Why does a person believe in the paranormal? After all, in this age of technology and constant scientific advancements one could expect that such beliefs do not exist anymore. Quite the contrary! The paranormal world became hugely popular lately. Many T.V shows, movies, books and websites are dedicated to the topic. If nothing else this abundance only confirms the current interest in the paranormal.
Each aspect of the paranormal had its time in the spotlight. Witch hunt from the 15th to 18th century, UFO around the First and Second World War, Spiritualism or communication with the spirits at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century. Despite the various trends that existed throughout the centuries, humans have been attracted to the unknown, unbelievable, unexplainable since the beginning of times.
Once the forte of the eccentric and peculiar characters, the interest in the paranormal has now become main stream. Proof to that are the hugely popular shows such as NBC’s Medium and CBS’s Ghost Whisperer. In this age where most mysteries of the past have been explained away by science, this fascination with the paranormal world might translate a need to wonder. Back when Christopher Columbus crossed the ocean, there were still opportunities for wonder. What was on the other side of this expanse of water? Did those fantastic animals described in the account of the explorers really exist? Was there life on the moon? Today, all those questions have been answered and the field of the unknown is constantly getting smaller.
All that is left to the curious but unscientific mind is the paranormal. There have been many attempts to prove or disprove ghosts, UFOs, telepathy, conversations with the spirit world and other unexplained phenomenon. However, no one succeeded in bringing a definite answer to any of these mysteries despite trying for a very long time. There are many theories out there about the paranormal, but none is considered definitive. That is this uncertainty that keep the interest in those mysteries alive. There is no answer and one can still wonder and theorize. The new continents and unexplored areas of the world that fascinated our ancestors have been replaced by the otherworldly realms where so much remained unexplained and undiscovered.
While not so many people will admit to a sincere and constant interest in the paranormal, everyone will lend an attentive if discrete ear to those fantastic stories. Everyone will ask themselves the question “What if?” Some might snicker and declare loud and clear that ghosts, witches or vampires are only nonsense, but they will listen nonetheless. No one can really escape the speculations that surround the paranormal. It is only human to want to know and understand.
That is this ability to wonder, imagine and dream that give human their humanity. The firm belief that the world surrounding human beings is not enough and is not limited to what can be seen is one of the characteristic that make humans human. The belief in God and other out of this world creatures and phenomenon is part of becoming an evolved, intelligent and thinking being.