(12-04-2023, 03:47 PM)Michigan Swamp Buck Wrote: I had wanted to create a new thread based on this topic, but feel it is best as a post here.Thanks MSB. I'll have to check that show out sometime this week.
There is a Travel Channel TV program called "Paranormal Survivors" out of Ontario, Canada that ran from 2015 to 2019 with reruns in syndication on broadcast TV. I never watched it on Travel and have only recently been watching it on Sunday evenings on ThisTV. I've been watching it here and there for a couple of months now and it seems that the only type of paranormal activity they cover is haunting and possessions. Also, these encounters are always involving evil spirits and demons with almost no benevolent spirits that warn or protect. So I thought I'd share some observations about these encounters.
The show format is they find people with ghost stories and interview them on camera, then they find similar-looking actors to dramatically exaggerate the stories from the survivor's testimonials. When I consider how many of these survivors become emotional in their interviews, I conclude most are being truthful in their storytelling. The show also has its consultants who are professional paranormal investigators who explain the encounters as they understand them.
Most of these stories involve people who have moved into a new home, often an old Victorian home. Soon after, within the first month of living in the home, unexplainable things begin to occur that seem paranormal, but the homeowners usually rationalize it and blow it off.
Almost all of these hauntings start with a feeling of being watched when no one else is around. Then strange things like cold spots or cold rooms, things out of place, and sounds that can't be explained begin to happen. After these things occur with some regularity, they will hear foot steps and doors opening and closing, usually at night around 2am - 3am in the early mornings. This then escalates until these evil spirits and demons begin to manifest as orbs, shadows and shades, or even fully manifested, full bodied entities.
This is usually about the time the survivors begin to realize something very wrong is happening and suspect the paranormal. They then try to live with the activity until it becomes a threat in the form of violent poltergeist activity after which they seek unconventional help in the form of a paranormal investigator or less often a priest or other Christian style exorcist type. At this point the investigator confirms the survivor's suspicions and uses a (Pagan) sage burning ceremony or some kind of Christian exorcism to "cast out" the spirit or lead it into the light.
Most, but not all the ceremonies work and a small percentage of spirits cannot be cast out or they return and the owners give up and leave the haunted dwelling.
Based on these stories and the consistence of the details, it really makes it seem like evil spirits and demons really exist and can be a threat to regular people who would otherwise never believe in the paranormal.
I've heard stories of people who didn't believe in God angels or demons until they had one of these encounters. I've heard some have developed a deep faith after one of them.
(12-04-2023, 04:23 PM)Snarl Wrote:(12-04-2023, 03:47 PM)Michigan Swamp Buck Wrote: Based on these stories and the consistence of the details, it really makes it seem like evil spirits and demons really exist and can be a threat to regular people who would otherwise never believe in the paranormal.
Good read, MSB. S&F
I don't recall meeting an evil spirit or Demon (nor do I want to). I also don't think I'd want to take up residence in a haunted house. I did meet another God once ... who didn't like me being where I was. He told me to, "Get out." I did. End of story.
I imagine some of these 'things' are less paranormal and more spiritual in nature. It's really hard to label what you can't physically see. I guess we'll know for sure when we die.
I'm of the opinion that paranormal and spiritual are pretty much the same. Trying to figure out what someone is dealing with is the trick.
That's what I'm trying to figure out. I am wondering more and more about what it is I'm dealing with.
I think the damn thing may be latched onto me now. I've had several weird things go on since we started this conversation.
(12-04-2023, 04:51 PM)Michigan Swamp Buck Wrote: Here is something else I was thinking about these stories. Maybe the reason so very few of these stories have benevolent spirit encounters is that the people who have these types of encounters rarely submit them to the show or the show rejects them in favor of the scary stories. It may also be that spirits with good intentions won't intentionally reveal their presence while they try to protect the living from the other evil spirits.I think you've hit the proverbial nail on the head right here...