By P Michaelson
As indicated previously, ghost stories have been part of human culture for hundreds of years, with one of the first written records dating to the Roman author Pliny the Younger. Perhaps one explanation for the rich heritage of ghost stories dating from the nineteenth century is that this period offered the perfect combination of candlelit ambience with the rapid spread of literacy and printed media. However over a century on, interest in ghost stories and the supernatural seems to remain as strong as ever. So pursuing a philosophical tangent, why does humanity seem to have such a fascination with ghosts, death and the afterlife?
As indicated previously, ghost stories have been part of human culture for hundreds of years, with one of the first written records dating to the Roman author Pliny the Younger. Perhaps one explanation for the rich heritage of ghost stories dating from the nineteenth century is that this period offered the perfect combination of candlelit ambience with the rapid spread of literacy and printed media. However over a century on, interest in ghost stories and the supernatural seems to remain as strong as ever. So pursuing a philosophical tangent, why does humanity seem to have such a fascination with ghosts, death and the afterlife?
Perhaps
it follows from the old adage that there are only two constants in
life: death and taxes. As death will take all of us in time, one
explanation for the seemingly collective fascination with ghosts may
reflect a common desire to believe in something more, something that
extends beyond our capacity to fully comprehend, and perhaps a desire to
view death as a new beginning rather than an end. Ghosts offer this
undefined capacity, extending beyond the explanations traditionally
offered by religion for what will happen once we die. This may in part
help to explain some of the enduring fascination with the supernatural
in an increasingly secular society and an age of digital technology.
So
what are ghosts? Despite extensive historical references describing
ghostly manifestations and hauntings, attempts to establish conclusive
scientific evidence which could answer this question remain
inconclusive. Yet there remains a consistency between accounts of ghost
sightings and paranormal events spanning time and cultures which suggest
commonalities between observations. Why do some events seem to result
in spiritual manifestations whilst others do not? Premature and violent
deaths often factor in the histories of figures proposed to represent
the ghost in question. This supports the suggestion that perhaps ghosts
exist due to something remaining incomplete at the time of death; some
form of unfinished business which is necessary to enable the soul to
pass on to the next stage. Hence, existence of the supernatural would
appear to confirm the existence of something extending beyond our mortal
lifespan. Belief in the afterlife and the supernatural appears to
represent a unifying facet of humanity bridging time and culture. Belief
in the afterlife is perhaps best illustrated by the ancient Egyptian
pyramids, however celebrations such as Halloween, Samhain and the
Mexican Day of the dead remain current rituals celebrating the
connection between the world of the living and what may exist beyond.
Of
course charlatans playing on grief and human sensitivity have done
great damage against attempts to answer the question: 'What are
ghosts?'. Following the death of his mother, Harry Houdini (1874–1926)
became famous for debunking spiritualists. Although his initial attempts
at contact with his dead mother were allegedly from a point of belief,
he became increasingly frustrated by identification of trickery and
charlatanism. Associated with a Scientific American committee which
offered a monetary prize for anyone who could successfully demonstrate
supernatural abilities he became responsible for discrediting many
famous spiritualists. Notably, although no prize money was ever paid out
Houdini made a pact with his wife that if communication from beyond the
grave was possible, he would send her the message 'Rosabelle believe'.
His wife faithfully spent 10 years waiting for a message from beyond
before giving up hope although there still remains a tradition within
magicians' circles of holding annual seances in the hope of receiving
spiritual contact from Houdini. Further the behaviour of debunking of
psychics cost Houdini his friendship with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who
was famous for his strong belief in spiritualism.
Ghost
stories are most commonly designed to incite terror and raise the hair
on the back of our neck. However, few individuals claim to have actually
observed a spiritual manifestation. So, given the very limited
experience most individuals have had with the supernatural, why does the
supernatural hold such a fearsome fascination? In contrast, despite the
fear that most appear to have regarding ghosts and the supernatural,
the opposite effect is observed with respect to fortune telling. Why do
tarot cards, palmistry, astrology and mystics offer such intrigue when
the potential for interaction with beyond in the form of ghosts incites
such fear? If the cards offer insight into the future, why does there
seem to be such faith in the source of this divination if the paranormal
and unknown generally pose such threat?
Furthermore, the list of legendary creatures
cites legions of supernatural figures, so where do ghosts end and other
supernatural beings begin? In the absence of a definitive explanation
for what a ghost actually is then perhaps the use of ghosts to explain
otherwise inexplicable phenomenon reflects an egocentric nature of human
logic. As there are many reports of malignant hauntings, are there
truly evil ghosts, or do malicious spirits represent something other
than ghosts? Perhaps ghosts merely represent the tip of the iceberg as
it were, and there remain legions of supernatural elements which exist
beyond our ken? Global media was set alight in May 2013 following
speculations of a public exorcism performed by Pope Francis; claims
which were later denied by the Vatican. Irregardless of the explanation
behind the occurrence, significant public interest in this story
suggests that strong belief in the supernatural, both good and evil,
remain strong as ever.
Following
from these philosophical meanderings, perhaps ghost stories offer the
best of all arguments; simple entertainments which enable a safe and
controlled consumption into what may exist beyond. Whatever the
explanation, a good ghost story appears to remain as popular as ever.
Although M.R. James, Sheridan Le Fanu and Edgar Allen Poe remain the
best known historical ghost story authors, the breadth of other authors
who also composed at least one ghost story highlight the popularity of
ghost stories at the end of the nineteenth century.
Those seeking
further reading may find the Cyclopaedia of ghost story writers website a handy reference.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Houdini
http://www.thegreatharryhoudini.com/occult.html
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/houdinis-skeptical-advice/
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