Quest Paranormal Research

Part I

Every year around Halloween, ghosts can be seen walking the streets and “haunting” houses. These are usually small kids who can not wait to put on their costume and parade around getting free candy. It can also be bigger kids (adults) who just love to scare the bejesus out of their significant other (or their kids).

Ghosts have been part of every culture and folklore since before the pyramids at Giza were built. The earliest reference to ghosts comes from the Bible (yes, that Bible) and the Torah. The most notable is the First Book of Samuel 28: 7-19 in which a disguised King Saul has the Witch of Endor summon the spirit of Samuel. Later, Jesus has to convince his disciples that he is not a ghost after his resurrection. They also believed Jesus was a ghost when they saw him walking on water.

Ghosts also appeared in Homer’s Oddessy and the Illiad. These were spirits who had little interaction with the world and were not particularly feared. Some spirits were called upon to provide advice and prophecy.

It wasn’t until the 5h Century B.C.E. that ghosts became haunting, frightening creatures who would work for either good or evil purposes. Ghosts were said to “hover” near the place of the corpse making cemeteries a place to be avoided at all costs. The dead were to be celebrated in public with sacrifice and libations or they may return to haunt the living. The ancient Greeks held annual festivals to honor those who have died. The dead were invited and afterwords were firmly told to leave and not return until the festival next year.

The ancient Romans believed that ghosts could exact revenge on others. A piece of lead or pewter was scratched with a curse and laid in a grave. The spirit of the deceased was then compelled to carry out the curse before they could rest in peace.

The most famous “haunted house” was described by Pliny the Younger in 50 A.D.. He describes a house in Athens that was haunted by a ghost bound by chains. It wasn’t until a skeleton was unearthed under the house bound by shackles that the haunting ceased

Part II – The Middle Ages

Ghosts during the Middle Ages tended to fall into two categories: the souls of the dead or demons. The Middle Ages were a period dominated by the Church, particularly the Catholic Church, and religion was applied to almost everything.

The souls of the dead were said to return to complete some task, demons were only here to torment the living. It was believed that one could assess the nature of a spirit by demanding their purpose in the name of Jesus Christ. The soul of the deceased would divulge their purpose while a demon would disappear at the sound of the Holy Name.

Most ghosts were souls assigned to purgatory after their death. This was an area of Hell designed for those who have sinned but will only be spending a specified amount of time there. The time spent in Purgatory and the penance was generally related to their sin. Ghosts would appear to the living asking for prayers to end their suffering early allowing them to proceed to Heaven.

Accounts of ghosts in the Middle Ages were more substantial than in later years. There are documents describing ghosts being wrestled to the ground and restrained until a priest could be summoned to hear it’s confession. There are also accounts of spirits who were less solid and could move through walls. They were often described as pale or gray, sad and wearing tattered clothes. The vast majority of sightings were male.

Ghostly armies were also seen in the countryside. There are tales of Knights being challenged by ghostly knights who would vanish upon defeat.

Part III – The Renaissance

Ghosts took on a new dimension during this period. There was a renewed interest in ghosts and Necromancy at this time and stories began to surface all over the world. Songs, poems and ballads also made their way into mainstream life.

Some stories recounted a ghost returning to beg a loved one for release from his promise to marry her. Her refusal would mean his soul would be damned for eternity. Such stories were common at this time. People believed that a ghost would haunt a lover without a formal release of their relationship.

Other tales across Europe took it one step further. They believed that ghosts were caused by the grief of the living. The mourning of the living did not allow the dead to rest in peace.

Part IV – The Modern Period

In 1848, two sisters from Hydesville, New York, claimed to have the ability to communicate with the dead. What followed became the spiritualist movement in America that claimed a number of adherents in the 19th century.

An increase in the popularity of all things paranormal rose as a consequence. Books were written for the growing middle class which included sketched of “ghosts and spirits”. Accounts of ghosts, doppelgangers, poltergeists and haunted houses began to surface all of the United States. In London, a newspaper was devoted to the Spiritualist community. Called The Light, the newspaper contained articles such as “Ghosts in Africa” and “Chronicles of Spirit Photography”.

The ability to summon or exorcise spirits of the dead have been part of religious practices for Spiritualists and practitioners of ritual magic for centuries. The Spiritualists movement of the 19th century has had an impact on the way the western world sees ghosts that lasts to this day. The pseudoscientific explanations of ghosts such as spirit photography and “ectoplasm” lend an almost scientific method to ghosts. Today, ghost hunting and ghost photography are as popular as ever with new “Ghost Hunting Societies” coming together almost daily.

Part V

Scientists have, for decades, been interested in proving the existence of ghosts to be false. Scientists are by nature skeptics and therefore require tangible evidence of something before they will believe. Even with evidence, scientists tend to try and disprove it until there can be no doubt to it’s authenticity. Very few scientists will take anything on faith.

One theory is that geomagnetic fiends can act on the temporal lobe of the brain and cause many of the experiences associated with hauntings. This theory has been tested in several ways but never proven conclusively. Other scientists attempt to link the onset of haunting phenomenon to increases in global geomagnetic activity. Other theories include carbon monoxide poisoning and infrasound (sound waves lower that 20 Hz). All of the work being done has been controversial and subject to debate.

There are at times rational explanations as to why certain phenomenon occur. Changes in the air pressure in a room can cause a door to suddenly close, or lights passing through a window at the right angle can give one the impression of being haunted.

For the times when no rational explanation can be found, we turn to “Ghost Hunters”. People who have a real desire to put ghosts to the test and verify their authenticity. These dedicated men and women spend their free time searching for evidence of ghostly activity or to prove that there is, in fact, a plausible explanation.

Look to Quest Paranormal Research to find your explanation…