Paranormal is an umbrella term used to describe a wide variety of reported anomalous phenomena. According to the Journal of Parapsychology, the term paranormal describes "any phenomenon that in one or more respects exceeds the limits of what is deemed physically possible according to current scientific assumptions."^[1] For this reason, the scientific community often avoids research on the paranormal, believing that it may not conform to the standards required by the scientific method. An umbrella term is a word that provides a superset or grouping of related concepts, also called a hypernym. ... Anomalous phenomena are phenomena which are observed and for which there are no suitable explanations in the context of a specific body of scientific knowledge, e. ... The Journal of Parapsychology is a quarterly publication devoted primarily to the original publication of experimental results and other research findings in extrasensory perception and psychokinesis. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. ...

Paranormal describes subjects studied under parapsychology, which deals with psychic phenomena like telepathy, extra-sensory perception, psychokinesis, and post-mortem survival studies like reincarnation, ghosts, and hauntings. However, as a broader category, the paranormal sometimes describes subjects outside the scope of parapsychology, including anomalous aspects of UFOs, some creatures that fall under the scope of cryptozoology, purported phenomena surrounding the Bermuda Triangle, and many other non-psychical subjects.^[2] Early parapsychological research employed the use of Zener cards in experiments designed to test for possible telepathic communication. ... Psychic (sīkĭk); from the Greek psychikos - of the soul, mental - and referring in part to the human mind or psyche (ex. ... Telepathy, from the Greek τῆλε, tele, remote; and πάθεια, patheia, to be effected by, describes the hypothetical transfer of information on thoughts or feelings between individuals by means other than the five classical senses. ... Extra-sensory perception (ESP) is defined in parapsychology as the ability to aquire information by paranormal means. ... The term psychokinesis (from the Greek ψυχή, psyche, meaning mind, soul, or breath; and κίνησις, kinesis, meaning motion; literally movement from the mind)[1][2] or PK, also known as telekinesis[3] (Greek + , literally distant-movement referring to telekinesis) or TK, denotes the paranormal ability of the mind to influence matter, time... Reincarnation, literally to be made flesh again, is a doctrine or mystical belief that some essential part of a living being (in some variations only human beings) survives death to be reborn in a new body. ... This article is about the paranormal. ... James Pembridge and Laura Webber investigate haunted locations in the UK. Soon to be part of The Paranormal Magazine]] Image:P1090036. ... UFO redirects here. ... Cryptozoology (from Greek: κρυπτός, kryptós, hidden; ζῷον, zôon, animal; and λόγος, logos, knowledge or study – zoology) is the search for animals hypothesized to exist, but for which conclusive proof is missing. ... NASA image of the western Atlantic, showing the popular borders of the Bermuda Triangle. ...

Paranormal research

Approaching paranormal phenomena from a research perspective is often difficult because even when the phenomena are seen as real they may be difficult to explain using existing rules or theory. By definition, paranormal phenomena exist outside of conventional norms, if they exist at all. Skeptics contend that they don't. Despite this challenge, studies on the paranormal are periodically conducted by researchers from various disciplines. Some researchers study just the beliefs in paranormal phenomena regardless of whether the phenomena actually exist. Look up real in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Skepticism (Commonwealth spelling: Scepticism) can mean: Philosophical skepticism - a philosophical position in which people choose to critically examine whether the knowledge and perceptions that they have are actually true, and whether or not one can ever be said to have absolutely true knowledge; or Scientific skepticism - a scientific, or practical... Belief is assent to a proposition. ...

This section deals with various approaches to the paranormal including those scientific, pseudoscientific, and unscientific. Skeptics feel that supposed scientific approaches are actually pseudoscientific for several reasons which are explored below.^[3] For the scientific journal named Science, see Science (journal). ... A typical 18th century phrenology chart. ... For the scientific journal named Science, see Science (journal). ... Skepticism (Commonwealth spelling: Scepticism) can mean: Philosophical skepticism - a philosophical position in which people choose to critically examine whether the knowledge and perceptions that they have are actually true, and whether or not one can ever be said to have absolutely true knowledge; or Scientific skepticism - a scientific, or practical... A typical 18th century phrenology chart. ...

Anecdotal approach

Charles Fort, 1920. Fort is perhaps the most widely known collector of paranormal stories.

