Ghosts FAQ

Ghosts FAQ

While experts disagree on the exact number, and definitions, there are two basic types of ghosts. One is where an event, or events is somehow embedded in a place. Sort of like a holographic copy, although sometimes it's just sounds, and no pictures. The other type is the disembodied spirit, like Casper, or Jacob Marley (the one with all the chains....) from Dicken's Christmas Carol. There are many other types, like poltergeists and crisis apparitions.

Q. Is there any proof that Ghosts really exist?

A. Well, most evidence is anecdotal, which means scientists won't accept it. Eye witness testimony, and even photographs are plentiful, but that's really not considered proof. It mostly depends on a matter of faith - you either believe in ghosts, or you don't. Suggestion does play a big role in the ghost phenomenon - if you belive in ghosts, and go into a so called haunted house, chances are you will see or here something ghostly.

Q. What is the most common type of ghost?

A. That seems to be what is referred to as a crisis apparition. This is when the spirit, or image of a recently deceased person appears to his or her loved ones. The typical case of a crisis apparition is this:
The witness sees a loved one appear mysteriously, as if out of nowhere, and proceeds to talk with them briefly. Then , the loved one vanishes, again, mysteriously. The witness then finds out, within the next couple days, that the loved one died shortly before appearing to the witness. The most famous example is when the ghost of CS Lewis appeared to a friend of his.

Similar to this is the phenomenon of death rattles, where strange sounds are heard by the loved ones of a dying person.

Q. What other common ghosts are there?

A. Another common type seems to be that of the haunting. In this case, either the spirit of a deceased hangs around an area, or the circumstances of a death (or event) are somehow recorded, and are played back from time to time. This is the type of ghost commonly reported in haunted houses. Usually, the ghost manifests visibly, and makes noises

Poltergeists are also a common form of ghost. These spooks move items, start fires, and generally make a pest of themselves. They rarely manifest visibly. Poltergeists seem to center around small children, usually young girls (12 or so), which causes some speculation that they are the manifestation of some sort of psychic ability gone haywire, due to the onset of puberty perhaps.

Q. What are some famous ghosts?

A. Perhaps the most famous ghost, is the Brown Lady, whose photos grace the pages of most books on ghosts. She lives in/haunts Raynham Hall in England. The famous photo of her was taken in 1936.

The Brown Lady

The Tower of London also features many famous ghosts, including a couple wives of Henry VIII. Anne Boleyn often appears in a white gown, sometimes missing her head. There is another scene, where a woman, thought to be the Countess of Salisbury, running shrieking , re-enacting her attempted escape. There are many , many more ghosts there.

Q. How about some famous Poltergeists?

A. The most famous one is undoubtedly that in the movie, Poltergeist. That wasn't really based on any specific incident, just an amalgamation of poltergeist cases. Probably the most famous case in real life, was that of the Bell Witch, which plagued the Bell family in the early 1800s. It would speak, as well as torment the family. Notable witnesses include Andrew Jackson, who would later become president of the US.

Q. What is an example of a ghostly recorded event?

A. There are many. Perhaps the most famous in the United States, is that of Abraham Lincoln's funeral train, which took his body from Washington DC to his birth place, and burial site, in Springfield, Illinois. Supposedly, this train reappears at midnight, at certain days of the year.

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