<p>I have a little theology concerning ghosts that is, I believe, compatible with Catholic Christian teaching. Very briefly, it goes something like this: What we perceive as ghosts or paranormal activity are actually damned spirits -- souls that are, so to speak, in Hell. (Hell is not a place of fire and brimstone and the Devil, but simply being away from God and His love and warmth. If anything, it is a cold place.) These are souls that have been denied or have denied themselves access to Heaven and/or Purgatory, and so they remain here, in an earthly dimension, cut off from God. People who witness ghosts or feel "cold spots" and what have you -- usually persons of a highly sensitive type -- are actually getting a glimpse into Hell. </p>
<p>Anyway, that's my theory of ghosts. What about you?</p>
<p>I recently read Crime and Punishment and I really liked Svidrigailov's explanation: he claims to see ghosts of his dead wife, etc. as he gets sicker, as if, as he approaches death, he gets a glimpse into the next life. Actually, not sure if that was C+P, but still, it sounds cool. </p>
<p>I don't believe ghosts are real supernatural entities though b/c I really have no evidence for their existence. However, I don't believe in gods either so, for me anyway, the same logic applies to both.</p>
<p>I don't believe in ghosts either. Considering the billions of people who have died since the beginning of time, if ghosts existed, they would be everywhere, crowding us off the sidewalks, crammed into apartments, hogging up the bathroom, etc.</p>
<p>The philosopher and theologian St. Thomas Aquinas taught that there are different kinds of souls. Human beings have souls that are eternal, but animals don't. Animal souls just aren't built for eternity; when they die, they really die. Trees, bacteria, viruses, etc., don't have souls.</p>
<p>No, we are human beings. There is a difference between human beings and animals, or any other living thing. One of those differences is that human beings possess the capacity for reason and reflection. Humans are intellectual beings.</p>
<p>Each animal is best adapted to its environment; hence it survives. For example, a lion can run at 30 miles per hour and has lethal predatory instincts that allow it to survive in the African savannah. Likewise, 'rational thinking' and 'intelligence' may be specific to humans, but the speed of the Peregrine Falcon is unparalleled as well. We can say that the traits we have are unique but I believe we cannot say that we (or our souls, for that matter ;)) are greater than other living beings because of them. </p>
<p>Through rigorous, accredited, scientific testing, gorilla's have been shown to have the capacity for reason, reflection, feeling, and sign language (they can remember names, etc.). In addition to that, they also understand basic mathematical principles such as what zero is (zero is one of the basic principles of math). This is of course, no surprise since we theoretically evolved from them.</p>
<p>Likewise, in another scientific study with a group of baboons separated from their mothers at birth, and a control group; it is found that baboons who are separated from their mother are much more agitated, showing signs of anger and rage. They are also unable to function within a pack of baboons, acting more like the "loner." This can be compared to a human's need for motherly care, and also the need for socialization following birth.</p>
<p>How can cells and bacteria not have souls but we do? We're made up of cells, bacteria, minerals, and other elements. I suppose the only thing that's really "alive" is the cells. Then the argument will turn into, well we're all just material. It's this material that dictates our feelings (dopamine, seratonin, etc.)! If we shed off our material body, we'd no longer be able to feel fear, happiness, or most likely any other feelings since we now lack the chemicals needed to create that feeling.</p>
<p>I can't say that ghosts DO NOT exist. There is a possibility that they do. I just don't know and cannot know at the present moment. And so I wouldn't draw the conclusion that they don't exist.</p>
<p>Just to add to my last paragraph, I didn't really go into the metaphysical aspects of a soul since I just don't know anything about it. So it was wrong of me to say that we'd no longer feel feelings after sloughing off our material body. I should have just said, after we slough off our material body, including the brain that grants us cognitive abilities, then I just don't know what will happen.</p>