn this around in the mean time: Is there ANY evidence for the existence of ghosts or hauntings? BTW Mageth, New Braunfels here.

05-29-2002, 01:51 PM	#5
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	Is there ANY evidence for the existence of ghosts or hauntings? According to what your friend says, there is at least some "evidence," right? The question is whether the evidence holds up when subjected to scrutiny by unbiased observers. I've yet to see any evidence presented for ghosts or hauntings that does.

05-29-2002, 01:55 PM	#6
Mecha_Dude Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Everywhere... I'm Watching you... Posts: 1,019	I think it has something to do with the multiverse.

05-29-2002, 02:59 PM	#9
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	Next time they need to take a bullshit meter.

05-29-2002, 03:22 PM	#10
wordsmyth Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Des Moines, Ia. U.S.A. Posts: 521	When I was about 8 years old, I had what, at the time, I believed to be a supernatural experience. I thought I had seen a ghost. There is just one tiny little catch though. The ghost I thought I saw was of someone who wasn't dead and who is still alive today. The image I saw was of my sister who is 4 years older than me and at that time was almost 25 miles away. Obviously it couldn't have been a ghost if my sister wasn't dead. However, for years I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that I had seen some type of ghostly image. As I got older and began looking at other supernatural claims with a critical eye, I was easily able explain the event. I remember that I had awoke in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. It was on my way to the bathroom that I saw the image. I must have been in a near sleep-walking state and what I saw was some sort of dream-like after image. A simple case of the mind playing tricks due to insufficient sleep. There has been quite a bit of research done on sleep deprivation and one common effect is hallucinations. This seems like the most logical explanation to me now, though for years I strongly believed I had actually seen a ghost.

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