Why some people deny the existance of ghosts
August 28th 2010 17:48
When you were little, I bet you heard almost every adult around you say "there is no such thing as ghosts." It was probably in response to you telling them that you saw something in your dark bedroom. Them telling you that there was no such thing as ghosts was not so much what they believed, but it was a ploy to get you to back to your bed and go to sleep. They did not want you bothering them in the middle of the night nor the late evening when they were doing other things. That thought, that they buried deep in your mind, at an early age, stayed with you. Never mind that they were also the same people that told you about Santa. You still trusted them and what they told you was true.
That was what most people believed as they were growing up. The Gallup poll of 2007 tells us that only 25% of the adult USA population believes in ghosts. The rest are in denial.
So what makes adults deny the existence of ghosts? It can't be religion, since all religions talk about higher powers, spirits and after life. Most religions encourage contacting the dead through prayer or meditation, so religion does encourage the belief in ghosts and spirits. So that leaves human emotions.
One of the strongest human emotion is fear. Fear will make humans do all sorts of things. Fear of the unknown will start religions, wars, riots, panic attacks and yes, cause denial. People also love to be scared as long as that scared feeling can be controlled. Amusement parks make a fortune on scary rides. Movie studios rake in big bucks making scary movies. What people don't like is being in scary positions that they can't control and that can lead to denial. They hope that in denying that the existence of ghosts will make it so.
That same fear will also control people into believing what people around then believe. It is called the fear of being thought of as "different." If all of a sudden it was fashionable to believe in ghosts then people would be making fun of those who didn't. The belief of ghosts is all about fitting in and .................human emotions. Unless of course you have really seen one and then you are a true believer.
That was what most people believed as they were growing up. The Gallup poll of 2007 tells us that only 25% of the adult USA population believes in ghosts. The rest are in denial.
So what makes adults deny the existence of ghosts? It can't be religion, since all religions talk about higher powers, spirits and after life. Most religions encourage contacting the dead through prayer or meditation, so religion does encourage the belief in ghosts and spirits. So that leaves human emotions.
One of the strongest human emotion is fear. Fear will make humans do all sorts of things. Fear of the unknown will start religions, wars, riots, panic attacks and yes, cause denial. People also love to be scared as long as that scared feeling can be controlled. Amusement parks make a fortune on scary rides. Movie studios rake in big bucks making scary movies. What people don't like is being in scary positions that they can't control and that can lead to denial. They hope that in denying that the existence of ghosts will make it so.
That same fear will also control people into believing what people around then believe. It is called the fear of being thought of as "different." If all of a sudden it was fashionable to believe in ghosts then people would be making fun of those who didn't. The belief of ghosts is all about fitting in and .................human emotions. Unless of course you have really seen one and then you are a true believer.
| 136 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Margaret Bennett
Old Soul
Doctoring The Soul
I'd like to know what religions encourage contacting the dead?
Comment by Janice H.
Exploring the Paranormal
Catholics pray to saints all the time. Those saints are ...... dead.
Need I go on?
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
But ghosts, here on earth? I have my doubts....but, maybe.......
Comment by Margaret Bennett
Old Soul
Doctoring The Soul
Comment by Journeywoman
Great Hair Style Tips
I Dream of Hollywood
Fashion Peach
As for me, personally? I like the idea that ghosts could exist, but given that I've never seen one I can't say with any conviction whether they do or they don't.
"To the believer no proof is required, to the sceptic, no proof is sufficient" .... a good quote from the site that I linked to. Is relevant to the belief in God, aliens, ghosts, the works.
Nice article Janice. You've got a new follower.
Comment by signals
The Health Fanatic
The Natural Order
Media Piranha
Arrogant News
The Dope Chronicles
Financial Ramble
Comment by Janice H.
Exploring the Paranormal
Why in heavens name (excuse the pun) would you want to thump your Bible loving ways on a paranormal blog? This blog is all about ghosts, the paranormal and scientific evidence of them. It is not a keep your head in the sand and saying, "everything I don't understand is evil," type of blog.
Now be a good little troll and go back under the bridge.
Comment by Deni
Abstract Magick
Cinema Herald
Secondly, people who believe in Ghosts/spirits actually see Ghosts/Spirits. People who are convinced that they don't exist for the most part don't see them.
I used to believe in Ghosts/Spirits when I was younger because I had weird experiences at night when I was "afraid", as I got much older and studied this subject, I came to the conclusion that they didn't exist and that they were only in my mind and ever since then, I've not seen a ghost at night ever since.
I say that to address what you wrote in your post. You said:
One of the strongest human emotion is fear. Fear will make humans do all sorts of things.
Fear will also make people see things there are not there. I was terrified as a child of anything that went bump in my room and out of fear I imagined I saw what was making that noise.
And it could be that when adults, tell their children "there's no such thing as ghosts", it could be that they understand that what their child is reacting to is fear.