Spirits And The Afterlife
70Do You Believe In The Afterlife
In the field of journalism, the paranormal isn’t usually regarded as a subject to be taken seriously; in fact, it is viewed by most reporters as nothing more than entertainment value.
Many years ago, as a young journalist, having been educated at university to not believe anything unless the information could be verified through a reliable and reputable source, I shared the view of most of my colleagues regarding the paranormal. It was popular nonsense.
Nevertheless, I understood that popularity equated to an increased audience, which made the subject appealing from a media point of view; so when my editor suggested I write a weekly column on local ghost stories, I welcomed the assignment. It sounded like fun.
The column quickly became a success; and strangely enough, I became known as a ghost expert. This label bothered me. I regarded the title ‘ghost expert’ as something that would hurt my career. Much like an actor that has become famous for playing a particular character, I began to feel I’d been typecast in a role that would see me banished forever from the ranks of serious reporters.
Radio stations featured me on Black Friday and Halloween specials, magazines and television stations contacted me. Even though I knew little of the subject, the tag expert had been firmly placed across my forehead and I was stuck with it.
Still, my column had legs – so to speak – and was running faster than I could find content. I’d exhausted all the local historical ghost stories, and the usual reader submissions were beginning to sound all too familiar. I needed fresh material. Under increasing editorial pressure to keep the column alive, I resorted to interviewing celebrities, and this is where my thoughts on the subject began to shift.
Almost all of them had experienced something otherworldly.
With my curiosity now piqued, I began to seriously research the subject, and soon discovered that paranormal phenomenon is extremely common. Even more surprising, was the revelation this phenomena had no social, racial, or economic boundaries. People from all walks of life had revealed their experiences. It seemed paranormal events had touched every corner of the globe.
I also learnt the academic world is divided on the issue. There are those that vehemently deny the existence of anything paranormal, those that acknowledge certain aspects of the subject, and a smaller group that have become renowned experts in one or more areas of the topic.
At first, the division within the academic world didn’t seem logical. After all, if these brilliant minds couldn’t agree, what was the average person supposed to conclude?
A possible reason for the differing opinions came to me by way of the highly distinguished psychiatrist and author, Dr. Brian Weiss.
Dr. Weiss had an experience with one of his patients that set him on the road of discovery regarding reincarnation – and ultimately made him an international expert in this field.
What occurred in Dr. Weiss’s office was so profound, so real and extraordinary, he was compelled to step over the academic line and risk his career and reputation to follow what he knew in his heart to be true. And in doing so, gave others permission to do the same.
Most academics, however, have not had such a life altering experience, and even if they had, the professional risk involved in revealing such an occurrence would most likely ensure their silence.
But even if you dismiss the overwhelming evidence of reincarnation - which in itself represents the continuity of consciousness - you have to agree in the existence of energy - which can be altered but never destroyed. Everything is made of energy; and if energy can never be destroyed, it is not difficult to envisage the recently deceased existing in a different form.
Which leads us to ghosts?
Ghosts are commonly regarded as the fragment of people who have died. The energy of the dearly departed if you prefer that term.
Not everyone sees this energy, but many have encountered it in one form or another.
When my father in-law, Keith, passed away a few years-ago, the appliances in my home went haywire. My electric-shaver began buzzing in the bathroom, I removed the battery and the shaver stopped. The moment I left the bathroom, the buzz buzz buzz started again. A few minutes later, the kettle switched itself on, the television flicked through several channels and the lights dimmed. I lost count of how many bulbs I replaced in the following weeks.
These electrical disturbances were strange, but they didn’t compare to my cell-phone ringing itself. The phone was sitting on the dining-table, I heard the familiar ring, but was too far away to answer it. When I checked the number of the missed call, it was my number – my own cell-phone number. No-one else was in the house – at least not physically.
I soon learnt that several other relatives were experiencing similar phenomena, and that Keith's grand-daughter – a science graduate – had witnessed her kettle boiling when it wasn’t even plugged in.
All agreed that it was Keith letting us know he was still around.