An anecdotal approach to the paranormal involves the collection of anecdotal evidence, which is an informal account of something that presumably happened. Anecdotes are often in contrast to empirical evidence, which are types of formal accounts that can be investigated using the scientific method. The anecdotal approach is not a scientific approach to the paranormal because it leaves verification dependent on the credibility of the party presenting the evidence. It is also subject to such logical fallacies as cognitive bias, inductive reasoning, lack of falsifiability, and other fallacies that may prevent the anecdote from having meaningful information to impart. Nevertheless, it is a common approach to paranormal phenomena. Charles Fort, 1920. ... Charles Fort, 1920. ... This article is not about Charles Forte. ... 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... Anecdotal evidence is an informal account of evidence in the form of an anecdote, or hearsay. ... An anecdote is a short tale told about an interesting, amusing, or biographical incident. ... A central concept in science and the scientific method is that all evidence must be empirical, or empirically based, that is, dependent on evidence or consequences that are observable by the senses. ... Scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. ... Look up fallacy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Aristotle appears first to establish the mental behaviour of induction as a category of reasoning. ... Falsifiability (or refutability or testability) is the logical possibility that an assertion can be shown false by an observation or a physical experiment. ... A logical fallacy is an error in logical argument which is independent of the truth of the premises. ... An anecdote is a short tale narrating an interesting or amusing biographical incident. ...

Charles Fort (1874 – 1932) is perhaps the best known collector of paranormal anecdotes. Fort is said to have compiled as many as 40,000 notes on unexplained phenomena, though there were no doubt many more than these. These notes came from what he called "the orthodox conventionality of Science", which were odd events originally printed in respected mainstream scientific journals or newspapers such as Scientific American, The Times, Nature and Science. From these researches Fort wrote seven books, though only four survive. These are: The Book of the Damned (1919), New Lands (1923), Lo! (1931) and Wild Talents (1932); one book was written between New Lands and Lo! but it was abandoned and absorbed into Lo!. This article is not about Charles Forte. ... An anecdote is a short tale told about an interesting, amusing, or biographical incident. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Scientific American is a popular-science magazine, published (first weekly and later monthly) since August 28, 1845, making it the oldest continuously published magazine in the United States. ... The Times is a national newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom since 1788. ... Nature is one of the most prominent scientific journals, first published on 4 November 1869. ... Science is the journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). ... The Book of the Damned - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... New Lands was the second nonfiction book of the author Charles Fort, written in 1925. ... Lo! is a book by Charles Fort, originally written in 1931. ... Wild Talents is the fourth and final book written by paranormal author Charles Fort, published in 1932. ...

Reported events that he collected include teleportation (a term Fort is generally credited with coining); poltergeist events, falls of frogs, fishes, inorganic materials of an amazing range; crop circles; unaccountable noises and explosions; spontaneous fires; levitation; ball lightning (a term explicitly used by Fort); unidentified flying objects; mysterious appearances and disappearances; giant wheels of light in the oceans; and animals found outside their normal ranges (see phantom cat). He offered many reports of OOPArts, abbreviation for "out of place" artifacts: strange items found in unlikely locations. He also is perhaps the first person to explain strange human appearances and disappearances by the hypothesis of alien abduction, and was an early proponent of the extraterrestrial hypothesis. Teleportation is the movement of objects or elementary particles from one place to another, more or less instantaneously, without traveling through space. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the band, Crop Circles, for information about the controversial phenomenon, see crop circle. ... Spontaneous combustion is a type of combustion which occurs without an external ignition source. ... A cubical magnet levitating over a superconducting material (this is known as the Meissner effect) Levitation (from Latin levare, to raise) is the process by which an object is suspended against gravity, in a stable position, by a force without physical contact. ... For other uses, see Ball lightning (disambiguation). ... “UFO” redirects here. ... Phantom Cats also known as Alien Big Cats (ABCs) are a phenomenon of a number of countries and states including Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Denmark, and Hawaii. ... OOPArt, from the acronym for out-of-place artifact, is a term coined by American zoologist Ivan T. Sanderson for a historical, archaeological or paleontological object found in a very unusual, or even impossible, location. ... The Abduction Phenomenon is as umbrella term used to describe a number of kidnap individuals--sometimes called abductees--usually for medical testing or for sexual reproduction procedures. ... A photograph taken in Passoria, New Jersey, on July 31 1952 The Extraterrestrial hypothesis (ETH) is the hypothesis that UFOs are best explained as being creatures from other planets occupying physical spacecraft visiting Earth. ...

Fort is considered by many as the father of modern paranormalism, which is the belief in paranormal phenomena.

