Reflection 1: Ghosted—Americans and the Paranormal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In America, it's difficult to imagine a camping trip or sleep over without someone eventually telling a ghost story or two. In fact, from Ouija boards to mediums to haunted houses, Americans have long a held an interest in the paranormal. And if the plethora of current paranormal reality shows and films are any indication, that interest has not waned. In fact, according to a 2021 survey, two in five Americans believe in ghosts—and one in five says they've actually seen a ghost. What are your feelings about the paranormal? Are you surprised by the large number of believers in America? Are ghosts genuine evidence of an afterlife or more likely the products of overactive imaginations? Finally, have you ever had a paranormal experience?

Include at least two of the following sources in your discussion:

• "When I Started to Believe in Ghosts" (Salon)
• "How the God You Worship Influences the Ghosts You See" (The Conversation)
  
• "Skeptics and Believers Collide on the Paranormal" (The Lumberjack)
• "Why Care about America’s Occult Past?" (Patheos)
• "Listen If You Dare: Exploring Our Belief in Ghosts" (NPR)
  

Required:

• MLA Style, plus works cited page
• 2 pages
  

Submission Window: Thu 2.10 - Tue 2.15 (via Canvas)