I was raised in a pentacostal church (no snake handling)and I am a christian. Christian views on paranormal are one sided at best-the Holy Spirit BUT in the old testament Saul asked the Witch of Endor to summon the spirit of the prophet, Samuel which she did successfully & Samuel wasn't too pleased about it either. So there you have it- proof of the paranormal in the bible.
I guess the best way to explain what a spirit is- it's kind of like electrical energy. When most folks die, their soul (spirit) is drawn to a great light of energy & there it rests until the Rapture (I'm a christian, this is my belief). Unfortunately, many souls don't go to the light because they either can't accept the loss of physical being or are distracted by an earthly issue-home, family, lost love, revenge, justice, & whatever else. Spirits of children are not unusual because they are unwilling to leave their parents to go to the light. Sadly, their parents age & die and the little spirit is left alone, afraid and confused. Some become bored, hence the mischief & some, feeling keen abandonment become angry and these are the ones I prefer to avoid. The more mature spirits are a bit more complicated-typically attaching itself to a place and are usually quite territorial. Some are kind and some despise trespassers-particularly the ones with bodies who can feel, taste, smell, hear, see in a way spirits can't and they don't like it-they're jealous-avoid these. I did research on spirits, angels, satan & demons because the paranormal is unconquered territory and I didn't want to walk where angels fear to tread. Does anyone else have an opinion on this or advice on good reading material?
It's getting late so I'll get into my own personal experiences another time.
Don't become so obsessed with the dead that you forget to live. Peace out to you all!
Pam

Hi Pam,

Well I just finished doing a reply to your thread and I don't know what I just did but I erased the whole thing. Seeing it's going on 2:30am here, I'm going to only give a brief thought for now and add more tomorrow.

IMO a person's personal beliefs and/or experiences had generally becomes the foundation for formulating our opinions/speculations/theories. What we read, and/or the experiences of others heard, can either provide further validations to our opinions, or it can give us new food for thought which may or may not alter our current views and opinions to some degree.

Talk more on this and further comments in reply to yours later, Cat =)

Hi Ladymists,

I agree with Cat. I think most people take their belief system and combined with things they experience for themselves, formulate their own theories. Several years ago, had someone asked my husband if he believed in the paranormal, he probably would have emphatically said, "no". Now, although he admits he has never seen or experienced anything himself (this man is just about as psychically aware as a doorknob, lol), his reply is, "There must be something to it. If this many people I know and trust say they've experienced something, I believe them."

I highly recommend some of John Edwards' books. He comes across as an intelligent guy and I've read several of his books where he mentions coming to terms with his faith and reconciling it with his gifts. Interesting stuff. I generally try to read as much as I can on the topic and see what I can gleen. Sometimes I'll read an author, finish the book and say, "nope, I don't buy it." Sometimes what they have to say will correspond more to my theories and beliefs. A lot of folks here like Sylvia Browne and I know there are numerous others. I look forward to hearing about you own experiences!

Hi everyone,
I also agree with Cat and Carrie. Peoples beliefs are like a persons fingerprints. Its our special identity and what makes us who we are. Beleifs are interesting to share and discuss.
I also like Sylvia, although I don't always agree with her. I just haven't experienced all that she has. I love John Edwards and I more closely can associate my life to his based on the comedic situations he sometimes ends up in. Kind of like my own. The main thing is I respect them both.
Interesting subject for discussion Pam. It does make you think!
Peggy

Thanks for sharing. I'll see if my local library has anything by John Edwards. You're all right about personal beliefs being the foundation on how we handle/accept the paranormal. The christian foundation of family & community can be quite a conflict for someone who experiences the paranormal. Everyone emphasized that there are no such things as ghosts. Once I accepted the fact that grown-ups aren't nearly as smart as they think they are, I researched the bible to validate my paranormal experiences & to make sure I wasn't going to hell for acknowledging the existence of paranormal. My mother went bullistic when she found a book on witchcraft in my room. I was just curious about beliefs & learned that witchcraft isn't devil worship (tho some devil worshippers might call themselves witches)
The most important thing I learned was that politians & religious leaders often sacrificed the truth to save face. I think more than anything my beliefs have allowed me to accept the paranormal without fear.
I'll share more with ya'll later, time for bed.
Peace to you all
Pam

A person's identity/psyche/personality is established by the age of 9. This is created by the enviroment we are raised in. This is what we use to judge our beliefs and ideas, in everything we encounter. I believe this is why there are so many different points of view on the paranormal.
Scientifically, there is no reason why the paranormal cannot exist. Therefor, I believe in it. As Mr Einstien said - "Question everything"!