Experimental approach

Participant of a Ganzfeld Experiment which proponents say may show evidence of telepathy.

Main article: Parapsychology

Experimental investigation of the paranormal is largely conducted in the multidisciplinary field of parapsychology. Although parapsychology has its roots in earlier research, it began using the experimental approach in the 1930s under the direction of J. B. Rhine (1895 – 1980).^[4] Rhine popularized the now famous methodology of using card-guessing and dice-rolling experiments in a laboratory in the hopes of finding a statistical validation of extra-sensory perception.^[4] Image File history File links Ganzfeld. ... Image File history File links Ganzfeld. ... The ganzfeld (total field) experiment uses audio and visual sensory deprivation to test for extra-sensory perception (ESP). ... Telepathy, from the Greek τῆλε, tele, remote; and πάθεια, patheia, to be effected by, describes the hypothetical transfer of information on thoughts or feelings between individuals by means other than the five classical senses. ... Early parapsychological research employed the use of Zener cards in experiments designed to test for possible telepathic communication. ... Early parapsychological research employed the use of Zener cards in experiments designed to test for possible telepathic communication. ... Joseph Banks Rhine (September 29, 1895 - February 20, 1980) was a pioneer of parapsychology. ... Extra-sensory perception (ESP) is defined in parapsychology as the ability to aquire information by paranormal means. ...

In 1957, the Parapsychological Association was formed as the preeminent society for parapsychologists. In 1969, they became affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. That affiliation, along with a general openness to psychic and occult phenomena in the 1970s, led to a decade of increased parapsychological research.^[4] During this time, other notable organizations were also formed, including the Academy of Parapsychology and Medicine (1970), the Institute of Parascience (1971), the Academy of Religion and Psychical Research, the Institute for Noetic Sciences (1973), and the International Kirlian Research Association (1975). Each of these groups performed experiments on paranormal subjects to varying degrees. Parapsychological work was also conducted at the Stanford Research Institute during this time.^[4] The Parapsychological Association was formed in 1957 as a professional society for parapsychologists following an initiative by J.B. Rhine. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is an organization that promotes cooperation between scientists, defends scientific freedom, encourages scientific responsibility and supports scientific education for the betterment of all humanity. ... SRI International is one of the worlds largest contract research institutions. ...

With the increase in parapsychological investigation, there came an increase in opposition to both the findings of parapsychologists and the granting of any formal recognition of the field. Criticisms of the field were focused in the founding of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (1976), now called the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, and its periodical, Skeptical Inquirer.^[4] The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, or CSICOP, is an organization formed to encourage open minded, critical investigation of paranormal and pseudoscientific claims from a responsible, scientific point of view. ... The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), formerly known as the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) is a U.S. nonprofit organization whose stated purpose is to encourage the critical investigation of paranormal and fringe-science claims from a responsible, scientific point of view and...

As astronomer Carl Sagan put it, "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence"^[5], and experimental research into the paranormal continues today, though it has waned considerably since the 1970s.^[6] One such experiment is called the Ganzfeld Experiment. The purpose of the Ganzfeld Experiment, like other parapsychological experiments, is to test for statistical anomalies that might suggest the existence of psi, a process indicating psychic phenomena.^[7] In the Ganzfeld Experiment, a subject (receiver) is asked to access through psychic means some target. The target is typically a picture or video clip selected randomly from a large pool, which is then viewed in a remote location by another subject (sender). Ganzfeld experiments use audio and visual sensory deprivation to remove any kind of external stimulus that may interfere with the testing or corrupt the test by providing cues to correct targets. A 'hit' refers to a correctly identified target. The expected hit ratio of such a trial is 1 in 4, or 25%.^[7] Deviations from this expected ratio might be seen as evidence for psi, although such conclusions are often disputed.^[8] To date there have been no experimental results that have gained wide acceptance in the scientific community as valid evidence of paranormal phenomena. ^[6] Insert non-formatted text here Carl Edward Sagan (November 9, 1934 – December 20, 1996) was an American astronomer and astrobiologist and a highly successful popularizer of astronomy, astrophysics, and other natural sciences. ... The ganzfeld (total field) experiment uses audio and visual sensory deprivation to test for extra-sensory perception (ESP). ... In parapsychology, psi is defined as the active agent by which mind influences matter and is able to receive ESP impressions. ... Psychic (sīkĭk); from the Greek psychikos - of the soul, mental - and referring in part to the human mind or psyche (ex. ... Sensory deprivation is the deliberate reduction or removal of stimuli from one or more of the senses. ... In parapsychology, psi is defined as the active agent by which mind influences matter and is able to receive ESP impressions. ...

