Ghosts, real or not?

Question

Looking at it from a psychological point of view, are ghosts real or not? I myself believe in ghosts, but I'm very sceptical when I hear people talk about ghost sightings. They see ghosts everywhere, but to me it sounds like they're all letting their imagination run free.
Most ghosts are sighted in old buildings. Why there? Logically speaking ghosts would more likely haunt new buildings, where the building of the foundations of those buildings have disturbed them? Or rather because the new building took away their old dwelling?
I speak from personal experience, having lived in a 3 year old housing estate where someone or something plagued my being there, down to a talking lift that started to say strange things, and my now ex-boyfriend heard and experienced the same things.

But those things happen only scarsely. So again, my question is; ghosts, are they real or not? And if they're not, explain why they can't be. If they are, explain why so.

Answer 1

Heavily scientific thinker here as well...that is why we cannot rule them out as we have no evidence that they do not exist.

I used to not believe in them and say it was a scientific reason, but I had an experience that changed my viewpoint.

Everything in the world is only perceived by us through our five senses...as far as we know. I am not prone to having access to sensing things that other people claim to sense. I will not rule their ability out because: If someone is color blind does that mean blue doesn't exist? Well, to them it doesn't, it's a ridiculous concept. If you can't see...how do you explain what something looks like. try to explain perspective...things look smaller if they are farther away.

So that is my argument why we can't rule ghosts out...maybe not everyone can perceive them as they don't have the senses to do so.

I tend to believe they exist: To loosely use quantum theory...everything is a wave...even matter, everything is a frequency and vibration...so is thought. if a person dies...what is left behind are say...he/she was standing in a certain place, thinking a certain thing...causing waves to form...the grass under his feet went into vibrational resonance with that specific wavelength and now when someone else is there, they for some reason think the same thought.

So in a house or structure...the mass picks up the wavelengths of the person living there...maybe even the reflected light off of his/her body so that in certain conditions...a weak projection of the person is emitted that is capable of being perceived by some.

So...what is a ghost exactly? A sentient being? Or a memory of what once was? Or both?

A demolished building may perhaps get rid of the ghosts if they were there.
Ghosts are perceived more regularly around houses near power lines...before you accept the other opinion about electricity, consider electrical excitation could amplify those wavelength - residuals and have more people able to pick up and detect the ghost.
Or if it is a sentient being, perhaps they are drawn to the electric field...or even forced to be around it if ectoplasm has a charge.

Answer 2

I have done a bit of research on this subject, and there are quite a few theories out there that suggest that strong magnetic-electric fields can cause people to perceive things that aren't really there.

Because our brains work off of electric impulses from neurons, and from a physics point of view, a magnetic field affects an electric field... or current, which would be represented by our neurons firing.
So if we are walking through a stronger than normal magnetic field, it has been suggested that it can alter our perceptions. This is also why people can believe that they hear things that aren't really there, or feel, and even see.
I personally don't believe in ghosts because I am a heavily scientific thinker, and believe there's an explanation for everything.
But the electric and magnetic field answer is the best I've come across.

Answer 3

I believe in ghosts. I've been open to the situation and have had several creepy things happen to me before.. that just.. couldn't be explained.
what should be known though is

1/ Not EVERY orb you take in a picture.. is a ghost.. the whole theory of light and dust can very well be true.. its when you take a picture.. and no matter which way you take it ( flash, no flash, in light , dark whatever) .. Orbs appear..

2/ Just because you never SAW, FELT, or HEARD a ghost.. does not mean it doesn't exist. Chances are if some sane, and very normal average people say they saw or felt something.. they did... just because you don't believe in ghosts doesnt mean these people are lying.
if you stay at a house that people say is haunted.. and you leave.. convinced that because you didnt see or feel or hear anything.. that it's not haunted.. you are probably wrong.

3/ Never ever out of pure spite try to communicate with a ghost if you're unexperienced. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, you do have the power to bring in things ( to your house.. or you in general) that you do not want.. whether or not you can see them. When you meditate or try to communicate with ghosts.. you are opening yourself up ( assuming that you're taking it seriously of course) .. but failure to close yourself down, can result in inviting things you do not want.. its like saying to the spirit world.. woohoo party at my place everyone invited.

and finally

4/ There are always people that say they'll believe it when you see it.. that is true. But be aware that even if something creepy happens.. ( a touch that couldn't be explained, things disappearing.. whatever)... they stick with you for the rest of your life. you open your concious to everything and become more aware and generally more scared. It takes a seriously brave person to not be afraid of ghosts. I use to be fine in the dark.. I'm not anymore... just to put it in simple terms.

I would say .. personally... 90% of shows on television are Horse crap.. They're either fake or they set the moods on peoples feelings rather than facts.. ( ex: on Some MTV shows, or Discovery Shows for Kids, they question whether a place is really haunted and stick ppl in there to walk around the house with cameras on.. wondering if they feel anything).
I suggest that if you want to watch a television show on ghosts.. go for the low budget ones.. such as those on the W network ( in canada),
My personal favorite is Rescue Mediums but I suppose I am somewhat biased as I have met the" Ladies" of the show and am convinced that they are not at all fake.. and humourous women. However that's for you to decide not me..