So yes, my views on certain paranormal events have shifted. In fact, I can recall numerous extraordinary episodes that have occurred throughout my life. Events I’d simply dismissed at the time as nothing more than a trick of the mind.
As Fox Mulder said, 'The truth is out there.'
Although one often has to wade through a lot of fabrication in order to arrive at the truth.
Do You Belive In The Afterlife?
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Thanks Smireles. :)
My attitude to the paranormal is conditioned by my experiences and those of people I trust. This has forced me to take it seriously enough to look at how it might be compatible with things at the leading edge of science. In fact much of mainstream physics is odder than any paranormal phenomenon.
But the field is riddled with hoaxes, charlatans and self deception so individual cases need to be treated with prejudice and commonsense initially,
Most people dont know the facts if they are not taught them. Some facts are lies and some are the truth. Some facts are non evidenced and passed down myths, but yet believable.Some facts are the truth with evidence, but rejected and never passed down.
There is only one "Evidence" that being. The evidence that remains recorded for all to read.
Life after death is a distorted idea because it has many gaps and distorted explanations. eg: Purgatory, and Limbo are two distortions invented by the Catholic religion, yet there is no mention of it the in the Bible they read.
Where did re-incarnation start, as this could also be described as life after death, damn misrable though, who would want to come back here in another form, to go around and round.
What happened to hell, or is this another place after death, or again a mis-understanding of words and meanings, I think so. What happened to Paradise, or is this also a mis-understanding.
Life after death is a reality, but it is exclusive, yet also non-exclusive.So people choose to believe whatever floats their boat, unless something better reveals itself.
I can give you the oldest history of this phenomenon, with evidence. But this would take up your comments section.
Regards
My friend
I do not believe to any religion but I can tell you for sure that and your presence life is an afterlife. My anchestors used to say that zero does not produces anything and as the entire universe so you are a part of the ultimate's mind's creation. You are condamned with eternal...LIFE!!!
Personally, I do believe in the afterlife - our consciousness, habits, values, and personality remain intact as we shift into a higher vibration. I'm just not convinced by some of the variations on this seemingly natural occurrence. Much of the ideology regarding this subject seems purely profit, power and fear oriented.
I don't agree that ghosts are the souls (in their entirety) of deceased peoples, but fragments thereof. The impressions of stories are what seem to enforce the belief that they are a complete being in themselves. It's not hard to conclude that what you 'see' would give the impression they are 'whole' beings. There is a body of work, of a massive body of work on esoteric knowledge and experience by Dr Samuel Sagan, Parasites of the Body of Energy which covers peoples personal experiences in regard to Entities. This link gives an exerpt: http://www.clairvision.org/ckb/ckbe/ckbl/fol_0000_
I have written a hub on Entities and Ghosts, although it's just a snippet of information. I am able to clear them also. I don't go into the entertainment value of this phenomena, I find that in itself quite stupid in that people are unaware of the energetic effects both on themselves and the entities themselves.
I find academics, whilst necessary, are too closed, primarily because they are not willing and in some cases unable to experience the phenomena. With Dr Sagan's work, there are clear and precise exercises to learn to perceive metaphysical states of consiousness. I'm not advertising this guy but it's so interesting when you see and hear philosophers going into circular discussions of ideas and theories yet are never willing to go beyond the mind. The ordinary mind is not where these answers are found. Can be quite frustrating to listen to their hypothesis and give them a way to see, yet they won't.
Thank you Jewel. I am aware that we contain several sheafs, and the ghostly form is but one of them. I used the word ghost in the article as this is probably the most common fragment people have observed. I know more on the subject then the article indicates - although I am far from being an expert.
Any serious student of metaphysics knows the workings of the afterlife and the process of the soul. But for most people, knowing that life continues, that their loved ones are still connected to them, is all that matters.
There are no human ghost walking on the earth, its only in the movies.
There is an invisible world in existance and is the origin of all problems.
There are ghost though that imitate humans, and they are called DEMON SPIRITS. They are deceivers and liars and have created all religions, by using people and possesing people.
I don't think that is exactly true - but thanks for the comment.
