The reason for a belief in ghosts

[jboking]

I'm the typical depressed individual. Every now and again I think to myself, "I'm forgettable and have left no impression on the world. One day I will leave it and be forgotten moments after my funeral." One day while going through one of these depressive thoughts a ghost hunting show popped up on T.V. I was watching with a friend, so we got to talking about ghosts. My friend told me that he believed in ghosts. However, when I asked him why he had no real reason. "I just do," was his only response. This lead me to start connecting my fear of being forgotten with the belief in ghosts.

Maybe the reason some people believe in ghosts is because they subconsciously want to believe that after they leave this world they will be able to leave an impression upon it. They think that because ghosts are real they might become one after they die and haunt a building, allowing them to be remembered by the people they scare.

Of course there are other reasons people believe in ghosts. So, here is my question to you. Why do you think some people believe in ghosts? To add mystery to an otherwise boring reality, to hope they can become a ghost and be remembered, or something else?

EDIT: It seems that a lot of the escapists share the same opinion, that being. "Ghosts? lulz, ghosts are for non-sciencey people!" So instead, please indulge your imagination and tell me what proof for the existence of ghosts would even look like. What would you personally require as proof? How much do you think is reasonable?

 

[GodsOneMistake]

Because there is some evidence of their existence, I mean not all that much but there are some things out there than really make you wonder...

For me it isn't as deep as that, it's just simply I've seem some evidence that support it and than I've seen some evidence that doesn't soo, who knows

 

[gigastrike]

Hey, something has to be making that chair fly!

 

[AndyFromMonday]

I really...don't know. The only "argument" I heard from those who do believe in ghosts is that "just because science cannot explain it, the supernatural's at work here!"

 

[fluffybunny937]

I never looked at the belief in ghosts like that before, very interesting.

 

[Worgen]

Because there is some evidence of their existence, I mean not all that much but there are some things out there than really make you wonder...

For me it isn't as deep as that, it's just simply I've seem some evidence that support it and than I've seen some evidence that doesn't soo, who knows

no there isnt, but the human mind is programmed to be fearfull before smart, IE its more useful see see a shadow that looks like a tiger then a shadow that is just a shadow but might have a tiger attached, thats why we see strange things in the corners of our eyes but the belief in ghosts also has to do with our desire of some piece of us to live on after death.

 

[RetiarySword]

Wow you must be a barrel of laughs. I think you need to perk up and start your legacy. That what I done. I have my eyes on a Nobel peace prize. Set a goal, doesn't matter how high and push for it. I am also going for astronaut. I mean people say' It's never going to happen' but someone has to fly, and who knows!

 

[jboking]

Because there is some evidence of their existence, I mean not all that much but there are some things out there than really make you wonder...

For me it isn't as deep as that, it's just simply I've seem some evidence that support it and than I've seen some evidence that doesn't soo, who knows

I find it odd that people can believe in ghosts because of bits of evidence, but find it hard to believe in things that are completely logical with tons of evidence (not gonna throw the name of any theories around).

 

[grimsprice]

haha. yeah, people will believe whatever they want in a moment of desperation. i personally am firmly rooted in the belief that ghosts and the supernatural do not in any way exist. why? because i watch ghost hunters.

 

[Bored Tomatoe]

I used to believe in ghosts, mainly for the fun, but then again, I've always been fairly skeptical about things, I just keep them to myself for the most part.

 

[Proteus214]

I think that some people say that they do so that they can get attention when they claim to have seen one. Same goes for UFOs.

 

[GodsOneMistake]

Because there is some evidence of their existence, I mean not all that much but there are some things out there than really make you wonder...

For me it isn't as deep as that, it's just simply I've seem some evidence that support it and than I've seen some evidence that doesn't soo, who knows

no there isnt, but the human mind is programmed to be fearfull before smart, IE its more useful see see a shadow that looks like a tiger then a shadow that is just a shadow but might have a tiger attached, thats why we see strange things in the corners of our eyes but the belief in ghosts also has to do with our desire of some piece of us to live on after death.

Because there is some evidence of their existence, I mean not all that much but there are some things out there than really make you wonder...

