Recently, a

British psychologist and a U.S. psychologist teamed up with a group of

researchers and 250 volunteers to conduct the largest and most technologically

advanced experiment ever in the investigation of paranormal activities.

The experiment was held in the underground vaults, dungeons and tunnels

of Scotland's Edinburgh Castle and South Bridge.

Over the past

five years, Mercat Tours, who sponsors the tours of the castle has logged

visitors' paranormal experiences. They kept the information from the researchers

and volunteers so that their findings would not be influenced. Fifty one

percent of the volunteers reported "experiences" in tunnels

that are reported to be haunted, while only 35 percent reported experiences

in places that were not believed to be haunted.

Volunteers

reported sounds of heavy breathing getting closer, hearing their names

whispered when no one was around, tugging and pulling sensations on their

clothes and the sensation of being watched. Photographs taken in the "haunted

tunnels" have unexplainable images on them. The research is inconclusive,

but both psychologists feel that the mystery should be explored further.

Though I have

always wondered if ghosts are real, this fans the flames. I have never

had an encounter myself, but have spoken to people who believe they have.

They are not crazy, so I have no reason to believe that they are delusional

or lying. Part of me would like conclusive answers and proof, but I am

afraid that this would open many doors and create many more questions.

For example,

if ghosts are real, what does that say about the afterlife? Do angels

exist and if they do, do demons exist? If demons exist, are other monsters

real? Is there really more to the world than what we see?

I have always

been a fan of horror novels and tales of the supernatural and the occult,

but I rarely ever believed that the creatures in the books or movies were

lurking outside. Vampires don't exist and neither do werewolves. They

can't, right? If they did, we would hear about their activities or capture.

Wouldn't we? You can bet that if the evening news could get footage they

would. Monica Kaufman would wear her most serious looking hair for a Close-Up

interview.

We claim to

believe one thing, but we rarely ever ask ourselves what else that belief

entitles us to believe. If I say that I believe in ghosts, then do I believe

they can communicate through Ouija boards or seances? Do I believe that

some places are haunted? What makes a person become a ghost? Do I know

people who have become ghosts?

And what about

aliens? I have said in the past that there must be intelligent life somewhere

in the universe other than Earth, but do I really believe that? If I do,

do I believe that they will one day make contact? Do I also believe in

UFOs and alien abductions? Did an alien ship crash in Roswell, N.M. in

1947 and has the government covered it up?

There isn't

a conclusive answer to any of these questions and there may never be.

It may actually be better that way. If, for instance, there was proof

that aliens had landed, wouldn't that shake many people's beliefs to their

very foundation? Some people inevitably would not be able to handle the

knowledge and chaos could erupt. That makes you wonder if the government

is covering up an alien crash and avoiding a panic of worldwide proportions.

Anyway, time

to go, The X-Files is on and it's a new one.

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