| Do ghosts exist? That's the most popular question | | | | even change channels and volume, when no one is in |
| asked about ghosts and haunted places. | | | | the room. People sometimes feel an unexplained draft, |
| The answer isn't simple. Science and spirituality are | | | | or they feel sad, scared or angry for no apparent |
| important to any discussion about ghosts and | | | | reason. |
| hauntings. Whether or not you believe in ghosts may | | | | There can be logical explanations for all of those |
| depend on your personal experiences, how well you | | | | events, and those must be ruled out before deciding |
| can remain calm and logical in an eerie setting, and | | | | that ghosts are real and the home is haunted. |
| your religious background. | | | | TV shows may influence viewers. They start looking |
| Many people want to believe after experiencing | | | | at odd events and wonder if they might be caused by |
| something strange. They saw, heard, or felt something | | | | ghosts or even demons. That can be frightening, until |
| that they couldn't describe, except as an encounter | | | | they understand what's really going on. It might be a |
| with a spirit or ghost. Soon, they're checking | | | | ghost, but it might be something far simpler. |
| paranormal websites, reading ghost books, going on | | | | Most ghost researchers will tell you that about 80% of |
| ghost tours, and looking for nearby haunts to explore. | | | | "haunted" houses aren't troubled by ghosts at all. |
| They usually find more questions than answers. | | | | Those homes are rarely shown on TV because |
| So far, no one can prove that ghosts are real, or that | | | | they're not as sensational as those with real |
| they're not real. All anyone can say is that something | | | | paranormal energy. |
| odd is going on at some haunted places. | | | | Even ardent believers in hauntings will admit that there |
| If ghosts are real, they're the best way to explain what | | | | is no scientific proof of ghosts. However, they'll also |
| happens at places such as the Myrtles Plantation in | | | | share experiences that can only be explained as a |
| Louisiana, the Spalding Inn in New Hampshire, and the | | | | ghostly encounter. |
| Falstaff Experience in England's Stratford-upon-Avon. | | | | Do ghosts exist? Are ghosts real? |
| However, most ghostly encounters aren't as dramatic | | | | All we know is that something is going on in many |
| as what occurs at those famous haunts. | | | | "haunted" places, and -- so far -- we can't find a |
| For example, many people wonder if their homes are | | | | normal, scientific explanation for it. That's why ghost |
| haunted. Doors may seem to open and close by | | | | hunters keep looking. |
| themselves. A television might turn itself on or off, or | | | | |