Participant-observer approach

Ghost hunters taking an EMF reading which proponents say may show evidence of ghosts.

While parapsychologists look for quantitative evidence of the paranormal in laboratories, a great number of people immerse themselves in qualitative research through participant-observer approaches to the paranormal. Participant-observer methodologies have overlaps with other essentially qualitative approaches as well, including phenomenological research that seeks largely to describe subjects as they are experienced, rather than to explain them.^[9] Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1156x820, 2678 KB) Nightshot, enhanced. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1156x820, 2678 KB) Nightshot, enhanced. ... The electromagnetic field is a physical field that is produced by electrically charged objects and which affects the behaviour of charged objects in the vicinity of the field. ... This article is about the paranormal. ... Quantitative research is the systematic scientific investigation of quantitative properties and phenomena and their relationships. ... Qualitative research is one of the two major approaches to research methodology in social sciences. ... Participant observation is a major research strategy which aims to gain a close and intimate familiarity with a given group of individuals (such as a religious, occupational, or deviant group) and their practices through an intensive involvement with people in their natural environment. ... Use of the word phenomenology in modern science is described in the separate article phenomenology (science). ...

Participant-observation suggests that by immersing oneself in the subject being studied, a researcher is presumed to gain understanding of the subject. In paranormal research, a participant-observer study might consist of a researcher visiting a place where alleged paranormal activity is said to occur and recording observations while there. Participation levels may vary. In studying a supposedly haunted location, for example, the researcher may conduct a séance or participate in other activities said to cause paranormal activity. Participant observation is a major research strategy which aims to gain a close and intimate familiarity with a given group of individuals (such as a religious, occupational, or deviant group) and their practices through an intensive involvement with people in their natural environment. ... Haunted locations are places around the globe that are reportedly or popularly alleged to be haunted by ghosts. ... Look up séance in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Criticisms of participant-observation as a data-gathering technique are similar to criticisms of other approaches to the paranormal, but also include an increased threat to the objectivity of the researcher, unsystematic gathering of data, reliance on subjective measurement, and possible observer effects (observation may distort the observed behavior).^[10] Specific data gathering methods, such as recording EMF readings at haunted locations have their own criticisms beyond those attributed to the participant-observation approach itself. In science, the ideal of objectivity is an essential aspect of the scientific method, and is generally considered by the scientific community to come about as a result of strict observance of the scientific method, including the scientists willingness to submit their methods and results to an open debate by... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The electromagnetic field is a physical field that is produced by electrically charged objects and which affects the behaviour of charged objects in the vicinity of the field. ... Haunted locations are places around the globe that are reportedly or popularly alleged to be haunted by ghosts. ...

The participant-observer approach to the paranormal has gained increased visibility and popularity through reality-based television shows like Ghost Hunters, and the formation of independent ghost hunting groups which advocate immersive research at alleged paranormal locations. One popular website for ghost hunting enthusiasts lists over 300 of these organizations throughout the United States and the United Kingdom.^[11] Reality television is a genre of television programming which presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and features ordinary people instead of professional actors. ... For other uses of the name, see Ghosthunters (disambiguation). ... Ghost hunting is the process of investigating locations said to be haunted. ... Haunted locations are places around the globe that are reportedly or popularly alleged to be haunted by ghosts. ...

Debunking approach

James Randi is a well-known debunker of paranormal claims.

Main article: Debunking

The debunking approach is a response to claims of paranormal phenomena, and consists of finding a "normal" explanation instead of paranormal for the account. The basis for this approach is that the debunker feels that the normal explanation is the likelier of the two. This is sometimes referred to as Occam's razor, which suggests that the simplest solution is the best one.^[12] Since standard scientific models generally predicts what can be expected in the natural world, the debunking approach assumes the position that what may appear to be paranormal is a misinterpretation of natural phenomena, rather than an actual anomalous phenomenon. In contrast to the skeptical position, which requires claims to be proven, the debunking approach actively seeks to disprove the claim.^[13] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... James Randi (born August 7, 1928), stage name The Amazing Randi, is a stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a challenger of paranormal claims and pseudoscience. ... A debunker is a skeptic who pursues dispelling false and unscientific claims. ... For the House episode, see Occams Razor (House episode) Occams razor (sometimes spelled Ockhams razor) is a principle attributed to the 14th-century English logician and Franciscan friar William of Ockham. ... Scientific modelling is the process of generating abstract or conceptual models. ... The Michelson–Morley experiment was used to disprove that light propagated through a luminiferous aether. ... An anomalous phenomenon is an observed event (phenomenon) which deviates from the standard or expected (anomaly). ... Skepticism (Commonwealth spelling: Scepticism) can mean: Philosophical skepticism - a philosophical position in which people choose to critically examine whether the knowledge and perceptions that they have are actually true, and whether or not one can ever be said to have absolutely true knowledge; or Scientific skepticism - a scientific, or practical...