Good point Porkchop, the envirnoment we are raised in does play a big role in our belief system and ideals. Although being individuals we continue to be influenced by others who enter our lives throughout our life. Depending on not only the type of personality you are but the strength of your convinctions, anothers beliefs may challenge your own in a way that makes you take a step back and question what you have believed or thought to be true. Other individuals can include ppl you have never met but their influence comes from what they write, show (evidence of sorts) and/or publicly speak of. In my opinion anyway.

I also feel one of the strongest influences that can cause a person to change their opinion or belief, comes by way of personal experiences. For example (this is just one example): If you are of the belief that there is an afterlife but there is no such thing as the paranormal...meaning ghosts don't exist, spirits cannot interact with us, and it's not possible to communicate with the dead...no matter what you read nothing convinces you otherwise, and you chalk up experiences others tell as being their imaginations (for various reasons). But then you have an experience (or perhaps experiences) which you are simply unable to explain, nor chalk up to imagination as your wife/husband/brother/sister/friend etc experienced it with you...odds are your former belief about the paranormal will change, or it will open your mind enough to consider that at the least it's possible. So even though those first nine yrs of life taught you the paranormal does not exist and that remained your firm belief despite what you heard/read, a remarkable personal experience is very difficult to deny. Not that some ppl won't deny it and refuse to alter their belief, IMO some definitely will.

And there are psuedo-skeptics who not only do not believe in an afterlife or a higher power etc, they are certain anyone who claims to have experienced something unusual or who believes the paranormal exists are all just delusional. No amount of evidence will ever be enough. They feel so strong about their beliefs and world views they often join or start skeptic organizations to gather like minds and go on a full frontal attack of the paranormal, it's believers and researchers. Ridiculing others and attacking ones character is common place with extreme skeptics. Reputable published scientists from various fields (including nobel laureates)...whom are also parapyschologists and/or researchers of various aspects of both psi and the paranormal...have been openly critized and have had their work and characters attacked by psuedos, of which some are their collegues. Well that is a whole other topic in itself, best saved for a seperate thread.

Pam as for books. I have enjoyed some of Sylvia's books, but like Carrie and Peg I can't say I believe everything she says. I know lots of ppl think she is a fraud, along with John Edwards, James VanPraagh, Alison Dubois and a number of other known psychics/mediums. I'm sure they have all exaggerated their abilities at times and/or are vague in their responses when reading certain ppl, or they may only be 60% right most of the time and not 80 (just as an example). But to me it's not the level of psi ability a person demonstrates that I care about, it's their opinions, thoughts, beliefs and experiences that I consider. As for cold reading, I'm sure they do at times...but sit in any room of ppl or talk to someone you don't know and you can't help but pick things up from them, their facial expressions, body language speak as loud as words. Also a person who claims to be better than they are is not an anomaly, again sit in a room of ppl and listen to the stories being told, many exaggerate or embellish things..be it sports, work, the boss, relationships, or any story telling situation. In reading books or material, I will take what I relate with or which may seem to provide me the best answer to questions I have, and I leave the rest. I've read all sorts of books where I take nothing from them and feel they were a waste of my time and money. I also do lots of research on the net, there is a wealth of info at your fingertips. What I have found that no matter if your reading info at a pn related site, material from a known psychic, experiences of others and those who investigate the pn, etc etc opinions regarding ghosts and spirits are not that different. I just finished a book by Doreen Virtue, healing with angels, that I enjoyed, it has some interesting stories/comments in it. Books by those who investigate the pn can be interesting as well, as can material relating to meditation. Is there a specific read you are looking for? =)

I tend to agree with all of you. However, i didnt know much of the stuff you stated in your Post, LADYMISTS, it was very interesting! If you find any books that are good reading, tell me!