I believe in the supernatural however I am still waiting for the defining experience which will bring me to total acceptance that they do in fact, interfere in the affairs of the living.
Great post - thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the kind comment :)
do u believe in dream?dou ever dreaming?can u derive what cause of dreaming?lets us dream on....
Sorry - but I have no idea what you are talking about.
2009.I believe in the afterlife.I have personally met people who have died and came back to life.People forget about CPR.Everyday my job is to bring people back to life.People have been clinically dead and tell of their experiences.The afterlife.
Tamarii2 - I respect your experience in this area and I can see the probability of people returning from what appear to be a state of death. However, without belittling their personal experiences I am still a bit skeptic. I understand from previous study on the subject that there are various stages of death. Each stage occurring in the mind with the final stage being the end of consciousness.
To my understanding the mind goes through various transformations identified by certain colors. The first color is a white cloudy appearance where the subject visualizes a bright white light emulating from a distance. This would explain why most people report the 'light at the end of the tunnel experience'. During this phase the consciousness is still functioning but memory is distorted. This is considered to be the first stage of the dying process. The second stage is recognized by the color red where the mind experiences a lack of oxygen, blood flow, and movement. It is during this phase when the subconscious mind goes into survivor mode and attempts to sustain the movement of body fluids which explains body twitching, and shaking. It is also during this phase that people claim to see their lives 'pass before their eyes'. Since there is no physical movement or heartbeat, most people think that this is the end of the dying process and the subject is now deceased. However, the consciousness has not yet left the body. The third and final phase is identified by the color black. It is at this phase that the heart ceases to function which releases the consciousness and completes the dying process.
People who claimed to have died and return was merely in the first two stages of death. CPR is very successful during these stages, if administered before the final phase.
Therefore, I believe that when a person appears to be dead they're really not. There has been multiple reports released from the medical establishment of people being pronounced dead who suddenly begin to show signs of life because the dying process can take anywhere from one hour to several weeks. There was a person in the Caribbean who was pronounced dead but his wife refuses to burry him. As a result he showed signs of life four days later. In fact, he made a miraculous full recovery.
Now, back to the subject of an afterlife. Yes, I believe there is an afterlife as I believe there are a lot of people who were pronounced dead and embalmed, or cremated before reaching the final stage of death. As a result, if one believes in man having a spirit, the consciousness of the individual is not at rest. It is now identified as a spirit and its seeking a conclusion.
Now, granted, I am not an expert on the subject. This comment is based on my comprehension of the dying process.
jxb7076. You should have a read on my Hub I called it Death What now.
COOL!
You have a fine Hub going here. It is interesting and of course, well written. I absolutely believe in an afterlife. I believe in angels and demons. But I do not believe in ghosts.
Thanks for dropping by James. I appreciate your comments. :)
I believe in what's called "familiar spirits" as written in the Bible. The man who now believes he's a reincarnation of the artist actually subjected himself to a "blank mind" through hypnosis, thus opening himself up to the spirit world. Those who practice what's known as "divination" can be possessed by a "familiar spirit" and thus convince those listening that the spirit of their past loved one is speaking to them. The very purpose that a spirit would do this is evident, to turn minds away from the truth and believe a lie. The spirit world is REAL; that in itself is not a lie, but the source of the spirit world is one of two, light of the Father of Truth, or "false Light" of the father of lies. Just my two cents...
When we see 'ghost' from the view of religions, I could tell that religions agree with that, but from the view of science, ghost hardly exists.
But I do believe in the existence of ghost. Ghost is just an energy like us but without the meatbag! The point where we still having the meaty part is, it is still usable and that our soul solidified the enery around us to make it a human body. Wondering ghost is a spirit that's still lingering and has not let go of this business in this world and that's why some places become spooky.
Life after death, yes I believe it. Sometime ago I watched a documentary about pychologists in the early 70's and 80's (even some until now) which have successfully curing patient with phobia via hynopsis. And the interesting part is these pychologists had guided them back into their previous life and found out that those phobias were brought from there. There was one case where the patient could remember that she has been to this world for the 84th times at least in human form. The very first life of her was spent in the Old Eygpt.