Former stage magician, James Randi, is a well-known debunker of paranormal claims.^[14] As a skeptic with a background in illusion, Randi feels that the simplest explanation for those claiming paranormal abilities is trickery, illustrated by demonstrating that the spoon bending abilities of psychic Uri Geller can easily be duplicated by trained magicians.^[15] He is also the founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation and its famous million dollar challenge offering a prize of US $1,000,000 to anyone who can demonstrate evidence of any paranormal, supernatural or occult power or event, under test conditions agreed to by both parties.^[16] Magician redirects here. ... James Randi (born August 7, 1928), stage name The Amazing Randi, is a stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a challenger of paranormal claims and pseudoscience. ... “Illusionist” redirects here. ... Trickery is modernly defined as the practice of crafty underhanded ingenuity to deceive or cheat to play a trick on someone is the art of trickery. ... A spoon bent at a PK party Spoon bending is the apparent deformation of objects, especially metal cutlery, apparently either without physical force, or with less force than normally necessary. ... Uri Geller (Hebrew: אורי גלר), (born Gellér György[1] December 20, 1946 in Tel Aviv, Israel) is an Israeli-British performer and celebrity famous for claiming to have psychic powers. ... Magician redirects here. ... The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) is a Fort Lauderdale, Florida non-profit organization founded in 1996 by magician and skeptic James Randi. ... The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) is a Fort Lauderdale, Florida non-profit organization founded in 1996 by magician and skeptic James Randi. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ... Look up Supernatural in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The word occult comes from the Latin occultus (clandestine, hidden, secret), referring to knowledge of the hidden.[1] In the medical sense it is used commonly to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e. ...

Survey approach

While the validity of the existence of paranormal phenomena is controversial and debated passionately by both proponents of the paranormal and by skeptics, surveys are useful in determining the beliefs of people in regards to paranormal phenomena. These opinions, while not constituting scientific evidence for or against, may give an indication of the mindset of a certain portion of the population (at least among those who answered the polls). In logic, the form of an argument is valid precisely if it cannot lead from true premises to a false conclusion. ... Skepticism (Commonwealth spelling: Scepticism) can mean: Philosophical skepticism - a philosophical position in which people choose to critically examine whether the knowledge and perceptions that they have are actually true, and whether or not one can ever be said to have absolutely true knowledge; or Scientific skepticism - a scientific, or practical...

One such survey of the beliefs of the general United States population regarding paranormal topics was conducted by the Gallup Organization in 2005.^[17] The survey found that 73 percent of those polled believed in at least one of the ten paranormal items presented in the survey. The Gallup Organization provides a variety of management consulting, human resources and statistical research services. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Items included in the survey were as follows (the percentage of respondents who indicated that they believed in the phenomenon is in parenthesis): Extrasensory perception (41%), haunted houses (37%), ghosts (32%), telepathy (31%), clairvoyance (26%), astrology (25%), communication with the dead (21%), witches (21%), reincarnation (20%), and channeling spiritual entities (9%). The text below is generated by a template, which has been proposed for deletion. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the paranormal. ... Telepathy, from the Greek τῆλε, tele, remote; and πάθεια, patheia, to be effected by, describes the hypothetical transfer of information on thoughts or feelings between individuals by means other than the five classical senses. ... Clairvoyance, from 17th century French Clair meaning clear and voyant meaning seeing, is a term used to describe the transference of information about an object, location or physical event through means other than the 5 traditional senses (See Psi). ... Hand-coloured version of the anonymous Flammarion woodcut (1888). ... This article is part of the Witchcraft series. ... Reincarnation, literally to be made flesh again, is a doctrine or mystical belief that some essential part of a living being (in some variations only human beings) survives death to be reborn in a new body. ... Channeling is the communication of information to or through a physically embodied human being, from a source that is said to exist on some other level or dimension of reality than the physical, and that is not from the normal mind (or self) of the channel. ...