For me it isn't as deep as that, it's just simply I've seem some evidence that support it and than I've seen some evidence that doesn't soo, who knows

I find it odd that people can believe in ghosts because of bits of evidence, but find it hard to believe in things that are completely logical with tons of evidence (not gonna throw the name of any theories around).

Hey Hey chill I'm not saying I'm a full on believer I'm skeptical as Hell, it's just who am I too completely denounce something, that actually does have some things going for it.

 

[jboking]

haha. yeah, people will believe whatever they want in a moment of desperation. i personally am firmly rooted in the belief that ghosts and the supernatural do not in any way exist. why? because i watch ghost hunters.

Think you could stretch on this a bit, what is it that they do that harbors disbelief in you?

 

[jboking]

Because there is some evidence of their existence, I mean not all that much but there are some things out there than really make you wonder...

For me it isn't as deep as that, it's just simply I've seem some evidence that support it and than I've seen some evidence that doesn't soo, who knows

no there isnt, but the human mind is programmed to be fearfull before smart, IE its more useful see see a shadow that looks like a tiger then a shadow that is just a shadow but might have a tiger attached, thats why we see strange things in the corners of our eyes but the belief in ghosts also has to do with our desire of some piece of us to live on after death.

Because there is some evidence of their existence, I mean not all that much but there are some things out there than really make you wonder...

For me it isn't as deep as that, it's just simply I've seem some evidence that support it and than I've seen some evidence that doesn't soo, who knows

I find it odd that people can believe in ghosts because of bits of evidence, but find it hard to believe in things that are completely logical with tons of evidence (not gonna throw the name of any theories around).

Hey Hey chill I'm not saying I'm a full on believer I'm skeptical as Hell, it's just who am I too completely denounce something, that actually does have some things going for it.

Sorry, I didn't mean to jump you or anything! It's just something I find funny about our society today.

 

[Deacon Cole]

People believe in ghosts due to a combination of wishful thinking and dualism. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dualism] Ghosts are not real. Your friend is not alone in his belief in such things without evidence. It's natural to the human mind to believe such things or to want to believe such things. But that doesn't make it true.

By the way, if the show you were watching was Ghost Hunters, they're a pack of liars. Just so you know that. I had been watching that show a lot and I noticed that the voice on the EVP's had sounded like the same person in a couple well-spaced episodes. Watch such shows for entertainment purposes only.

 

[Pandalisk]

Humanity is superstitious, always has been always will.

as for me, i beleive that there possible could be spirits or ghosts, but again i am sceptical because of Scientific logic, it is a strange conflict.

 

[wrecker77]

What else are people going to use to make screamers?

 

[ghalkhsdkssakgh]

I guess this is similar to the reason some people believe in the afterlife. People don't want to think there is nothing coming after death. I've seen various arguments for ghosts, but none which I'm sure couldn't be explained with a bit of research. Still, everyone has there own opinion.
Although personally I think it's all bull.

 

[jboking]

Because there is some evidence of their existence, I mean not all that much but there are some things out there than really make you wonder...

For me it isn't as deep as that, it's just simply I've seem some evidence that support it and than I've seen some evidence that doesn't soo, who knows

no there isnt, but the human mind is programmed to be fearfull before smart, IE its more useful see see a shadow that looks like a tiger then a shadow that is just a shadow but might have a tiger attached, thats why we see strange things in the corners of our eyes but the belief in ghosts also has to do with our desire of some piece of us to live on after death.

Hum, so it is easy to say you don't believe there is any evidence of ghosts. What exactly would evidence of this phenomenon look like? Almost anything presented in film or photograph can be discredited. What would a ghost hunter have to present to give conclusive proof of the ghosts existence?

 

[Biek]

I believe that when people die, their energy remains in this world in the form of a memory or an emotion. And that some people with certain "gifts" can pick up these energies and the memories and emotions with it. I think you can learn and unlearn being able to do that.

So basically I dont believe in poltergeists and conscient spectral beings messing with you. But I do believe that when someone dies with a grudge, his/her emotions and memories can linger. Causing some people to feel it. This can also be in a positive manner, like feeling the presence of a loved one watching over you.