| Ghosts are different things depending on who you ask. | | | | stories of the world. |
| While 32% of Americans believe in ghosts, according | | | | The face of Martha Rendell, the only female to be |
| to a 2005 Gallup poll, there is a divergence of opinion | | | | executed at Fremantle, appears in the window of the |
| as to what constitutes a ghost. Parapsychologists are | | | | church frequently. The face seems to be produced by |
| in favor of the term, apparition, because it's purportedly | | | | ripples in the glass that reflect light in an abnormal way, |
| more precise. An apparition is considered immaterial, | | | | but the resemblance is eerie. |
| but it can seem real and tangible. There are a variety | | | | In China, Tuen Mun Road in Hong Kong is apparently |
| of entities that qualify for the catch-all term, ghost, and | | | | causing excessive death tolls due to "ghosts popping |
| here they are, in no particular order. | | | | up in the middle of the road". Drivers avert the |
| The spirit of a deceased person could make itself | | | | apparitions by veering their cars quickly and end up |
| known in its former habitat, i.e., a home or office. In this | | | | crashing. Hundreds of people allege that this highway is |
| case, the ghost is said to have a likeness to the | | | | haunted, and many claim to have lost complete control |
| deceased either in appearance, behavior, or vocal | | | | of their automobiles. |
| imitation. Of course, it may not be an imitation! | | | | Traveling to England we find a case with some |
| Other common uses of the term refer to angels or | | | | substantial evidence, no pun intended. London's primary |
| demons, or even as a synonym for a person's | | | | criminal court, the Old Bailey, has an uninvited guest at |
| immaterial spirit, whether or not they're presenting | | | | major trials. Judges, barristers, and policemen attest to |
| themselves to others. | | | | this strange apparition. |
| Ghosts are portrayed as having a semi-transparent, | | | | Even Mount Everest has its ghost in resident, probably |
| unspecific form, loosely resembling the person they | | | | the ghost of climber, Andrew Irvine, who tried to reach |
| once were. Their motives are helpful, ominous, or | | | | the summit in 1924 with George Mallory, but |
| treacherous. Their motions are transient because they | | | | disappeared on his journey upward. Two climbers in |
| pop in and out. They're often seen fleeing or scurrying. | | | | 1975 said that they occupied a snow hole with him, and |
| Of course, reports abound, and these are only a few | | | | other climbers have seen a ghost too. |
| examples of the alleged behavior of ghosts. | | | | Ireland has the Temple Michael, a quint church and |
| Ghost mythology is common in every ancient culture - | | | | castle positioned on the blackwater river, with a close |
| from the Egyptians, to the Chinese, to the Europeans | | | | proximity to Youghal, Co Cork. The place is not used, |
| of the Middle Ages Ghosts were thought to be the | | | | and it overlooks the blackwater river. Visitors and local |
| disembodied soul of the person they once inhabited. | | | | inhabitants of the region claim to have heard shrieks, |
| Parapsychologists study ghosts as part of their living. | | | | screams, lights in motion, static on cameras over the |
| A parapsychologist seeks to understand paranormal | | | | church grounds, twigs that break without explanation, |
| phenomena. Paranormal phenomena is described as | | | | and coffins that close and open of their own accord. |
| any phenomenon or occurrence that exceeds the | | | | In Japan, the tomb of Masakado near Tokyo is said to |
| bounds of what is possible, according to the | | | | be haunted by the ghost of Masakado. During the |
| established principles and laws of science. | | | | 1920's, the Office for the Ministry of Finance was built |
| Skeptics charge the controversy with several | | | | on top of it. In 1926, the minister of finance and 10 staff |
| explanations for suspected ghost sightings. For | | | | members died of disease. The tomb was restored. |
| instance, Scientists Richard Lord and Richard Wiseman | | | | After WWII, however, they attempted to construct |
| explain that sound waves having frequencies less than | | | | over it again. The driver of the bulldozer died, however, |
| 20 hertz are normally inaudible, nonetheless, they may | | | | when it overturned. |
| cause someone to feel a presence or shift their mood | | | | The most haunted abode in Scotland is the Close of |
| to anxiety or dread. Carbon monoxide poisoning was | | | | Mary King in Edinburgh. It was built in the 1600s, and it |
| cited as a cause for haunted houses as early as 1921 | | | | contained hundreds of people during the plague of |
| because it can cause hallucinations, ill feelings, and a | | | | 1645 when they were quarantined. Voices, dogs, and a |
| sensation of dread as well. | | | | lady clad in black have all been recorded. |
| Another condition, pareidolia, is a condition that causes | | | | Several fables, stories, and accounts arise out of the |
| someone to recognize human faces or forms in | | | | United States. One of particular interest is the Waverly |
| random patterns. That's kind of like a case of seeing | | | | Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky. It used to house |
| what you anticipate, hope for, or want to happen, | | | | tuberculosis patients and people refer to it as the most |
| instead of just seeing. Skeptics aside, extraordinary | | | | haunted place ever. More than 60,000 unconfirmed |
| sightings and stories flow in from all corners of the | | | | deaths have been reported and the owners of the |
| world at large. | | | | property, construction workers and maintenance staff, |
| Let's take a look and see whether or not ghosts might | | | | and paranormal investigators have claimed one can |
| have a scant possibility of really existing. | | | | see unnatural lights and phantasms darting around the |
| The New Testament acknowledges the existence of | | | | premises at night. The hallways and rooms are filled |
| demons, the real spiritual beings that tempt, lie, deceive, | | | | with appearances of ghosts. |
| and physically harm humans. According to the Bible | | | | It is clear that immaterial entities exist because Jesus |
| their intention is to turn people away from God, from | | | | cast these personal and evil beings out of people. |
| the best interests of the human and what will make | | | | They shrieked and screamed and cursed, and this |
| then happiest, and to try to cause humans to think that | | | | was written about as an account of real events by |
| they're smarter than the All mighty loving God. Jesus | | | | the meticulous doctor and historian, Luke, in the gospel |
| gave humans the power to cast out demons and walk | | | | of Luke. Get protection from spirits through Jesus |
| over the enemy. We have a shield of protection | | | | Christ. Whether or not they're actual people or vicious |
| through Christ's blood. A study of the gospel and the | | | | demons, Jesus has all power in heaven and on earth, |
| historical teachings of Jesus as it relates to angels and | | | | and it says this in Matthew 28:18. |
| demons is too important and is a separate area of | | | | Paranormal phenomena are alive and well because |
| study outside of ghosts. | | | | the physical world isn't all there is. |
| But, before we begin, let's move on to the ghost | | | | |