Do you Believe in Ghosts?

[muskrat]

The only ghostly haunt I can recall would be the big communal farm house I lived in with all my beat/neo-hippy friends back in the nineties. The electric ghost. Legend has it that the former owner rigged-up a fuse box to electrocute his wife (for that was how she died--electrocution). Whenever I argued with my girlfriend the lights would dim. Everybody that stayed there said they saw something,including two different accounts of the 'static lady' behind the curtains. For no reason I know some fellow killed himself by kneeling in front of a train on the tracks behind the house one day whilst me and the ol lady were out buying groceries. I myself was awoken mid slumber by insane feminine wailing (when I alone lived at said house). Other weird things, and YEAH, we did some acid back then, but that don't account fer all of it.

Put it all together and write a book one of these days, I'm gonna.

 

[Patricia A]

This isn't a ghost story per se. My sister kept one of the clocks from my mother's apartment after mama passed away. It still works but the chime only goes off when it wants to. It'll go months without chiming, then it will chime when my sister calls me, or I call her and we're chatting. It will chime at least once when I'm over at her house visiting for the weekend. The night my sister's last grandkid was born it chimed.
Just a thing.

 

[Demeter]

No. While I love ghost stories, I don't believe they exist in real life. I do, however, believe in dreams, the kind you know they mean something. I've had that experience several times, the last one only days ago.

 

[Blake]

Yes.

 

[GNTLGNT]

 

[sam peebles]

Nah.

I wish ghosts (and other paranormal events) were real, it would be comforting to know there's some other plane of existence, but I've had no experiences in my life that would lead me to believe that they're not.

 

[the_last_gunslinger]

Nah.

I wish ghosts (and other paranormal events) were real, it would be comforting to know there's some other plane of existence, but I've had no experiences in my life that would lead me to believe that they're not.

This reminds me of something my brother said a while back. He's a staunch militant atheist, so I assumed he'd also disregard a belief in spirits and ghosts. Turns out that's not the case. He believes it's quite possible that hauntings might be real.

I found that profoundly more distressing than if there was nothing after we die. The idea that there is life after death, but no higher power, no heavenly paradise, just an eternal existence as a disembodied spirit wandering aimlessly around graveyards, abandoned farm houses and condemned sanitariums...

 

[sam peebles]

I'm agnostic--some will say that's just a shy atheist--but I believe there're things going on that I can't understand, so I stick with agnostic. I admit that I don't know all and respect religion; I want to believe there's something else than this (please???), but can't base that on empirical evidence or personal experience, so I remain an unregistered voter on the subject. If pushed, I'd side with atheism. The weight of proof is on religion. I don't have to prove something doesn't exist, and that's just how my life works. Prove to me it does exist, because non-proof is virtually impossible to provide. This is coming from someone without faith.

That being said--I completely disagree with you, respectively. I know the universe got along fine without me for 14 billion years just fine, and will continue to do so. I believe when I die, I will return to the state before my birth. My mind just can't wrap around the idea that this consciousness--my self identity--will be gone forever, without waking, for eternity. I just can't fathom that, although it's my belief.

And it kinda terrifies me.

 

[Patricia A]

I'm agnostic--some will say that's just a shy atheist--but I believe there're things going on that I can't understand, so I stick with agnostic. I admit that I don't know all and respect religion; I want to believe there's something else than this (please???), but can't base that on empirical evidence or personal experience, so I remain an unregistered voter on the subject. If pushed, I'd side with atheism. The weight of proof is on religion. I don't have to prove something doesn't exist, and that's just how my life works. Prove to me it does exist, because non-proof is virtually impossible to provide. This is coming from someone without faith.

That being said--I completely disagree with you, respectively. I know the universe got along fine without me for 14 billion years just fine, and will continue to do so. I believe when I die, I will return to the state before my birth. My mind just can't wrap around the idea that this consciousness--my self identity--will be gone forever, without waking, for eternity. I just can't fathom that, although it's my belief.

And it kinda terrifies me.

Life is a terrible, breathtaking, mind boggling, beautiful ride. I'm tired of looking for explanations, I just want to keep going back to the ticket booth.

 

[sam peebles]

Life is a terrible, breathtaking, mind boggling, beautiful ride. I'm tired of looking for explanations, I just want to keep going back to the ticket booth.

