By: Demetrius (Co-Founer of the OCPRS Toronto, Canada)
One of the most intriguing questions explored by most paranormal societies is whether or not there is life after death? “Ghosts” are thought to be the souls of the dead, bound to wander the earth. Countless stories and reports of ghosts have provided various circumstances and descriptions assigned to the belief in life after death. Science and philosophy have been used to explore the paranormal phenomenon of “ghosts” in one form or another. During the 18th century, the philosopher and empiricist, David Hume (b.1711 – d.1776), explored the question concerning life after death in one of his essays. A stout sceptic, Hume believed that “Nothing in this world is perpetual, every thing however seemingly firm is in continual flux and change, the world itself gives symptoms of frailty and dissolution.” Hume applied this view against the belief in a soul and life after death. Although far from answering the question surrounding an afterlife, there are other examples which do not dismiss the possibility of an afterlife so easily. The famous psychologist Carl Jung (b.1875 – d.1961) also explored the question concerning life after death. Jung believed that “All of the dreams of people who are facing death indicate that the unconscious, that is, our instinct world, prepares consciousness not for a definite end but for a profound transformation and for a kind of continuation of the life process which, however, is unimaginable to everyday consciousness.” These examples provide a sense of how important philosophy was and continues to be in science. Unfortunately, many paranormal researchers attempt to apply science to their questions with little regard for the philosophical implications. Due to the nature of such a question, the theological considerations are equally important, although less significant in the minds of most paranormal investigators. When religion or spirituality is taken into account by most paranormal investigators it is typically a non-Christian viewpoint.
The immortal soul is perhaps one of the most important underlying subjects spread across paranormal phenomenon today. Naturally, when science and technology are adopted by paranormal investigators, what emerges, are paranormal theories attempting to explore and answer the unknown. One such paranormal theory which has become popular is that “ghosts” are made up of energy, specifically an undetermined type of Electromagnetic energy. The technology used by paranormal investigators – EMF meters, Audio Recorders for EVP, etc. – seemingly supports the idea that “ghosts” are electromagnetic in one form or another. The paranormal theory also includes other areas of science in an attempt to validate the electromagnetic nature of “ghosts.” Many paranormal investigators have turned to Physics, such as the First Law of Thermodynamics in order to broaden the electromagnetic “ghost” theory.
FIRST LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS – Energy can not be created or destroyed but can change, from one form of energy to another.
The premise of the paranormal theory concerning “ghosts” is that the human body contains energy, and following death this energy changes from one state to another – the First Law of Thermodynamics. To support this, additional sciences are included to support the electromagnetic nature of “ghosts.” Among the variety of sciences, which are included, are Bioelectricity and Neuroscience. A brief explanation of these two other fields of science will also help explain the paranormal theory surrounding electromagnetism and “ghosts.” Bioelectricity examines electric potentials produced by living organisms, and this includes the human being. The field of Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary study including biology, chemistry, medicine, psychology, etc. and is the study of the nervous system. Both Bioelectricity and Neuroscience are closely related.
The energy identified to the human body, according to the sciences applied by paranormal investigators, are neurons. Neurons are electrically excitable cells that process and transmit information by electrical and chemical signals. They are at the core of the nervous system. Identified as energy, the First Law of Thermodynamics seems to support the idea that the energy changes from one state to another following death. In other words, the sciences provide an explanation to the paranormal theory of electromagnetism and “ghosts.” The science applied to this paranormal theory is very convincing. Or is it?
There are problems with this paranormal theory explaining the nature of “ghosts.” In order to explore these problems there are certain issues which need to be addressed. Since the underlying theme to such a theory is the exploration of the existence to an afterlife, it becomes necessary to compare what the teachings of the Holy Church Fathers are in such paranormal theories. Why the Church Fathers are justifiably used here to examine the paranormal theory in question is largely due to the fact that the paranormal theory about “ghosts” rests on religious beliefs concerning the soul and an afterlife. The philosophical and theological considerations belonging to the Church Fathers are therefore valid. By comparing the teachings of the Church Fathers to the sciences found in the paranormal theory regarding “ghosts” and their electromagnetic nature, many overlooked realizations will allow people to rethink what they think they know about the afterlife.