Only one percent of those surveyed believed in all ten items.

The items selected for the survey were chosen because they "require the belief that humans have more than the 'normal' five senses."

Another survey conducted in 2006 by researchers from Australia's Monash University^[18] sought to determine what types of phenomena people claim to have experienced and the effects these experiences have had on their lives. The study was conducted as an online survey with over 2,000 respondents from around the world participating. The results revealed that around 70% of the respondents believe to have had an unexplained paranormal event that changed their life, mostly in a positive way. About 70% also claimed to have seen, heard, or been touched by an animal or person that they knew was not there; 80% have reported having a premonition, and almost 50% stated they recalled a previous life.^[18] Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Robert Menzies Building at the Clayton Campus Monash University is a public university, with campuses located in Victoria, Malaysia and South Africa. ... Look up Premonition in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Paranormal subjects

Main article: List of paranormal subjects

This section explores the notable paranormal beliefs that appear in popular culture. Although this is not intended to be a complete list, the following subjects are widely considered to be paranormal: Some varieties of Alternative medicine Applied kinesiology Astrology Aura reading Chiropractic healing (beyond back/joint problems) Clairvoyance Communicating with the dead and/or channeling Crop circles Dowsing Electronic voice phenomenon (EVP... Popular culture, sometimes abbreviated to pop culture, consists of widespread cultural elements in any given society. ...

Ghosts

Artist rendition of a ghost climbing a staircase.

Main article: Ghosts

For believers, ghosts are generally seen to be the spirit or soul of a deceased person.^[19] Alternative theories expand on that idea and include belief in the ghosts of deceased animals. Sometimes the term "ghost" is used synonymously with any spirit or demon^[20], however in popular usage the term typically refers to a deceased person. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (815x1169, 491 KB) Summary False image of a ghost created using image manipulation software Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Ghost Apparition (supernatural) Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (815x1169, 491 KB) Summary False image of a ghost created using image manipulation software Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Ghost Apparition (supernatural) Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner... This article is about the paranormal. ... This article is about the paranormal. ... The English word spirit comes from the Latin spiritus (breath). // The English word spirit comes from the Latin spiritus, meaning breath (compare spiritus asper), but also soul, courage, vigor, ultimately from a PIE root *(s)peis- (to blow). In the Vulgate, the Latin word translates Greek (πνευμα), pneuma (Hebrew (רוח) ruah), as... For other uses, see Soul (disambiguation). ... “Fiend” redirects here. ...

The belief in ghosts as souls of the departed is closely tied to the concept of animism, an ancient belief which attributed souls to everything in nature.^[4] As the nineteenth-century anthropologist James Frazer explained in his classic work, The Golden Bough, souls were seen as the creature within that animated the body.^[21] Although the human soul was sometimes symbolically or literally depicted in ancient cultures as a bird or other animal, it was widely held that the soul was an exact reproduction of the body in every feature, even down to clothing the person wore. This is depicted in artwork from various ancient cultures, including such works as the Egyptian Book of the Dead, which shows deceased people in the afterlife appearing much as they did before death, including the style of dress. This page is about the core essence of a being. ... The term Animism is derived from the Latin anima, meaning soul.[1][2] In its most general sense, animism is simply the belief in souls. ... See Anthropology. ... Sir James George Frazer (January 1, 1854, Glasgow, Scotland – May 7, 1941), was a Scottish social anthropologist influential in the early stages of the modern studies of mythology and comparative religion. ... The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion is a wide-ranging comparative study of mythology and religion, written by Scottish anthropologist Sir James George Frazer (1854–1941). ... This article is about the Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead. ...

A widespread belief concerning ghosts is that they are composed of a misty, airy, or subtle material. Anthropologists speculate that this may also stem from early beliefs that ghosts were the person within the person, most noticeable in ancient cultures as a person's breath, which upon exhaling in colder climates appears visibly as a white mist.^[4] This belief may have also fostered the metaphorical meaning of "breath" in certain languages, such as the Latin spiritus and the Greek pneuma, which by analogy became extended to mean the soul. In the Bible, God is depicted as animating Adam with a breath. Anthropology (from Greek: ἀνθρωπος, anthropos, human being; and λόγος, logos, knowledge) is the study of humanity. ... For other uses, see Latin (disambiguation). ... Spiritus (Latin for breathing, compare spirit) in Byzantine Greek orthography may refer to Spiritus lenis, the soft breathing Spiritus asper, the hard breathing This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Pneumatology refers to the study of spiritual beings and phenomena, especially the interactions between humans and God. ... This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library. ... This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... For other uses, see Adam (disambiguation). ...