Agree. Reminds me of Morgan Freeman in the Actor's Studio with that guy impersonated by Will Farrell on SNL. Asking what he wanted to hear at the Pearly Gates, Morgan responded in the interview (not SNL version, but actual): "Wanna do it again?"

I could take that.

And while it's comforting, if I'm reincarnated with no memory of my past-self, my thoughts are that I might as well be dead forever in that dark blanket post-birth existence I previously described. The me that I was--that I am right now--now longer exists as an entity, and has no memory or identity.

I've had dreams where I'm on a carrier ship being transferred to Normandy across the English Channel the night before 06/06/1944, D-Day, and I know what's going to happen when we storm the beach and I'm terrified. Some people would contribute this to a past life, but me, I think it's just an avid interest and fascination in WW2 leaking into sleep... plus watching Saving Private Ryan too much.

 

[Patricia A]

Agree. Reminds me of Morgan Freeman in the Actor's Studio with that guy impersonated by Will Farrell on SNL. Asking what he wanted to hear at the Pearly Gates, Morgan responded in the interview (not SNL version, but actual): "Wanna do it again?"

I could take that.

And while it's comforting, if I'm reincarnated with no memory of my past-self, my thoughts are that I might as well be dead forever in that dark blanket post-birth existence I previously described. The me that I was--that I am right now--now longer exists as an entity, and has no memory or identity.

I've had dreams where I'm on a carrier ship being transferred to Normandy across the English Channel the night before 06/06/1944, D-Day, and I know what's going to happen when we storm the beach and I'm terrified. Some people would contribute this to a past life, but me, I think it's just an avid interest and fascination in WW2 leaking into sleep... plus watching Saving Private Ryan too much.

Here is a scientific fact that you might find interesting. I'm sure you know it already. But, nothing that is can ever be destroyed, it just turns into something else.
The conscious exists, therefore it can't be destroyed. Hell if I know what happens to it, I just know it is, so therefore it will always be around in one form or another.
Flesh turns to dust, what does our spirit turn into? I dunno, but I know it can't be destroyed. Science. Religion.

 

[mjs9153]

Agree. Reminds me of Morgan Freeman in the Actor's Studio with that guy impersonated by Will Farrell on SNL. Asking what he wanted to hear at the Pearly Gates, Morgan responded in the interview (not SNL version, but actual): "Wanna do it again?"

I could take that.

And while it's comforting, if I'm reincarnated with no memory of my past-self, my thoughts are that I might as well be dead forever in that dark blanket post-birth existence I previously described. The me that I was--that I am right now--now longer exists as an entity, and has no memory or identity.

I've had dreams where I'm on a carrier ship being transferred to Normandy across the English Channel the night before 06/06/1944, D-Day, and I know what's going to happen when we storm the beach and I'm terrified. Some people would contribute this to a past life, but me, I think it's just an avid interest and fascination in WW2 leaking into sleep... plus watching Saving Private Ryan too much.

Having been born on june fifth,1964,almost exactly twenty years to the day of the invasion,I know what you mean..and my father was one of the army air force guys bombing Europe preparatory to any invasion attempts,grew up with army soldier toys,gi joes,all that stuff..pretty cool what those folks did to stop the awful things going on..being reincarnated,I don't know,maybe we are,maybe not,but it sure is a good ride while we are here..like kevin spacey says in American beauty,thank you for each day of my life..

 

[mjs9153]

I'm agnostic--some will say that's just a shy atheist--but I believe there're things going on that I can't understand, so I stick with agnostic. I admit that I don't know all and respect religion; I want to believe there's something else than this (please???), but can't base that on empirical evidence or personal experience, so I remain an unregistered voter on the subject. If pushed, I'd side with atheism. The weight of proof is on religion. I don't have to prove something doesn't exist, and that's just how my life works. Prove to me it does exist, because non-proof is virtually impossible to provide. This is coming from someone without faith.

That being said--I completely disagree with you, respectively. I know the universe got along fine without me for 14 billion years just fine, and will continue to do so. I believe when I die, I will return to the state before my birth. My mind just can't wrap around the idea that this consciousness--my self identity--will be gone forever, without waking, for eternity. I just can't fathom that, although it's my belief.

And it kinda terrifies me.

For you..but for some,who have some pretty bad memories,it is kind of comforting..I think back to the end of The Shawshank Redemption,where they say,the Pacific has no memories..I find that kind of comforting as well,maybe someday will find my way there to that beach..