If the human body contains energy in the form of neurons, it becomes necessary to explore Neuroscience. For the sake of brevity, this science will only be examined in relation to the paranormal theory about “ghosts.” There are estimates which state that the human brain has billions of neurons. These cells work in a very complex way, transmitting electrical signals for various functions throughout the brain and body – the nervous system. This would suggest that the paranormal theory is describing the human soul as a complex and multi-celled distribution of energy. From St. Gregory Thaumaturgus’ On the Soul there is a description which describes the soul in a very particular way and does not find any similarities with the paranormal theory: “the soul is simple, best of all, by those arguments by which its incorporeality has been demonstrated. For if it is not a body, while every body is compound, and what is composite is made up of parts, and is consequently multiplex, the soul, on the other hand, being incorporeal, is simple; since thus it is both uncompounded and indivisible into parts.” Here, St. Gregory Thaumaturgus describes the soul in a singular nature that is not divisible. He is not alone in such explanations, and Tertullian is another Church Father who explained in his A Treatise on the Soul: “Being thus single, simple, and entire in itself, it is as incapable of being composed and put together from external constituents.” Once again, the singular and indivisible nature of the soul is described. The soul is a simple and singular essence and not something divisible or consisting of billions of cells. Once again, the paranormal theory implies that the human body contains an energy thought to be a soul, and that this energy is ultimately consisting of billions of neurons, each containing their own electrical signal. If these neurons represent the nature of the soul, this means the soul – as energy – is divisible. This conflicts with the teachings of the Holy Church Fathers. On the other hand, the human being is made up of corporeal and incorporeal natures – body and soul. The neurons are cells belonging to the corporeal body and not the soul. Some may argue that the soul acts through the nervous system. This argument, however, ignores the teachings of the Church which believe that the actions of the flesh can stain the soul, and therefore the flesh acts against the soul. In other words, one affects the other thereby revealing that body and soul are not the same thing. Even if paranormal investigators reject this argument since it belongs to the Church, they can not ignore their own beliefs which identify the circumstances or causes for ghosts and haunted locations. These include physical events affecting the soul, such as the belief that murder victims become restless spirits. In any case, the problems with the paranormal theory concerning “ghosts” and electromagnetism are not limited to Neuroscience.
Returning to the First Law of Thermodynamics, it is understood that energy can not be destroyed or created. If the soul is energy, as hypothesized in the paranormal theory, this would mean the soul is not something created. Again, the Holy Church Fathers offer descriptions about the soul which state something contrary to the paranormal theory. In St. Gregory of Nyssa’s On the Soul and Resurrection, “The soul is an essence created.” Tertullian also expresses this belief about the soul: “the soul originates in the breath of God, it follows that we attribute a beginning to it” (A Treatise on the Soul). Even the Nicene Creed indicates the creation of all things visible and invisible, and this would include the soul. If energy cannot be created, as the First Law of Thermodynamics suggests, this would mean that the human soul is not an energy recognized by science, or especially according to its created nature through God. Of course, the philosophical and theological considerations compared to the paranormal theory of “ghosts” does not resolve the beliefs held by individuals – especially paranormal investigators who gravitate towards many non-Christian beliefs and practices. Despite this, the next set of problems rest with the technology used to support the paranormal theory of “ghosts” and electromagnetism.
EMF (Electromagnetic Field) meters measure various fields of energy depending on the type of meter used. Electromagnetic fields which can be measured by such EMF meters are AC (Alternating Current) and DC (Direct Current). Keeping all the sciences previously explored in mind, a problem presents itself with EMF meters being used to detect “ghosts.” Since EMF meters are used to detect “ghosts” this would ultimately mean that the bioelectric energy contained within the human body changes from one form of energy to another following death. If EMF meters are designed to measure AC or DC electromagnetism, this would suggest that the energy change following death is either AC or DC electromagnetic energy. Why this is problematic is due to other technologies used to detect “ghosts” through different fields of electromagnetism.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum includes Infrared and Ultraviolet radiation and various cameras designed to capture such light energy are also used to support the paranormal theory about “ghosts” and electromagnetism. Infrared lenses and Full Spectrum Cameras are thought to capture the energy of “ghosts.” Comparing the Infrared and Ultraviolet radiation to how EMF meters measure AC or DC electromagnetic fields, Infrared and Ultraviolet energy therefore conflicts with the type of electromagnetic energy “ghosts” are thought to consist of. The various forms of technology used by paranormal societies measure different types of energy that are not consistent with one another. Sometimes these technological inconsistencies are ignored and lead investigators of the paranormal into misconceptions about the scientific theories they are barrowing.
