Ghosts: Are They Real?
Most get togethers are incomplete without a ghost story, a reference to some urban legend, or a personal anecdote about encountering some evil spirit near the local cemetery. The crazier, the better. While we really aren't sure if whispering 'Bloody Mary' three times to the mirror can summon the infamous spirit, or simply show you your pimples and dark circles, what's the harm in trying, and adding another story for the next slumber party? There may, or may not be ghosts, or we would have at least seen one, or caught one just like they do in 'The Ghostbusters' movie. But then, let's not rip apart our fantasy so soon, science and reasoning can wait a little longer, as we take a look at some of the most famous and controversial encounters with the ghost kind.
Annabelle: When a student nurse was given the doll in 1970s, she didn't anticipate the consequences. The raggedy Ann doll was said to be possessed, as strange occurings began to happen. When the nurse and her friend were told that the doll actually contained the spirit of a dead girl, Annabelle Higgins, they contacted the Warrens, who somehow managed further damage. If you are wondering why the name Warren sounds familiar, it is because the film popular horror film, Annabelle, was based on these series of events. The Warrens, Edward 'Ed' and Lorraine were famous demonologists, and in 1952, they founded the New England Society for Psychic Research, which happened to be the oldest ghost hunting group in New England. But that was definitely not the end of the Warren's adventures, as more and more paranormal activities would catch up with them, or vice versa.
Anna Elisabeth 'Anneliese' Michel: Anneliese was German, and she was very religious having been brought up in a strictly religious family. She went to the mass twice a week, and by her classmates' account, it was confirmed that she was very 'withdrawn and religious'. By the time she was sixteen, she began hearing voices, had seizures, and by twenty, she couldn't stay long near religious places or objects. She claimed to have been possessed by demonic spirit, and was destined to be 'damned'. Her family had appealed to the Catholic Church for an exorcism, and were eventually granted one. They couldn't save her, as she died a horrible death. But that was not the whole story. Michel had been diagnosed with epileptic psychosis, depression, and had a history of mental illness. Her family, and the two Roman Catholic priests were later sentenced to prison. The popular horror movie, 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose' is based on her life.
Robert the doll: Why should Annabelle have all the fun? Which is probably the reason why Robert doll decided to act all creepy. According to folklore, this doll had supernatural abilities and was known to change his facial expressions, or move about the room. It was originally owned by Robert Eugene Otto, the author and painter. The doll is now exhibited at the East Martello Museum that was once owned by Otto.
But are ghosts real? While these stories and urban legends spice up our lives, a recent statement by one of the leading scientists might have made history. Brian Cox of CERN, and CERN which boasts of the large hadron collider (LHC) and the discovery of God's particle, bluntly put it that there are no ghosts! During BBC's The Infinite Monkey Cage programme last year, he told, "I want to make a statement: We are not here to debate the existence of ghosts because they don't exist." It was not a random statement by a random person, it was made by Brian Cox himself. While again a group of scientists claimed that Cox was being too 'presumptuous', I guess that's a story for another day. We will wait for science to find its way out of this cosmic labyrinth, while lapping up mellow doses of spooky stories and rendezvous with the ouija board!
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