Numerous theories have been proposed by skeptics to provide non-paranormal explanations for ghosts sightings.^[4] Although the evidence for ghosts is largely anecdotal, the belief in ghosts throughout history has remained widespread and persistent. Skepticism (Commonwealth spelling: Scepticism) can mean: Philosophical skepticism - a philosophical position in which people choose to critically examine whether the knowledge and perceptions that they have are actually true, and whether or not one can ever be said to have absolutely true knowledge; or Scientific skepticism - a scientific, or practical... Haunted locations are places around the globe that are reportedly or popularly alleged to be haunted by ghosts. ... An anecdote is a short tale told about an interesting, amusing, or biographical incident. ...

UFOs

A 1952 photo of a purported UFO over Passaic, New Jersey.

Main article: UFOs

The possibility of extraterrestrial life is not, by itself, a paranormal subject. Many scientists are actively engaged in the search for unicellular life within the solar system, carrying out studies on the surface of Mars and examining meteors that have fallen to Earth.^[22] Projects such as SETI are conducting an astronomical search for radio activity that would show evidence of intelligent life outside the solar system.^[23] Scientific theories of how life developed on Earth allow for the possibility that life developed on other planets as well. The paranormal aspect of extraterrestrial life centers largely around the belief in unidentified flying objects and the phenomena said to be associated with them. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (677x992, 188 KB) Summary Description: Grainy B&W image of purported UFO, Passoria, New Jersey Source: CIA educational materials, http://www. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (677x992, 188 KB) Summary Description: Grainy B&W image of purported UFO, Passoria, New Jersey Source: CIA educational materials, http://www. ... “Passaic” redirects here. ... “NJ” redirects here. ... UFO redirects here. ... This article is about Extraterrestrial life. ... This article is about the Solar System. ... Adjectives: Martian Atmosphere Surface pressure: 0. ... Worlds second largest Meteorite in Culiacan, Mexico A meteorite is a relatively small extra-terrestrial body that reaches the Earths surface. ... This article is about Earth as a planet. ... This article is about the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence. ... This article is about evolution in biology. ... A planet (from the Greek πλανήτης, planetes or wanderers) is a body of considerable mass that orbits a star and that produces very little or no energy through nuclear fusion. ... This article is about Extraterrestrial life. ... UFO redirects here. ...

Early in the history of UFO culture, believers divided themselves into two camps. The first held a rather conservative view of the phenomena, interpreting it as unexplained occurrences that merited serious study. They began calling themselves "ufologists" in the 1950s and felt that logical analysis of sighting reports would validate the notion of extraterrestrial visitation.^[4] This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The second camp consisted of individuals who coupled ideas of extraterrestrial visitation with beliefs from existing quasi-religious movements. These individuals typically were enthusiasts of occultism and the paranormal. Many had backgrounds as active Theosophists, Spiritualists, or were followers of other esoteric doctrines. In contemporary times, many of these beliefs have coalesced into New Age spiritual movements.^[4] For other uses of this term, see occult (disambiguation). ... Seal of the Theosophical Society Theosophy is a body of belief which holds that all religions are attempts by man to ascertain the Divine, and as such each religion has a portion of the truth. ... Spiritualism is a religion in which contact with the spirits of the dead through a medium is central. ... Etymology Esoteric is an adjective originating during Hellenic Greece under the domain of the Roman Empire; it comes from the Greek esôterikos, from esôtero, the comparative form of esô: within. It is a word meaning anything that is inner and occult, a latinate word meaning hidden (from which... New Age describes a broad movement characterized by alternative approaches to traditional Western culture. ...

Both secular and spiritual believers describe UFOs as having abilities beyond what is considered possible according to aerodynamics and physical laws. The transitory events surrounding many UFO sightings also limits the opportunity for repeat testing required by the scientific method. Acceptance of UFO theories by the larger scientific community is further hindered by the many possible hoaxes associated with UFO culture. Aerodynamics (shaping of objects that affect the flow of air or gas) is a branch of fluid dynamics concerned with the study of forces generated on a body in a flow. ... A physical law or a law of nature is a scientific generalization based on empirical observations. ... Scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A hoax is an attempt to trick an audience into believing that something false is real. ...

