Why do people hold on desperately to "paranormal" beliefs when there has never been ONE verifiable instance?

Question

NEVER! Nothing, ever, ever.

Are you just incapable of dealing with the fact that people die? are you uncomfortable with that? Then get over it, it is a fact of life.

Do you miss your Great Aunt Bertha so much that you would pay some lying idiot to take your money and tell you that she says, "hello"?

Please, stop the madness. There is no, nor has there ever been, nor will there ever be, a bona fide provable instance of paranormal activity, ever. EVER!

Now that I have enlightened you earthlings, I need to get back on my spaceship and get back to my solar system.

Answer 1

Actually, the case of the Bell Witch is a documented case of a haunting. Documented by the president himself at the time. Look it up.

:)

Answer 2

Well, you probably expected to take a hit on this…

I basically agree with the claim that there is no reason to buy into the supernatural (though I usually state so a bit more tactfully)

I offer some support to the argument of WHY we all should be concerned with this.

1) There is a reality out there. We might not have all of the answers to it, but chasing down every claim without evidence is only a distraction to our understanding of this reality.

2) Humans have great potential in critical thinking ability; claims of the supernatural defy this ability as most believers fall into several, irrational, thinking traps. (We all err in our thinking at one time or another, not learning from our experiences is a tragedy).

2) Many people (and animals) are harmed, or killed, each year solely because of supernatural beliefs (yes, people still burn “witches” and grind up endangered animal bone to add to spells in our modern world)

Errant beliefs permeate society; even beliefs that we all think “certain” today might one day be “overthrown” by new evidence (and therefore be considered errant). But the point here is: We accept our current understanding of reality BECAUSE of the evidence. Our default condition to all (new) claims is incredulity until given reason to acknowledge them. We fail at this when we jump to conclusions about our reality based upon our biases and incomplete evidence.

There is little doubt that most who “believe” in the supernatural have certainly experienced “something” strange (to them). The fact that they (or anyone) can not currently explain it IS NOT evidence to support the possibility of supernatural claims being true.

It is, however, evidence to support that our ability to understand our reality is limited by our perceptions and biases. (and further how stubborn humans can be)

Two very good books that delve into why such beliefs still exist are Michael Shermer’s “Why People Believe Weird Things”, and “How We Believe”

Answer 3

Your like a Jehovah witness, trying to press your belief system on someone else, guess who really cares?

Answer 4

I think these people feel that if Jesus can raise from the dead, so can their relatives.

Answer 5

Mainly because a LOT of people want to believe that there's something after this life is over. They NEED to believe that "this" isn't all there is, and there's something else coming up. Some people want to believe they can still communicate with people who've "crossed over" (I hate John Edward, by the way -- he's a total con artist.)

There's no h**l, no heaven. You live, you born, you die, the end. Get used to it and stop looking for the "after" life -- live the NOW life.

Answer 6

Well, I think that most just cannot bear to think about there being a definitive end to their life.

Also, many people have been brainwashed from birth to believe in an afterlife.  It is to such a degree, that logic is thrown out the window, and the beliefs have become a delusion, where no evidence to the contrary  is considered.  

The fear of the unknown, feelings of helplessness, etc. drives people to "psychics", etc who they believe will provide solutions, and help relieve their inner agony.

The belief in the existence of ghosts, EVPs, etc., somehow comforts people in that there may be an afterlife, and that they don't have to worry about death, as they will be sitting on a cloud,  meeting 40 virgins, or whatever it is that their particular religion says.

Television and media also are terrible to foster beliefs in things that are not real.  You see it all the time in the ghostbuster types of shows.  Some people believe absolutely anything that they are told, without any good evidence.  Look for example at the recent news about the bigfoot hoax.  Shows how gullible people are.

I think also, that some people, just because of their personality, etc. are naturally more gullible.  Personality disorders, brain defects, visual and auditory hallucinations, may all contribute to beliefs in the paranormal.

For some, their earthly lives may be so miserable, that they cling to every little thing, that may indicate that somehow one day, in their death, that they will have a better life.

And for some, the so called "paranormal investigators" (whatever they are) , just do it for the excitement and fun of it.   It is kind of a rush for them.

There are probably other reasons, but these I believe are the main ones.