Many paranormal investigators wilfully ignore the teachings of the Church Fathers and prefer to blend various scientific theories to their own beliefs barrowed from diverse non-Christian sources: Modern Spiritualism, the New Age, and other occult sciences. After all, the belief that ghosts are the spirits of dead people is mostly explored through religions and spirituality belonging to the non-Christian variety. The philosophical and theological considerations belonging to Christianity are either accepted or rejected. If accepted, this could help people understand and recognize that the current science applied to the field of paranormal phenomenon is misapplied. Instead, what is accepted as “science” within paranormal theories is really pseudo-science that ignores both science and philosophy. Simply barrowing scientific theories and applying them to paranormal phenomenon does not always make paranormal theories valid. What rests at the heart of most paranormal theories are personal beliefs drawn from non-Christian sources of spirituality. The sciences applied to paranormal theories are over-generalized and superficially mask the underlying premise of any such argument involving the belief in an afterlife.
ahmed ismaeel
June 30, 2011
thank you for this wonderful subject.
CPRS Toronto, Canada.
July 1, 2011
Thank you Ahmed. Many blessings.
hashan tharidu
October 28, 2014
i like paranomal science
Danny
July 15, 2011
My house is full of EMF currents. Very Very strong… Many strange things happen here. Its not a joke.The ceilings the floors and myself just tingle heavily. I have used a gauss gauge and it hits the red immediately. It even follows me where ever I go. i can feel it with my hand. There are black balls that zip along the ground, sort of like a compressed ectoplasm. They also enter in and out of my body… Im not nuts. Ive survived more than 400 days living here. Its tough though…
CPRS Toronto, Canada.
July 17, 2011
Hello Danny,
Most houses have EMF because they have electrical wires and a variety of appliances and electronics. Can you be more specific about EMF in your own case?
As for ectoplasm, how do you know that the “black balls” you are seeing are ectoplasm?
I would appreciate more details, especially about why you feel it is very tough to live in such an environment? What else is happening in your life to think so?
Sincerely,
D.
Danny
July 18, 2011
My house is NOT a normal place to live. I have seen small skeletal ETs with transparent skin, Active portals with the sonic waves emitting from them, been electrocuted many times under attack from AC moving currents that stem from the basement in the day to the upstairs at night. Its not your regular EMF waves either. This is an attacking energy. I see them as my third eye is very active. They can vary as small transaprent balls, the size of a penny to the size of a loonie. That one is smokey black. They can travell very fast in the air and manifest to an electrocuting or luminous energy field. I have caught some of the transparent balls in my hand and they are trapped in the flesh and become very active when I move my hand to any power source. They like to place themselves over top doorways to cling on to the crown shakra to travel so they dont use their own energyI have been harrased by this for over 400 days, every single day is an attack of some type easily of 14-18 hours a day. Im not fed up, im strong and fight on. I dont break my faith. Im tired of talking right now. You want to see for yourself? contact me D…..
Danny
July 18, 2011
I forgot to mention earlier,the Dr. gauss emf detector goes up to 10 mg immediately and stops at the pin as it cant travel any higher. IN
TO the RED…..I have to ground out physically sometimes to blow off electricity. Normal houses are at 1……..My friend studies emf waves in houses as he is a real estate agent and was blown away at what he found when he came to mine. The laughter and smile on his face quickly dropped when he started to measure close to the cieling and floors …. They are full of EMF….HEAVY. Lifeform..Oh it can even touch you if it wants. And hurt you too if your not nice……
CPRS Toronto, Canada.
July 19, 2011
Hello again Danny,
If you are willing to discuss these experiences further, please contact me (Demetrius) at my email.
Danny
July 19, 2011
Did you get my email Demetrius?. I have had my emails in the past distorted when asking for help.
