Wednesday 30 June 2010

Ghosts

I was going to write a blog today on whether there is some sort of existence after death - then I've just seen on the Perez Hilton site that the film 'Paranormal Activities 2' is about to be released. (The first one affected me deeply. In fact it scared the pants off me. Figuratively, of course!)
Even though I seriously doubt the existence of a Deity (most especially an omnificent, interventionist and totally benevolent one), I find myself unable to categorically say "No. There's absolutely no survival after death. Definitely not!".
I think there are too many missing explanations for phenomena such as (for want of a better word) 'ghosts'. Of course I accept that a high proportion of such witnessing is unreliable and that many of the 'appearances' are products of trickery or charlatanism. But every single one of them? Maybe, but I can't help thinking that there's something happening, for which we haven't yet discovered the whys and wherefores. I've never had such an experience myself but have met maybe two or three who do claim to have witnessed them, and I don't have any reason to think they were just kidding me. It's strange how many of these occurrences are in oldish houses, mansions, castles, churches, theatres etc in which a mysterious figure walks or glides across the floor and disappears through a wall. In each viewing of this apparition the figure seems to do exactly the same thing every time - rather in the manner of a short film being replayed over and over again. There is a theory that somehow the walls or surroundings have 'recorded' this somewhat insignificant act of the subject in the past and, in a manner at present not understood, this is what is being replayed. If the apparitions really are genuine and are not mere visual illusions then this explanation seems to me no more ridiculous than thinking that they really are authentic 'beings'. At least it would knock on the head the idea of a parallel existence in a 'spirit world', which I find more comforting than the thought that there really is another existence to which we are consigned or trapped inside.
As for seances, I don't know what to think. They must all be fake or something very troubling is happening. I don't understand why all the 'voices' maintain that they are 'happy' where they are, and they are never asked to describe or explain their surroundings. That's what I'd most like to know.


By the way, I see from the very short clip of the new 'Paranormal Activities' that a dog is featured. I'm always put off from wanting to see any film which includes animals because I know my emotions are just too easily manipulated - particularly when the animals are hurt or, heaven forbid, killed - although I'm aware that such wouldn't be allowed to actually happen in a film made in the America or Europe. But anyway I'm now not sure whether I'll be wanting to see this one. Pity. (The thing I most remember about the original 'Amityville Horror' film was my desperately hoping and willing that the family dog would get out alive - and was so relieved when it did.)

So ghosts - real or not? I dunno! WhooooooooOOOOOOooooo!!!!

4 comments:

  1. I don't know what is more scary -- "Paranormal Activities" or the fact that you read Perez Hilton. LOL

    You can always cover your eyes when it looks like something bad is going to happen to the dog.

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  2. I do tend to look away from the screen at moments I think might be upsetting - and also when I go to the cinema! ;-)

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  3. Ray, people can really surprise you. I'd never have pegged you for a Perez Hilton reader.:)

    Ghosts may exist, but I'm pretty sure they aren't what we think they are if they do. My guess is that if they do exist they are an energy echo(like the big bang background noise) or perhaps an misfire of our perception of energy/matter of the universe. If time isn't linear and matter can be perceived in a way other than the way we currently do, all of the things that happen forever are available to perceive. I think the energy that binds it all together is what is really important; it is the key, perhaps literally.

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  4. Kyle, thanks. My justification for looking at Perez Hilton is simply to get my daily dose of bitchy chat and rumours - an antidote for all the strait-laced factual news stories I devour every morning. Is there a better site which provides this?

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