Answer 7

I don't hold on "desperately"

That's because you have never had a personal experience, or mabey you are just mentally challenged?? If you think it is a dumb subject, then why the heck are you posting a question about it. Wow, your immature! Have a nice day  : )

Answer 8

I think there are many reasons people believe in the paranormal, beyond fear of ceasing to exist after death.  Perhaps they were raised in a home where this kind of thing was a given, and follow it the way many people follow the faith they were born into.  People receive reinforcement of their beliefs from youtube videos, paranormal themed websites and television shows.  Perhaps they weren't taught science or critical thinking, and don't know how else to respond to things around them they personally can't explain.  Perhaps they believe because they would just prefer to live in a world where this stuff is possible, they find it a more interesting and exciting world.  The confrontational attitude you adopted in your question would indicate you aren't really thinking rationally about it, and so I will leave it at that.

Answer 9

  Why do you care what other ppl think or believe. Sounds like just another religious bigot. Just this time the religion is atheism. It's ok to be what you are ,just leave others to be what they are. I guess you believe in aliens,since you are one. There is more proof of spirits than there is of aliens .  All that's needed is an open mind.  There may be no proof in a scientific setting, but in a court of law, survival of the soul would win hands down.  A preponderance of the evidence suggests that the soul/ spirit / personality ,survives,after you weed out all the halucinations, hoaxes, and mistaken identities.  

Answer 10

says you. I have all the proof I need. Live in my body for 24 hours, see what I see, hear what I hear, feel what I feel and then it is YOU who will finally see.

Namaste.  

Answer 11

Um... that was a little weird, but you are so right!

Answer 12

Why are you so upset about this?  

If you want people to believe you, then start a cult because you sound like a good candidate for one.  However, cult leaders need charisma and a good vocabulary and you lack in that area.

Stop the madness you say!  It sounds like this issue is driving you mad.  You will NEVER EVER change everyone's mind about this issue so stop trying.

A definition of insanity is:  Doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result each time.

I assure you every time you post this you will get the same results.  You will get a mixture of mixed emotions from different people.

Please stop the insanity with your "special knowledge" of this so called phenomenon.

Answer 13

"There are more thing in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

Answer 14

It depends on what you believe is a verifiable instance.

If you experience some of the things that many have you will believe it no matter if it is verified by the almighty scientists or not.

Have a nice trip I hope they remember you.

Answer 15

Scientific evidence does not mean there is no personal and individual varification out there. There are tons of personal accounts and personal experiences out there with no scientific explanation.

Did you know that love can't be measured? How come people believ ein it? It's only chemicals running through your body in order that you as a biological entity procreate to carry on the gene pool. Love in any form can't be measures or proven to exist. You can "ACT" in love all you want but it wont prove it's existence, so why do we all believe?

b.c we all have had personal experiences with it.

I have had many paranormal experiences. LOTS.

Answer 16

Look, I've never been much of a believer myself until about a year ago.  We've been having some strange things going on in our house that cannot be explained.  For example:  lights turning off and on, tvs, radios, and clocks being turned on or you'll be in the middle of watching a tv show and all of a sudden the dvd player will begin playing a movie, whispering of a man in our hallway at night while the tv or radio won't be on and as soon as you open our bedroom door the whispering stops, our clock that hasn't had working batteries for the past 6 mos. began working no sooner did we begin talking about our haunted house to a friend, things disappearing  and then reappearing, a picture FLEW off of my tv and into my wall with such force that it couldn't have just fallen, my animals always react as if someone or something is in the room when nothing is, and the topper...my husband claims to have seen the ghost in the back seat of our car while he was driving to Burger King a few nights ago.  Thank God he didn't get into a wreck, cuz he almost did.  He came home screaming, "I seen him, I seen him"!  I would've passed out.  I have no reason not to believe him since he's not a psycho, and I've experienced the same things that he has except for actually seeing it.  Also, all of these things have happened more than once, usually on a frequent basis.  The only thing that's happened once was the picture flying and the clock mysteriously working after not having batteries.  I know I'm not psycho, and one more thing....I dunno who this person is!  I'm freaked out by this c**p and wish it would stop.  I'm definitely not trying to intentionally communicate with the dead!  And one more thing...we don't drink nor do we do drugs!!