CPRS Toronto, Canada.
July 20, 2011
Hi Danny,
I checked my email but didn’t find anything. This is my email
ocprs@yahoo.com
Try contactin me again. Otherwise, try contacting me on Youtube. Maybe you sent Marcio (one of the founders of CPRS) the message instead? I’ll contact him and ask.
D.
Rohit
August 20, 2011
I would like to know more .
CPRS Toronto, Canada.
August 20, 2011
Hi there Rohit,
What in particular are you interested in? Contact me (Demetrius) at my email ocprs@yahoo.com
ONTARIO CATHOLIC PARANORMAL RESEARCH SOCIETY (Toronto, Canada)
November 24, 2011
Hello Russel,
Obviously you don’t agree with religion in general. Our purpose is not to convince other religions (or you) about what is or is not right. As a Catholic I can only tell you that our purpose is to welcome those who happen to accept Jesus Christ and His Church. We are not here to debate which religion is right or wrong. We are here to present a Christian perspective on an the paranoraml.
As for “intelligent people” we believe that intelligence has nothing to do with the fact that people believe (or do not believe) in God. As for unqualified statements (as you say), empirical evidence has nothing to do with the philosophical implications in many fields of science. I can only tell you that what is empirical is a tool designed to serve a purpose of which faith is not included. How can something that does not measure something like faith therefore qualify your opinion that priests are unqualified in their statements? I fail to see what you are really saying here, but I can assume that you obviously don’t like religion (or perhaps just Christianity?).
prakash
December 4, 2011
how can i feel my paranormal energy……..and also an roman catholic living in india…….
ONTARIO CATHOLIC PARANORMAL RESEARCH SOCIETY (Toronto, Canada)
December 10, 2011
Hi Prakash,
Depends on what you think “paranormal energy” is? I’ve never come across something that qualifies as paranormal energy. I have encountered interruptions or unusual patterns of energy disturbances belonging to the electromagnetic spectrum and this is sometimes owed to various forms of paranormal phenomena.
Hope that helps. God bless.
shashank shekhar
July 10, 2012
is it true that there is life after death
shashank shekhar
July 10, 2012
i think i had met an accident related to an energy but not paranomal energy
Laura Bowman
July 10, 2012
Wow, that is a well written article. It’s a little advanced for the average reader. While your thoughts flow beautifully, they’re somewhat lost to the reader due to the dense use of technical terminology. It would seem you’re basically saying that paranormal investigators do not apply Christianity to paranormal theory. I agree. It doesn’t make it wrong though. No one knows for sure what a “ghost” is or what “the soul” actually consists of. All your article has surmised is what we’re already aware of…. most people who believe in ghosts don’t subscribe to organized religion. But you do help differentiate the improper use of energy testers in current paranormal theory.
Kseniya
November 1, 2012
Actually, for what you want to refer to as “a ghost” religion (the Bible) refers to “giving up the ghost” when an individual dies and the HOLY GHOST. I am christian and have been told that you cannot believe in the dead returning (if this is what you define a “ghost” as) because this goes totally against the doctrine of the Resurection of the dead upon Judgement Day, when God will judge the living and the dead. With that said, so you ask “what is a ghost then?” From what I have been told, read, Satan and his demons come “in many forms” and can manifest themselves in whatever shape or form they want, people, animals, (ghost dogs) and you should know, GOD would never allow CHILDREN to wander the earth bound as ghosts! So if you see or hear a “ghost” (person, child) you better aks yourself if this might not be something more MALICIOUS! People say “ghosts” can’t hurt you, DON’T BELIEVE IT! If you don’t believe in Satan, ask yourself why there are bad people in this world who do bad things, why there is war, etc. its Good Vs. Evil in this world. Right vs. Wrong. People need to get “back on track” with the commandments. It’s not that aduletry is wrong, it is not that not “honoring” your parents is wrong, it is not that taking the Lord’s name in vain is a “bad habit”…it is a SIN!!!
ONTARIO CATHOLIC PARANORMAL RESEARCH SOCIETY (Toronto, Canada)
November 7, 2012
Hi Kseniya,
I`m not sure if you are addressing me?
shyarensaha
July 18, 2012
i can never believe in ghosts…….
