alot of cultures believe ghosts hang around because they have some unresolved business or they were wronged, so to that end i can understand if they’d be angry instead of in a benevolent mood
Imagine being stuck in a situation where you can see your loved ones go about their lives (grieving or otherwise) without being able to tell them anything.
It would suggest that life after death exists, but leaves you unable to interact with the world. And if ghosts aren’t super common, what happens to everyone else?
I think there are few examples of a ghost maintaining their intellect, personality, and awareness, and the ones where they are like Nearly Headless Nick aren’t very scary. Most folkloric depictions show ghosts as lobotomized or deranged, shuffling through their old routine, screaming and attacking trespassers, confusing strangers for family members and vicr versa, etc. It’s essentially an eternity of dementia
I think ghosts have gotten a bad reputation thanks to the way it has been generally projected in the media; although I enjoy horror films 🙂
It is widely believed at least in Asian religions and folklore, of “benevolent” ghosts/spirits that aren’t feared but revered, unlike their malevolent peers.
Ancestral worship is a well-documented example; the concept of giving offerings to spirits of one’s ancestors, tales of them looking out and granting favours for their families.
There are also many other types of spirits AKA ghosts in the west I believe, if you look at the old definition of ghosts being related to spiritus (latin) – Holy Ghost; Angels etc.
I don’t think ghosts exist but if they did I would consider it a part of the “spirit” in which case it’s not physical so it’s like a lingering limbo? Yet you could see them so it would be physical.. yeah ghosts don’t exist. Buut, dimensions are unknown enough maybe what we call ghosts are dimensions crossing paths..that I can believe.
It’s possible ghosts exist to scare us away from the hazardous places where they died, which is why they appear terrifying instead of happy or reassuring.
Imagine if you got absolute confirmation that after you die, rather than passing on to some otherworldly paradise or starting over with a new life to enjoy, you were trapped in the same place as before but unable to interact with anything or talk to anybody, just watching things you loved fall apart.
Of course not, have you ever met a human? Anything that isn’t expected is scary and if it’s also something unknown it’s even more so.
So it doesn’t much matter how the ghost would appear, most would be scared because that’s how most are.
The ghost could be pretty and nice mannered but if it unexpectedly showed itself at your home where you’re sure to be alone it would startle you.
Also there are just as many non scary stories of ghosts as the scary ones.
No because we don’t know what they are. They could be echos of the past with no concept of the present. They could be demons trying to secure souls for hell. They could be places where the dimensional bubble is thin and interacting with them could literally pop reality. Or multiple of these things including dead people. And I’m not even saying ghosts are real I’m just saying there are multiple ways that it could work that provide no comfort or confirmation of an afterlife.
Comments
alot of cultures believe ghosts hang around because they have some unresolved business or they were wronged, so to that end i can understand if they’d be angry instead of in a benevolent mood
Nah.
Imagine being stuck in a situation where you can see your loved ones go about their lives (grieving or otherwise) without being able to tell them anything.
Just watching and watching for eternity.
Eesh sounds like a lonely nightmare.
You never had ghost tickles?
Unless they’re miserable. Your question assumes the ghosts are happier as ghosts than when they were alive.
If my grandma had wheels she woulda been a bike
It would suggest that life after death exists, but leaves you unable to interact with the world. And if ghosts aren’t super common, what happens to everyone else?
If I saw aliens, it would blow my mind. If I saw a ghost, my entire concept of everything would be obliterated
I think there are few examples of a ghost maintaining their intellect, personality, and awareness, and the ones where they are like Nearly Headless Nick aren’t very scary. Most folkloric depictions show ghosts as lobotomized or deranged, shuffling through their old routine, screaming and attacking trespassers, confusing strangers for family members and vicr versa, etc. It’s essentially an eternity of dementia
I think ghosts have gotten a bad reputation thanks to the way it has been generally projected in the media; although I enjoy horror films 🙂
It is widely believed at least in Asian religions and folklore, of “benevolent” ghosts/spirits that aren’t feared but revered, unlike their malevolent peers.
Ancestral worship is a well-documented example; the concept of giving offerings to spirits of one’s ancestors, tales of them looking out and granting favours for their families.
There are also many other types of spirits AKA ghosts in the west I believe, if you look at the old definition of ghosts being related to spiritus (latin) – Holy Ghost; Angels etc.
in sikhism it is believed that there is no life after death and “ghosts” are just living people “haunting” you thru love
Hungry ghosts do not suggest a happy afterlife.
If I told you I had proof the hereafter was worse than the mortal coil, would that be comforting?
No! It’s terrifying.
I don’t think ghosts exist but if they did I would consider it a part of the “spirit” in which case it’s not physical so it’s like a lingering limbo? Yet you could see them so it would be physical.. yeah ghosts don’t exist. Buut, dimensions are unknown enough maybe what we call ghosts are dimensions crossing paths..that I can believe.
It’s possible ghosts exist to scare us away from the hazardous places where they died, which is why they appear terrifying instead of happy or reassuring.
Imagine if you got absolute confirmation that after you die, rather than passing on to some otherworldly paradise or starting over with a new life to enjoy, you were trapped in the same place as before but unable to interact with anything or talk to anybody, just watching things you loved fall apart.
Of course not, have you ever met a human? Anything that isn’t expected is scary and if it’s also something unknown it’s even more so.
So it doesn’t much matter how the ghost would appear, most would be scared because that’s how most are.
The ghost could be pretty and nice mannered but if it unexpectedly showed itself at your home where you’re sure to be alone it would startle you.
Also there are just as many non scary stories of ghosts as the scary ones.
Life after death doesn’t inherently mean a good thing. So much could go wrong concerning what happens to you after you die
No because we don’t know what they are. They could be echos of the past with no concept of the present. They could be demons trying to secure souls for hell. They could be places where the dimensional bubble is thin and interacting with them could literally pop reality. Or multiple of these things including dead people. And I’m not even saying ghosts are real I’m just saying there are multiple ways that it could work that provide no comfort or confirmation of an afterlife.
Imagine ghosts or spirits everywhere. They’d be seeing a lot of ‘private moments ‘ at MY house 😁
Why would anybody be scared of something as ephemeral as a ghost?
Ive never understood the appeal of a life after death. I don’t want to remain conscious after i die, never have.
Just becouse there is an afterlife it doesnt mean its a pleasant one.
Nah. Only maga type people become ghosts…
Not if they’re trying to avenge you for doing them wrong while they were alive.
Yeah, they don’t. Next.
For all we know there are some that can, but the majority of them are just neutral fields of energy that wander around.
“A ghost is a memory bent out of shape”.
Who wants to come back to an in between limbo, stuck in whatever awful situation led to that “afterlife”?
Sure, there are cases of helpful, nice, happy ghosts, but that’s such a lower percentage than those who’re unhappy, confused, or downright enraged.
But that’s the things. I don’t want to live after death. I want an ending that does not involve another infinity of existence.