Wednesday, April 25, 2001
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Wednesday, April 25, 2001 |
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I do believe in spooks, don't I? By MICHAEL
BOYLAN Recently, a British psychologist and a U.S. psychologist teamed up with a group of researchers and 250 volunteers to conduct the largest and most technologically advanced experiment ever in the investigation of paranormal activities. The experiment was held in the underground vaults, dungeons and tunnels of Scotland's Edinburgh Castle and South Bridge. Over the past five years, Mercat Tours, who sponsors the tours of the castle has logged visitors' paranormal experiences. They kept the information from the researchers and volunteers so that their findings would not be influenced. Fifty one percent of the volunteers reported "experiences" in tunnels that are reported to be haunted, while only 35 percent reported experiences in places that were not believed to be haunted. Volunteers reported sounds of heavy breathing getting closer, hearing their names whispered when no one was around, tugging and pulling sensations on their clothes and the sensation of being watched. Photographs taken in the "haunted tunnels" have unexplainable images on them. The research is inconclusive, but both psychologists feel that the mystery should be explored further. Though I have always wondered if ghosts are real, this fans the flames. I have never had an encounter myself, but have spoken to people who believe they have. They are not crazy, so I have no reason to believe that they are delusional or lying. Part of me would like conclusive answers and proof, but I am afraid that this would open many doors and create many more questions. For example, if ghosts are real, what does that say about the afterlife? Do angels exist and if they do, do demons exist? If demons exist, are other monsters real? Is there really more to the world than what we see? I have always been a fan of horror novels and tales of the supernatural and the occult, but I rarely ever believed that the creatures in the books or movies were lurking outside. Vampires don't exist and neither do werewolves. They can't, right? If they did, we would hear about their activities or capture. Wouldn't we? You can bet that if the evening news could get footage they would. Monica Kaufman would wear her most serious looking hair for a Close-Up interview. We claim to believe one thing, but we rarely ever ask ourselves what else that belief entitles us to believe. If I say that I believe in ghosts, then do I believe they can communicate through Ouija boards or seances? Do I believe that some places are haunted? What makes a person become a ghost? Do I know people who have become ghosts? And what about aliens? I have said in the past that there must be intelligent life somewhere in the universe other than Earth, but do I really believe that? If I do, do I believe that they will one day make contact? Do I also believe in UFOs and alien abductions? Did an alien ship crash in Roswell, N.M. in 1947 and has the government covered it up? There isn't a conclusive answer to any of these questions and there may never be. It may actually be better that way. If, for instance, there was proof that aliens had landed, wouldn't that shake many people's beliefs to their very foundation? Some people inevitably would not be able to handle the knowledge and chaos could erupt. That makes you wonder if the government is covering up an alien crash and avoiding a panic of worldwide proportions. Anyway, time to go, The X-Files is on and it's a new one.
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