Paranormal field reaches "critical mass"

Originally posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008



Over the past several years the field of paranormal research has been exponentially going down hill. This is despite technological advancement and the ever growing popularity of "ghost hunting". The major problem here is the people who are getting involved. The majority of them simply do not "get it". This is partially due to poor education on the subject matter. Another reason can be pointed at the intentions of these people.

There is obviously a huge difference between research and aimlessly running around taking random snapshots or waving an EMF meter around. New people in the field seem to have no focus, which is detrimental to actual research. They fail to learn the in's and out's of the equipment they use and how to properly use it. Even worse, they fail to learn the theory behind the equipment. They take the idea of the equipment as fact rather than theory.

Many, but not all, of the same people refuse to listen to the facts regarding the simplest of explanations. "Orbs" for instance have been debunked and ruled out by all serious researchers. You can recreate all types of "orbs" all day long in the comfort of your own home, why continue to bother with them? I believe I have an idea why.

Unaware to most, Spiritualism has seen a rise over the past few years. This is bleeding over into the field of paranormal research. I believe it was in one of Troy Taylor's books where he states that the previous Spiritualism movements occurred during times of war. The problem this time is that they have, to some degree, exhausted their previous interests.

In the past Spiritualism has focused on psychics, mediums, spirit photography, etc. Since the seance is now out of fashion, they have taken up "ghost hunting". The line between what the Spiritualist do and what serious researchers do is blurred. This is a major problem. The love and light new age Spiritualist are calling themselves investigators and researchers, which they are not.

This is not to say that someone involved in Spiritualism can not be a serious researcher. Though it is rare, it can indeed happen. Paranormal research, in part, began with debunking the trappings of the Spiritualist movement. Psychical research or parapsychology followed to test the psychics, mediums and spoon benders of Spiritualism. Some people can exist on either or both sides of the fence, but you must at least acknowledge what is happening and where you stand. Are you a paranormal researcher or a Spiritualist?

The largest problem right now is the people who are unaware and lost in the middle. New people are thrusting themselves into the field but have no idea what side they are on. Many of these people who are in between are uninhibitedly throwing around words such as research when they are doing nothing more than practicing Spiritualism. This is obviously a problem.

I love the imagery from the past Spiritualism movements. I find the history behind Spiritualism fascinating. Both the concepts and their debunking make for a great read. I have no problem with Spiritualism or the people who practice it. I do however have a problem with them taking on serious cases and leaving their mess behind.

Serious paranormal researchers are spending an insane amount of time cleaning up after cases that Spiritualist groups have taken on. Everything is happening from having to convince a family that they do not have a demon in their home to telling them that the dust they took a picture of in the kitchen is not their recently deceased Aunt Maude. Sure it gets you a case and sure it makes you look heroic when you save the day. The problem is, all this time spent on cleaning up the mess is taking away from serious research. This has to stop.

The Spiritualism movements of the past had plenty of trickery and falsehoods involved. Fake psychic mediums, photographic trickery and misunderstanding, table knockers who were supposedly tied up are all examples of this. The current movement is no different. Spirit boxes, phones to the dead, psychic charlatans, mistaken voices and photographs, and even straight up hoaxes are all part of today's Spiritualism movement. The Spiritualist have dropped the table tipping sessions of the past and have picked up ghost meters and other gadgets. It seems that the job of today's serious researcher is to debunk these charlatans. This is unfortunate as paranormal researchers have already had to do this on a major scale, twice.

Do you find articles by serious skeptics more interesting or does a trip to Camp Chesterfield make you salivate? There is a difference and it is time to call a spade, a spade. Paranormal researchers are fed up and will be calling you out when you lie or spew philosophy as fact. Spiritualist investigators will get no love and light claptrap from us any longer. If you do not like it then step up the logistics of your investigations. At the very least admit to what you are, a practitioner of Spiritualism and not a paranormal researcher. Feel free to hunt ghosts and whatnot, but do not call yourself a paranormal researcher. Inform your clients that you are a Spiritualism group. If you don't, we will, and it sounds much better coming from you.

To put it simply, most "ghost hunters" today are not researchers but confused Spiritualist. Realize what you are and adhere to it. Serious paranormal researchers will be calling out your disinformation, just as we have in the past. The age of Price and Houdini or Schneider and Fox has come full circle. With a new technological age comes a new movement of Spiritualism and another round of exposing the fraudulent. Serious paranormal researchers are ready for it, are you?