I admit that this might sound too good to be true but like I said, it depends from which point you look at. There's nothing right or wrong but our perceptions make it.
You can googled this for more. Thanks.
I think hypnosis opens the body and mind up for possession, and indeed it is demonic, thus convincing the host (the one hypnotized) the s/he is from a past life....it's a lie from the enemy of God. This is my truth, because I believe God's Word to be true.
Where in the bible does it say hypnosis opens the body to possession and is demonic? Past lives exist whether you believe it or not - and that makes more sense then living one life, working like a slave, growing old and dying. There must be more than that. You see Carrie - people want to believe in religion, but when religion preaches fear and condemnation - that isn't a God that most people can relate to. Most people, myself included, believe in a loving God - without all the boundaries man-made religions have instilled to keep their flock under control.
Do some research on hypnosis - you will find so many wonderful stories of people who have been freed from their afflictions and fears.
Metphyscian is closer to the truth - and has obviously researched the information. But apart from that, it's what feels right in a person's heart.
For some people, no matter how overwhelming the information is - if it goes against their beliefs, there will be no changing their mind.
That's true. Each is accountable to believe what he or she will. I am not God, and I pray to be loving rather than judgmental. So often people label God as condemning, but in truth, He's saving. It all depends on which side of the "mirror" one wishes to see. Very interesting topic, though.
Thank you Carrie - you bring an interesting and important point of view to the subject. May your journey be all you hoped for. Blessings my friend. :)
Likewise :-)
Mark,
I believe in the afterlife. This is a great topic to write an article about. It is a very contraversial subject. It is interesting that in my nursing seminars alot of this subject matter was brought up.
One of my professors spoke of seeing strange things in the rooms of patients when they passed away.
Thanks for the great hub. You have a fantastic talent for writing and I will be reading more of your articles.
Donna
You are right about it being a controversial subject - the comments I have received indicate the varying degree of belief and understanding of the subject. The fact that your professor saw strange things is quite common - especially in the medical field.
Thank you for the compliment on my writing - I've been doing it for some time now (more years than I care to remember) but it's still nice to receive the occasional piece of recognition.
Glad to have you as a friend. :)
I love the way you wrote about the topic of spirits as I call them, being alive but in energy form; have experienced ghosts many times throughout my life. When my teenaged nephew passed away at 4:45 a.m. in an emergency room, the clock in his bathroom at home stopped working at the exact time. He has visited many times, which should leave no doubt of his being alive but as energy.
He is definately alive - and they always do their best to give us signs to prove that they are still around. I'm glad my article validated what you already knew. :)
Thanks for your thoughtful comments. Having such a thoughtful and sincere person as a member of the royal opposition is a real pleasure. Fortunately, being a "liberal" I can refute everything you say without the least bit of logic or reasoning, and just dance away into my flower-strewn dream-world and call it poetic license. ;-)
Whoa! What happened? Sounds like you had a Road-to-Damascus encounter. Well, now I expect you will be wearing tie-dye T-shirts and a beard, aye? See you at the Berkely Free Clinic.
LOL ... even though my thinking has shifted, I'm not quite a hippie yet - no tie-dyed shirts and beard - gave those away in the seventies. Thanks for your comments my friend - and you are free to refute my opinions all you like, it makes the subject even more interesting. :)
This is a topic I'm sure that scares many people. I'm a believer that there's an afterlife. When we die, it's death of the physical body. Since we are energy that never dies.
I agree. Thanks for the comment and stopping by Chris. :)
Fortunately I believe in the afterlife because of my own experiences, although everyone thinks your crazy for telling them that. It seems they are interested in hearing about it on the media, but when it happens in to someone they know, it's to close to home for them. Fortunately I don't consider it a ghost, but a spirit guide I guess. Not really sure what the difference is, but I really don't worry about it. People are skeptical till they have it happen to them themselves, and of course they will say it demonic, but I can't see why demons would want the good to happen in your life. lol
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Smireles Level 1 Commenter 2 years ago
Great piece.There is so much more to life than many people are willing to see. Thanks for an enjoyable read.