Sameer Kapoor
August 12, 2012
Hi Dear concern ,
How can I relise the paranomal energy, I want to serve the needy people via this energy for their best… I belive in life after death and tried to do calling ghosts or souls via simply sitting and calling if any body is their in surrounding me, please come to me and talk to me…. tried for hours and hours and many times and it was a mental call… but not succeeded yet… please guide me
thanks
ONTARIO CATHOLIC PARANORMAL RESEARCH SOCIETY (Toronto, Canada)
August 30, 2012
Hello Sameer,
You are asking “guidance” from the wrong person. However, what I advise you do is turn your back on trying to summon spirits, and turn to Jesus Christ.
I will pray for you.
Kseniya Williams
September 29, 2012
I lived in a house that I thought was haunted, for 12 years and the house before it and the one before it but nothing prior to these 3 places in all my life, nor now either but in the one I lived in for 12 years I turned to Jesus and the church and finally called a priest to come bless my house but my husband was constantly taking the Lord’s name in vain despite my constant scolding him and demonishing him for doing this and demanding he stop and naturally, blessings do not last in a home when you have someone taking the Lord’s name in vain or vile or evil in any form, agree? I suggest to the woman with the problem, as you are suggesting, seek out the Lord and a priest to bless your house and you as our priest did, and my religious objects, which I had but were not “blessed.” I hope this helps anyone with this problem.
Kseniya
November 1, 2012
you need to go to this site and see this! http://www.angelfire.com/mi/dinosaurs/ghosts.html
Kseniya
November 1, 2012
Yes Sameer YOU ARE ASKING THE WRONG PERSON!!” like commentor below says! Go to this website, explains all this! I think you will find it helpful.
ONTARIO CATHOLIC PARANORMAL RESEARCH SOCIETY (Toronto, Canada)
November 7, 2012
The OCPRS is the wrong place to ask a question? Just want to be clear.
Anouska
August 27, 2012
I always enjoy watching horror movies. And now I have developed a fear of ghosts…….
Rhonda
September 9, 2012
Beautifully written article. Sometimes, even Christians get lost and want to be reassured that there is something more than death and lose their way when they try to find it outside of Christ. At any rate, I have watched shows like ghost hunters and believe them to be such utter nonsense. I wished that at least one episode would be genuinely serious and not filled with theatrics. The only story that I believed to be genuine is that of a little girl that lived in the state of Georgia that saw spirits that I believe to be demonic in nature (a haunting in georgia).
Aryaa
September 12, 2012
y is it so, that mostly people used to have a faith in ghost more then god means whats the reason behind having more believe in ghost and spirits and souls then god ?
ONTARIO CATHOLIC PARANORMAL RESEARCH SOCIETY (Toronto, Canada)
September 23, 2012
what do you mean here
Kseniya
November 1, 2012
Ontario “Catholic” Paranormal Research Society…SEE THIS
Robert Veach
January 21, 2014
What this article did not mention is a lot of paranormal groups don’t believe in any religious connection to the paranormal. They are trying to capture any proof (EVP’s, ghost box syllables,full spectrum images/video, shadow detection) without the need to understand the source. My group is not interested in knowing the source, only in documenting anything paranormal. We may NEVER know the real sources of anything paranormal, what drives my group is thew fact that we have captured unexplained phenomena. Robert Veach
founder of Vparanormal.com
ONTARIO CATHOLIC PARANORMAL RESEARCH SOCIETY (Toronto, Canada)
January 21, 2014
Hello Robert,
I agree, there are some groups which pay attention to their data alone. However, the article mentions (early on) that many groups also ignore the philosophical implications. You mention that your group does not concern itself with the “source” and this is one of the issues pointed out in the article. I would like to stress that the article doesn’t generalize all paranormal groups but addresses some problems identifed among various groups (but obviousl not all).
Ultimately, data collection requires explanations, context, etc. In one way or another belief enters the equation and religious elements often penetrate the cold hard facts that science (or pseudo-science) provides. After all, the question most explored is whether or not there is some sort of afterlife. Some groups believe they are objective but eventually that objectivity gives way to some belief drawn from what is typically religionn superstition, etc.
Cheers.