Etymology

The word paranormal consists of two parts: para and normal. In most definitions of the word paranormal, it is described as anything that is beyond or contrary to what is deemed scientifically possible.^[1] The definition implies that the scientific explanation of the world around us is the 'normal' part of the word and 'para' makes up the above, beyond, contrary, or against part of the meaning. Look up para in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In behavior, normal refers to a lack of significant deviation from the average. ...

Para has a Greek and Latin origin. Its most common meaning (the Greek usage) is 'similar to' or 'near to', as in paragraph. In Latin, para means 'above,' against,' 'counter,' 'outside,' or 'beyond'. For example, parapluie in French means 'counter-rain' – an umbrella. It can be construed, then, that the term paranormal is derived from the Latin use of the prefix 'para', meaning 'against, counter, outside or beyond the norm.' Latin was the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea, or the words of an author. ... This article is about the umbrella or parasol. ... Look up para in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

See also

Paranormal Portal

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Paranormal: Cryptozoology, Forteana, Ghosts, Mysticism, New Age, Occult, Paranormal fiction, Paranormal explanations for UFOs, Parapsychology, Places thought to be haunted, Psychics, Supernatural, UFOs, UFO reported sightings Image File history File links Portal. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Image File history File links Wikibooks-logo. ... Image File history File links Wikiquote-logo. ... Image File history File links Wikisource-logo. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Image File history File links WikiNews-Logo. ... Image File history File links Wikiversity-logo-Snorky. ... Cryptozoology (from Greek: κρυπτός, kryptós, hidden; ζῷον, zôon, animal; and λόγος, logos, knowledge or study – zoology) is the search for animals hypothesized to exist, but for which conclusive proof is missing. ... Charles Fort, 1920 Charles Hoy Fort (August 6, 1874 - May 3, 1932), writer and researcher into anomalous phenomena, was the son of an Albany grocer of Dutch ancestry. ... This article is about the paranormal. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... New Age describes a broad movement characterized by alternative approaches to traditional Western culture. ... The word occult comes from the Latin occultus (clandestine, hidden, secret), referring to knowledge of the hidden.[1] In the medical sense it is used commonly to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... There has been a fair amount of crossover between paranormal events and Unidentified Flying Objects. ... Early parapsychological research employed the use of Zener cards in experiments designed to test for possible telepathic communication. ... Haunted locations are places around the globe that are reportedly or popularly alleged to be haunted by ghosts. ... Parapsychology is the study of the evidence involving phenomena where a person seems to affect or gain information about something through a means not currently explainable within the framework of mainstream, conventional science. ... Look up Supernatural in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... UFO redirects here. ... Wikinews has a related section: UFO This is a list of UFO sightings including cases of alleged alien sightings and abductions. ...

Authors: Charles Fort, Bernard Heuvelmans, J. Francis Hitching, J.B. Rhine Nightwatchers This article is not about Charles Forte. ... Bernard Heuvelmans (October 10, 1916 – August 22, 2001) was a scientist, explorer, researcher, and a writer probably best known as a founder of cryptozoology. ... J. Francis Hitching is a British author and dowser. ... Joseph Banks Rhine (September 29, 1895 – February 20, 1980) was a pioneer of parapsychology. ...

Skepticism: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, Debunking, Hoaxes, James Randi, Prizes offered for paranormal proof, Skepticism The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), formerly known as the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) is a U.S. nonprofit organization whose stated purpose is to encourage the critical investigation of paranormal and fringe-science claims from a responsible, scientific point of view and... A debunker is a skeptic who pursues dispelling false and unscientific claims. ... A hoax is an attempt to trick an audience into believing that something false is real. ... James Randi (born August 7, 1928), stage name The Amazing Randi, is a stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a challenger of paranormal claims and pseudoscience. ... There are many individuals and groups past and present that offer money for proof of the paranormal in an observable setting. ... This article is about the psychological term. ...

Science: Anomalous phenomena, Fringe science, Pseudoscience, Scientific method Anomalous phenomena are phenomena which are observed and for which there are no suitable explanations in the context of a specific body of scientific knowledge, e. ... Fringe science is a phrase used to describe scientific inquiry in an established field that departs significantly from mainstream or orthodox theories. ... A typical 18th century phrenology chart. ... Scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. ...

References