What does the belief in ghosts really say about people?

I don't think there is any one right answer to this question. People believe for different reasons. Yes, some people fear death, a lot of people actually...in America we are totally obsessed with youth and we are very bad at supporting our elders for that reason. I can see how those people may lean towards religion and the paranormal because of that obsession/fear. However, there are people who have had their own paranormal experiences and this is why they "believe". I don't even think that believe is the accurate word. Personally, I know the other side and the paranormal exists because of the many experiences that I have had. I don't believe in it blindly, I've developed a knowledge of it through study and experience. Even when it comes to religion, it's not always about blind faith. If you apply certain philosophies and/or practices and they work in your life then you have a good reason for what you believe in/practice and it's not stemmed in fear or death at all.

Personally I don't fear death. If I am wrong and delusional then it's not going to really matter when I die and snap out of existence. If I am right then there is going to be a hell of a party when I leave this body and I look forward to that. I don't want to live forever. Maybe if I'd been born into a different life and set of circumstances I would feel differently but all of this to me is like being in class and I can't wait to graduate and get the hell out of this Earth school. I'm not going to drop out though. ;)

The belief in the spirit world comes from experiences. Ghosts aren't scary. LOL What did you think they had a sheet and chains? Why do people not believe in it? Is that because THEY are really scared?

The belief in other things like aliens that has no proof or experiences at all are made up because of our own entertainment. It's fun to believe in things that are out of this world.

To all "educated" people who don't believe in anything other than proved stuff - you're never bored with an open mind.

first of all, ghosts are earthbound souls that have not yet given up attachments

to something or some idea that was important to them while they were in a body

on earth. Usually they are confused and do not realize their body is dead. That

does not mean that they will be on earth eternally. Somehow, sometime they will cross

over.

James Van Praagh has worked with these ghosts for 20 to 25 years and has written

a book: "Ghosts among us." It is an easy, interesting read. He dispels many myths

about ghosts and their habits. Very informative.

In 1926 Dr J.B.Rhine set up a Laboratory at Duke University to study Paranormal

activities. Many other Universities had people on staff who were intrigued

with the other side of life. Since at least the early sixties, Doctors at the University of Virginia

Medical center have conducted research into young children's reports of past

life memories. Psychiatrist, Ian Stevenson, M.D. published a book: "twenty cased suggestive of reincarnation" in the Early sixties.. Many professors and doctors have been doing serious investigation for at least the last half century at universities all over the country. They have been

placing the results of their research into a data bank so that someday they will be able to match

up bits of info easier and perhaps arrive at some conclusions. In "Life before Life", Jim Tucker, M.D.

recounts stories of many investigations and kind of brings us up to current activities in 2005.

He mentions another 37 individuals who have published on the subject.

Research and education goes on every day, This is not about mythology.

There are literally millions of people all around the world who believe in ghosts because they have first hand experiences with spirits/ghosts. Seeing is believing, so in answer to your question. Yes it is more tangible and has nothing to do with fear.

I can not believe the ridiculous ideas some people have. 1) People who believe are uneducated. That is retarded. While I'm not a believer in god. many of the religious experts are some of the best educated people in the world. They study their whole lives. 2) aliens have no proof? Pay attention people. Virtually every government in the world admit the existence of UFOs. Numerous experts also admit this. J Allen Hynek(astronomer), James McDonald(physicist).Bruce Macabbe(optical physicist) Stanton Friedman(physicist), Gen.Nathan Twining. These are just a few of the experts who say catagorically the UFOs are real and extraterrestrial.

Does the whole idea of belief in ghosts come from our own fears of death and longing for immortality?

Pretty much. It also explains the majority of the populations belief in some sort of religion. Few can accept the idea that it's over when we die.

It says they have a fear of an afterlife that is nothingness, oblivion. They would rather go about being an apparition in the real world, then to face the blackness and finality of death. Far be it for me to criticize. But there ain't no ghosts.

It says that you have a gift that we are all born with, but few choose to enhance.

It says you have no fear of death, because if you did, you wouldnt want to be one

It says that there are spirits out there that need help, just as mortals here need help from the spiritual world.

It also says that you can see them, or you wouldnt be asking this question.

Prove it...some say?

Can you prove that there is a God? of course not, but that doesnt mean that there isnt one.

I can show others how to see, but I cant prove that I can.

Study your gift, talk with others that also experiance these things,

and as others have said...if it is meant to be, it will happen

Well, I believe because I've experienced them.

BTW... since others have mentioned it... I'm not afraid of dying. I was until I discovered what lay on the other side for me. I know where I'm going when I'm done here, and the part of me that's been here before, can't wait to get back.

And yes, that will sound strange to anyone who hasn't "been there".

"In childhood our credulity serves us well. It helps us to pack, with extraordinary rapidity, our skulls full of the wisdom of our parents and our ancestors. But if we don't grow out of it in the fullness of time, our ... nature makes us a sitting target for astrologers, mediums, gurus, evangelists, and quacks. We need to replace the automatic credulity of childhood with the constructive skepticism of adult science".

-- Richard Dawkins