| Have you ever known a situation where you | | | | ghosts in our western society. |
| don't think about something for ages and then all | | | | The word "hurt" implies to me a malicious |
| of sudden one topic seems to crop up in different | | | | intention; if you set out to hurt someone then |
| places in a short space of time? Take for | | | | there is often a negative emotion behind this |
| example the question of whether or not ghosts | | | | action. Of course it is possible to hurt people |
| are capable of hurting physical people. In the past | | | | through omission or even by accident; it is also |
| week I have come across that question three | | | | possible to feel remorse over an action that may |
| separate times - firstly in an article by Tom | | | | hurt another person but do ghosts have these |
| Cooney, secondly as part of an investigative | | | | same problems despite the fact that they |
| paranormal television program and then as a | | | | operate on a separate plain of existence? Well I |
| question from my own ten-year old daughter. So | | | | guess that depends on the ghost, but we are |
| can ghosts hurt us? | | | | getting ahead of ourselves. |
| In the first instance of course there has to be an | | | | Logically a ghost is not capable of physically |
| assumption that ghosts do exist in our physical | | | | hurting a living person simply because they do |
| world. I for one, am a person who not only | | | | operate on a different plain of existence. They do |
| believes in ghosts but I have actually seen some, | | | | not have as solid a physical state as we do; while |
| and felt the presence of others at a number of | | | | they may manifest themselves in a way we may |
| times in my life. So for me it is perfectly normal | | | | recognize in terms of dress and mannerisms, the |
| to assume that ghosts do exist. But what about | | | | image is one that has no actual physical substance. |
| people who don't believe in ghosts - are they | | | | So if you had a ghost walk up to you and slap |
| capable of being hurt (assuming ghosts could hurt | | | | you around the face it is unlikely that you would |
| living people) by something they don't believe in - | | | | sustain any bruising or even feel any of the |
| well this is another assumption we will make - that | | | | expected impact from the blow. You may feel a |
| if ghosts were capable of hurting people, then | | | | draft, you may feel a chill for a short moment as |
| they would be able to regardless of whether or | | | | your energies meet the energies of spirits, but |
| not they were believed in or not. | | | | that would be the extent of the physical damage. |
| The second consideration that has to be thought | | | | The question as to whether or not a ghost might |
| out is a definition of hurt. Tom Cooney, who has | | | | emotionally or psychologically hurt a person is |
| written a number of different articles on the | | | | more difficult to address. Without being rude |
| paranormal, asked this question in one of his | | | | many negative ghost/living interactions are caused |
| discussions. He noted that if the term "hurt" | | | | more by a living person who has his/her own |
| included not only physical pain (which is often what | | | | reasons for rejecting the encounter, than being a |
| the term is used to define) but also emotional, | | | | fault of the spirit involved. |
| spiritual or psychological pain then it was possible | | | | Many people have a social or religious reason for |
| that a ghost's presence could have that effect on | | | | rejecting the concept of ghosts, so any |
| some people, so then the answer would be "yes" | | | | paranormal activity in a family home could cause |
| ghosts could hurt people. | | | | stress to the family. There are other people who |
| For me though, I would be more interested in the | | | | believe that any paranormal experience could only |
| intent behind any spiritual action, and it is my belief | | | | be the work of the devil and so these encounters |
| that true ghosts, as opposed to other spiritual | | | | can be seen as evil - and unfortunately popular |
| entities, do not intend to hurt anybody living. They | | | | movies such as the Amityville horrors perpetuate |
| simply have a different method of communication | | | | this myth. |
| than some people are used to. | | | | In both of these instances a ghostly encounter |
| If you watch any popular television programs that | | | | could cause emotional and psychological harm and |
| deal with ghosts there is generally some hysterical | | | | there is plenty of evidence to show that major |
| person who is in a state because he/she has | | | | stress can cause negative physical symptoms. Is |
| been impacted by unexplained phenomena and | | | | this the ghost's fault, I personally don't think so |
| quite often the program goes on to show an | | | | but of course situations involving persons who |
| almost textbook case of mass hysteria occurring | | | | reject ghosts, can cause a negative reaction in a |
| within the one building that is supposedly haunted | | | | physical person so I guess the answer is relative |
| by a ghost. It is this personification of haunting | | | | and nothing more. |
| that have greatly maligned the whole idea of | | | | |