Ghost Hunters-Demons-Hauntings-Is It Real?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a ghost hunter? Imagine camping out in an empty house in the dark just waiting for something paranormal to happen. This is a bizarre profession and maybe even a dangerous one. The Syfy channel on Dish Network Satellite TV offers the show Ghost Hunters. You can go along for the ride with the ghost hunters as they investigate homes that are reportedly haunted by ghosts.

I was listening to the radio this morning when the DJ’s were interviewing another group of ghost hunters who visit people’s haunted homes for free. They were recently working on an investigation in a Nashua, New Hampshire apartment for a family that was tormented by ghostly occurrences. Their 13-year-old daughter has visions of blood dripping from the walls in her room and she hears things and sees full body apparitions. She will also start writing randomly in handwriting not characteristic of her own. The investigators did not see anything when they were at the home but they did hear growling unlike an animal that they attribute to something demonic.

The apartment is new so it is rare that a place like this would be haunted. The ghost hunters recommended that the family move somewhere else but they also recommended a demonologist to help them rid of the demon. Ghost hunters are out to learn more about the paranormal but they are not qualified to perform an exorcism. They claim that a demonic haunting usually stems from a curse or something that their ancestors were guilty of in the past that was carried down to them. They would need to consult the church to find a demonologist who would be able to conduct an exorcism. The demonologist is an informed and very religious person who has a faith so strong that it cannot be overpowered by the demon. Demonic hauntings are said to follow their victims no matter where they move- not unlike the story in Paranormal Activity. The family decided not to move but there’s no word yet of whether they will seek out a demonologist.

A demon is characterized by a non-human entity that has a soul but never had a body, perhaps an angel that was cast down from Heaven. It is not seen but can be heard and felt. The demon enjoys wreaking havoc and can be very dangerous. They are jealous of our lives, they smell foul and they are intelligent but have no inhibitions. There are plenty of people who do not believe that this can be possible but there are also a few accounts of people experiencing this phenomenon. I’m sure there are cases that can be attributed to mental illness. I question whether or not it’s possible to be haunted by an evil unseen force but at the same time I’m curious about it on an entertainment level.

Can the cases be true that led to such movies as The Entity, The Amityville Horror, The Exorcist and The Exorcism of Emily Rose? There are many skeptics that do not believe these stories are valid and many investigations uncovered a few loopholes in the stories. For example The Amityville Horror story implied that there were hoof prints found outside the home in the snow that possibly belonged to the demon but it was confirmed that it did not even snow that day where the house is located in New York and it would be rare that the demon would have a visible form. I haven’t heard of any arguments concerning the story in The Entity so perhaps there was nothing to argue. The woman portrayed in the film was raped at night by an unseen force. She moved from the home and hasn’t been touched but she claims that there is still a presence.

Can just anyone be haunted by a demon? Investigators claim that demonic hauntings start off quietly and gradually build in intensity. Families that are under high stress are considered to be more vulnerable. Stressors can include anything from marital problems to mental illness. Demons have an outlet when people are at their weakest psychologically. Using objects that invoke spirits can bring more into your life than you bargained for. Ouija boards, crystals and Tarot cards seem like simple entertainment but according to some professionals can also bring in unwanted spirits and demons. There is also the curse factor. Demonic hauntings are very rare but when they occur they are impossible to rid of without the help of a professional demonologist and they can still return after they’ve been expelled. It is important for families who have had a demon expelled to attend counseling and repair their personal problems so they can maintain a positive mental state. This will make it difficult for the demon to return.

It is difficult to know what is fact and what is fiction when it comes to something as delicate and unseen as the paranormal. I would like to believe that demons do not exist and these occurrences can be attributed to something else- anything else. Like many people I would like to believe that angels are real and they are watching over us and protecting us. There may be more reliable measurements in the future to test the validity of the paranormal but perhaps it is better to use our imagination than know the truth.