“There are more things in heaven and earth than man can explain,” said Shakespeare. Despite the lack of scientific evidence proving the existence of paranormal phenomena beyond a shadow of a doubt, more than half of all Americans believe in the existence of spirits or paranormal activity. For many people, it is important to consider the possibility of an afterlife and to remain open to alternate realities. As the past has shown us, just because we can’t explain it doesn’t necessarily mean it doesn’t exist.
Demonic possession is a type of paranormal phenomenon that has been investigated over the years. Cuneiform writings were found on ancient Sumerian tablets, praying for safety from demons. The Bible speaks of “demonic” people in the Gospels of Luke, John, Matthew, Mark and in the Acts of the Apostles. The Catholic Church believes that individuals can be possessed to be tested; often following occult practices, mortal sin, loss of faith, or psychological trauma. Possession is also recognized in the medical community, especially in cases of dissociative personality disorder, where a third of sufferers refer to themselves as demons and paranormal beings.
Paranormal events also include a ghost, which is a recurring activity in a certain location. There is the “intelligent haunting”, where thinking spirits interact and communicate with living human beings. There is the “residual haunting”, which seems more like a film or recording understood as residual energy, where there is no conscious interaction but the spirits remain. Then there’s the “inhumane chase,” which is one of the scariest encounters because it’s usually attributed to demons, the paranormal, and poltergeists.
Extrasensory perception is another broad category of paranormal phenomena; this one deals with psychic abilities, rather than otherworldly paranormal supernatural spirits. Clairvoyants can gain knowledge about people, places, and events that they have never read or heard about before. One branch of clairvoyance includes precognition, where psychics can receive detailed information about the future.
Telepathy involves the transfer of information between people, using only their minds. Telekinesis is the ability to move objects solely through the power of the mind and a “medium” has the ability to communicate with departed spirits. Astral projection is another term for out-of-body travel, where the soul leaves the body and returns at will, without causing death.
