Why is it that we find ourselves giving god-like qualities to ghosts?

Question

Why is it that we find ourselves giving god-like qualities to ghosts?

Answer 1

It makes a more interesting story that way.

Answer 2

I think there is a tendency to do that with what we perceive to be transcendent entities in general. Ghosts, the spirits of our forefathers, the gods, etc. I think it's because there is a strong connection between fearing an unknown/mysterious entity and having reverence for it.

Answer 3

our frame of reference is earth bound.  even our ideas of the living breasted god, which is the earliest references to god from the old testament.  i personally don't think we have the capacity to envision or understand the next realm or level of living.

Answer 4

Because they supposedly have the power to do things without being seen.

Answer 5

I was not aware that people do that, I do not.  They are what they are.

Answer 6

Gods, ghosts, and comic book superheros are share the

same characteristics in that they are characters that

represent a form of wish fulfilment for the powerless

individual. We imagine ghosts because we feel that

we are powerless against death. Once we invent the

notion of spirit powers or spirit beings, we again

find that we are potentially powerless against the other

spirits. Hence we invent gods.

So, the short answer to your question is that we endow

god-like powers to ghosts, because ghosts and gods are

the same thing.

Answer 7

Because it's all in our heads - i.e., it's not real