 

[HollyGolightly]

I'm not sure. I've never personally seen one, but there's a scary ghost legend associated with my grandmother's house. Several family members have stories. Most involve ominous breathing right over your face. I think what I believe in is a residue. Something traumatic happened and is forever etched into the place where it happened and some people, mostly children and animals though, can see it/them/her/him/whatever. I'm Catholic and from what I heard - we believe evil lurks about - there are bonafide exorcists in the church. I don't necessarily think that means ghosts of people we knew. My thoughts on that are more like demons are afoot and take an image from your mind and animate that to entice you. But these are my thoughts - not anything I've been taught by any priest or other clergy within the church. Ha - that made me think of Isaiah: My thoughts are not your thoughts....
Anyhow, I'll believe it when I see it but I'm such a chicken and I'll drop dead from fright and no one will ever know that a ghost killed me.

 

[Patricia A]

For you..but for some,who have some pretty bad memories,it is kind of comforting..I think back to the end of The Shawshank Redemption,where they say,the Pacific has no memories..I find that kind of comforting as well,maybe someday will find my way there to that beach..

I feel you. Maybe, whether you believe in reincarnation or not, it may give you some kind of feeling of balance to do something nice for a WWII vet. Maybe there's some sort of emotional connection, maybe spiritual, I don't know. But do something, throw some flowers in the Pacific and acknowledge what happened there.

 

[mjs9153]

I feel you. Maybe, whether you believe in reincarnation or not, it may give you some kind of feeling of balance to do something nice for a WWII vet. Maybe there's some sort of emotional connection, maybe spiritual, I don't know. But do something, throw some flowers in the Pacific and acknowledge what happened there.

Thanks..I feel it every year on my birthday,and visit my dad's grave,the local veterans of the foreign legion always have a flag there..they,the WW2 generation,is pretty much gone now..

 

[Patricia A]

Thanks..I feel it every year on my birthday,and visit my dad's grave,the local veterans of the foreign legion always have a flag there..they,the WW2 generation,is pretty much gone now..
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That's love. That's the best we have. We do the best we can, we have to celebrate that we are doing what we can, or forever feel sorry. ((((mjs9153))))

 

[sam peebles]

Oh, I agree with you Patricia A. I take hope in that every cell in our body was once part of star, and that maybe it's distributed back upon death. Or that I can become part of a star and recycled again. That concept pleases me. My idea of heaven (if it exists) isn't fluffy clouds. It's some comprehension and travel through the universe.

 

[Patricia A]

Oh, I agree with you Patricia A. I take hope in that every cell in our body was once part of star, and that maybe it's distributed back upon death. Or that I can become part of a star and recycled again. That concept pleases me. My idea of heaven (if it exists) isn't fluffy clouds. It's some comprehension and travel through the universe.

Who knows what heaven is? I don't know, and frankly don't care. Well I do, but I can't do anything about it, so....
But it's a scientifically accepted premise, and religion approved idea, that we are made of star stuff, dust, the same thing our bodies turn into when it dies. That gives me shivers. What could be possibly be better?

 

[sam peebles]

For you..but for some,who have some pretty bad memories,it is kind of comforting..I think back to the end of The Shawshank Redemption,where they say,the Pacific has no memories..I find that kind of comforting as well,maybe someday will find my way there to that beach..

I find your assumption that I have no bad memories kind of...but not really...offensive. I don't want to put much weight on this, and I have never mentioned it before, but I was orphaned at the age of 16 (mom dead at 13, dad at 16) and became a ward of the state of Massachusetts. Even before my father's death (drank himself to death) I was placed in the custody of the state in Grafton, MA, in a home of about five other foster kids that were mentally...not up to pace with me. I didn't belong there.

Despite the last three years of my father's shortcomings while he tried to get over my mother's death, I was still, in a weird way...loved. I was not like these other orphaned kids. At least, I didn't think so at the time...now, looking back...I wonder.

The other kids told me, when I went to court, that everyone came back. No one ever picked them up. I told them I wouldn't see them again, and sure enough, my mother's sister came to court and claimed me for foster-specific. I went on to live in beautiful Sutton, MA, in a nice home for the next year or so, before my father passed away at UMASS.

But what do you consider bad memories? I dunno if I even consider these bad memories, just my life. Again, not really offended...but...what the f**k?