I just felt that some of those things should be said you know?

Oh and of course.. if someone doesn't believe in ghosts.. don't question , debate,, and try to prove them wrong. It's just like knowing that ghosts exist from personal experience and then having a non believer say your full of crap.
It just doesnt feel good lol .

Answer 4

real! my mother had a ghost touch her and her best friend in her friend's house. her best friend was sure the ghost was her dad because of the way it touched her cheek. And my friend just baught a house for really cheap and fixed it up. He now lives there with his sister and they had to put rugs on the floors because the ghost would walk up and down the halls and you could hear the ghost's feet on the hard wood floors. I was over once when it happened. If this "can be explained by a stronger than normal magnetic field" explain why none of the neighbors have this experience and it only happens in one place in his house and always at night? now if you say that these ghosts are traveling magnetic fields, then I will believe your theory. other wise it's a load of c#@%! Ghosts exist.

Answer 5

*Ghosts are real. i know because I had one appear to me and I was forced to change from and unbeleiver to a believer.

In 1973 I woke up during the night and an old man was standing at the foot of my bed. I began to yell at him to get out of my house. I thought he had wondered in during the night confused. He pointed his finger at me and said" No, YOU GET OUT OF MY HOUSE" and vanished. I was living in a small one bedroom house and I did not beleive my eyes at first so I got up and checked both the front and back door and the few windows we had and all was secure. He was no where to be found.

A guy I went to high school with was across the street the next day visiting his parents and he was raised in that house and knew everyone that ever lived in the house I lived in and I told him about it and he asked me to describe the old man. he got a funny look on his face and went back accross the street and came back with a picture and asked me if that was the man I saw, and it was. It was the man wo had lived out his last remaing years in that one bedroom house and died there less than a year before I rented it. My friend then said that explained why the house could not remain rented because people left usually after 2 weeks.

Okay ghostly visitations such as mine are rare, but they do occur. I have studied the ghost hunting techniques of the two large ghost hunting organazations and although they differ in some theories they agree on these. Ghosts can haunt new or old buildings, ghosts can haunt anything from residential houses to restarurants, businsees, ball parks, forests, fields, deserts, any place.

They disagree on these things one claims to be scientsits and teach their people they are scientists and that using the scientific techniques their people will eventually rock the world by proving beyond all doubt ghosts exist, This same organization claims ghosts are rare and are not every where or every city and that something tragic had to happen for ghosts to exists. These people although they claim to be scientists also have no problem using psychics in their investigations.

The other organization claims to be more on the metephsychical side and claim ghosts are every where and anyone can open their senses to experience ghosts. They have some logical views on ghosts and why full body apparitions are rare.They do not allow psychics on their investigations even thought they claim metephysical approach. See links below for each organization.

I do think ghosts ar everywhere, but I do not trust any ones ghostly experience but my own. I have noticed that all the ghost hunters I know are too eager and I do not trust them because they see ghosts in everything they encounter. The ones who are the worst about this are the ones who claim to be scientists, they fuss at anyone not in their organization and say they are too eager and must listen to them, but they themselves will be the first ones to show me a copy of dust particles claiming they are paranormal orbs. I just investigate places now alone because it is frustrating to deal with eager people who see ghosts in every shadow and every noise and every floater in their eyes.*

Answer 6

I do not belive in ghosts, not at all.

However I do believe that people can TRULY believe they have seen or heard ghosts.


I worked in a refinery - of all places- that was supposedly haunted once. There were some weird vibes on night shift, but I never saw anything. However several others DID, or thought they did. The atmosphere created was strangely disturbing.

Answer 7

I never believed in ghosts until just recently.I live in a old house and strange things have been happening.My daughter had a play princess kitchen set that began greeting me in the morning, and talking during all hours of the night.I threw it in the trash,and now a Sponge Bob book is talking.Just tonight a light has turned its self off.Can we explain it all away? I have felt cold chills and seen strange things.I am currently studying physics geared toward science and engineering ,and I can not explain it away.So yes,they are real.(I guess)

Answer 8

Yes, I definitely believe in ghosts. It's strange that there aren't more 'sightings' of them, or even photo or video evidence. Perhaps, as we are in this dimension, we wouldn't be able to handle seeing one? On the other hand, many believe that we see and walk by ghosts all the time - they look so real, we don't realise it! This is a good website on ghosts etc:

Answer 9

The human mind can play tricks. 40 years back at midnight I was going to our fields with my mother, she was very puny but courageous, besides my mother walked hefty farm help persons, saying "mom you go in the front, ghosts wont do anything to you" , if we walk behind you, ghosts will not attack us". Now I am 53, I have gone several times to fields in the midnight crossing cemetries, but I have never seen any ghosts. Only the fear of the dark makes us visualize and create ghosts.

Answer 10

very difficult to answer. the problem is that there are many other things that can make one beleive that there are ghosts. my central heating for an example makes strange noises as if someone is hitting something. if you live in the country side, even distand car lights can make things appear in houses many miles away. and some people have a very strong imagination.