Why do some think ghosts being someone who was once live a modern concept?

Question

I see answers that suggest ghosts are not the essance of those who were once alive and many claim there are different definitions . Also they claim that ghosts being spirits of people once alive is a modern concept. Where does this come from? Ghosts were thought to be dead people for centuries.

I am just courious where this concept of ghosts not being dead people comes from. I think that is a modern concept.

I know not all ghost sightings are ghosts some could be views of another deminsion etc but the idea that ghosts are never dead people seems and odd theory to me. Thanks in advance

Answer 1

by modern, what exactly are you meaning? the idea that ghosts are dead people has been around for thousands of years. The belief in them has been around for thousands of years previous to that. Ancient Egyptian and Greeks had ghostly experiences that are documented. So its not a new idea. The concept that they are not dead people is a modern day explanation by those who want to remove spiritualism from any part of the human experience. this is a scientific explanation. And like everything else, the more we remove spiritualism from our society, the more violence we experience. We become less human and more animal with less restraints. This is a continual diminishment of the human being to the status of the human species.

the concept you refer to is a risidual haunting where the events were recorded and are being replayed in a loop much like an 8 track used to replay the same song after the loop was finished.

Answer 2

All I can think of here is that perhaps you are referring to those who speak of demons, evil spirits, the Bogey Man, shadow people, djinns, which are all seen as otherworldly entities without formerly human identity.

If I were to guess I would imagine these creatures were used to explain that which primitive people were unable to understand, sort of like how they're used today.  I would assume the idea that people leave their bodies after death has been around for some time too.  Every culture has myths explaining what happens to us after death.  I imagine those myths were a long time in the making.

Answer 3

excellent but where do we find some ghost investigators nowadays?

Answer 4

I think you're right, it is not a modern concept that ghosts are the spirits of deceased persons. Just take a look at literature. The ghost of Hamlet appeared to Horatio, and Shakespeare is centuries old. For that matter, Enkidu's ghost appeared in the Epic of Gilgamesh, believed to be written about 600 BC. But you do also have spirits that are not of deceased people, e.g., the ghosts of Christmas present, past and future in Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". This concept of a ghost appears to be the more modern one.

Answer 5

Many researchers believe the God Odin was once a living man, a hero. After he died, he must have been a ghost, because his tribe honored him, and even sent him prayers. (don't laugh, because my fiancee, a med student, worked with a doctor who's patients said they were praying to the Dr. who passed away after working in that community his whole life... so this deification process even occurs today in small towns)

After generations of prayers, and the tribe succeeding because of the intercession of this spirit (ghost) the Germanic peoples became large enough to consider their ancestral spirits Gods. So, Odin became a God. In the Christian Era, many writters of Sagas returned Odin to the role of Hero. I doubt the spirit of Odin (which is real, I've experienced and seen him) really minds what we consider him.

Answer 6

With all the ghost hunting and paranormal investigations.TV shows and the like.It's only natural new concepts will come along.People like to be original.They like to discover things.Since ghosts are imaginary,or to you unexplained..There are no set rules.Anyone can devise a theory,call themselves an expert.Then say they have years of experience.Instantly, at least here.they are taken seriously.Everyone wants to discover something new.It's human nature.I've asked questions in the past very much like this one.What I've learned is while many believe in ghosts.There are a lot of different explanations for them.You can explain them any way you want.Whatever it is, your ideas are valid.

     The not being dead concept comes from people trying to be scientific.Attach your theory to Quantum Physics or other dimensions.Maybe then it doesn't sound like superstition.It's the same reason people like to see all that equipment you mentioned the other day.