A question of interpretation

We often witness the ongoing arguments between sceptics and believers about the existence of the 'afterlife'. Sceptics accept that some things are 'unexplained' but not necessarily evidence of an afterlife, whereas some believers fully embrace the concept of an afterlife, sometimes it seems bypassing the 'unexplained' category.

The main thrust of this is usually based on personal experience and testimony. I would therefore, like to look at this in a little more detail. The object of this article is not to debunk people's personal beliefs, but merely to question the relevance and reliability of personal experiences in the overall debate. Do they offer anything to the third party reader who was not there and therefore should not accept another's account at face value?

I am going to relate a true incident that happened to myself in February 2005, and recount it to you in two fashions. The first as if I were a believer, and the second as a sceptic. As you may know the second is easier for me, but all I wish to examine is the actual interpretation of events, and how potentially the same detail can be presented in two completely different ways.

It was in February 2005 that I was first touched by the paranormal, and I believe a spirit. I had gone on a ghost hunt at an old fort in Portsmouth. It was pitch dark, cold and the place was really eerie. It is meant to be a really haunted place, and many of the other people there experienced stuff as well.

We had a 'medium workshop' first and the two mediums (nice husband and wife) told us that spirits were indeed present. We did some stuff where people chose ribbons and you interpreted what that person was like from their choices, using your inner senses. I knew the girl I read a little but not much. I told her some absolute hits, including one that said she was a secret romantic, despite her 'tough' exterior and the fact that she never showed anyone. I was spot on, so it seems I could have some psychic abilities.

About 3.00 am I was in a cell in the fort with another lady who told me she can regularly see these things. Another girl joined us and she saw orbs and lights in the corner of the cell. The other girl also said she saw a figure. I wanted to experience something as well, and I went and stood in the corner where the lights were, and asked the spirit to do something. Nothing happened and eventually we left as the dawn was arriving.

A few days later, I was ill. It was quite unusual. I had a severe pain in my throat, almost vice like, but no other symptoms, e.g. runny nose etc. I've had them before, but usually as a cold, and they go. This didn't and a week later I went to the Doctors. He said I must have an infection but was surprised at no other symptoms. He gave me some antibiotics but told me to hold off a few days as they didn't work with some infections and its better to cure yourself. I did and it didn't go.

I took the antibiotics a few days later and slowly it went, but not for another week. I didn't think any more of it until I was speaking to others and reading a report of the night. I had told no one of the after effects.

What I read sent a chill went down my spine. The cell I was in is not usually a spirit 'hot spot' in the fort but on the night in question, when the medium was walking through earlier in the evening he apparently had said he felt a presence. The staff then told him that a prisoner had become depressed and hung himself in the corner of the cell when the Fort was still in use, but he wasn't regularly seen.

Given that I knew none of this and the medium knew nothing of my illness, I felt a thrill of excitement. Was I touched by a ghost, and he made me feel what he did?

I think I was, and he responded to my invitation. I am convinced the afterlife is there, and cant wait to tell everyone.

I went on a ghost hunt in February at an interesting old fort in Portsmouth. It was absolutely freezing -5 degrees C in the early hours, pitch dark and not very homely!

Some of the crowd seemed ready to embrace the paranormal at any opportunity, and I'm a sceptic but I kept an open mind out of fairness.

We did a psychic workshop. Couple of mediums and a ribbon exercise. I think the mediums were very opportunistic frauds and I decided to test it. One of the girls who chose the ribbons, I know a little from a forum. I guessed a few things and then told her that I thought she was secret romantic type, despite the 'tough' act. I suspected this as on her forum avatar she has a women holding a bunch of roses. Good guess spot ON! Everyone is amazed at my psychic ability, even her. The medium lady seemed well chuffed. Cheap psychology and opportunism I'm afraid. Still one to swap over a few beers.

I did a lot of standing around in the cold, but I would add I did actually enjoy it. Mad I know, but I do find the topic interesting, especially why people believe what they do.

At 3.00 am two of the women I was with saw lights and one an apparition in the corner of the cell. I went and stood there and asked the 'ghost' to make himself known to me. As I expected nothing happened. We subsequently went home.

A few days later I had a really bad throat, but not a cold. I went to the Doc and got some antibiotics, but he said to hold off for a bit. Seemed puzzled by my illness but not too concerned. I took them after a week and shook it off.

I read a few weeks later in the report that the medium had seen someone in the room, and the staff said a prisoner once hung himself in there. Was I having sympathy pains? Did he make me feel what he did?

Again one for sharing over a beer, but in my opinion pure coincidence. It was -5, very dusty, and effectively pure coincidence. Sore throats are common especially in winter, and its my only silly fault. Ive always had a weak upper respiratory tract anyway.Still good fun.

I could easily spin this into a yarn of course. Although I cant categorically say it was nothing paranormal, I consider it extremely unlikely, and yet again another quirky example of where coincidence could potentially meet a fertile mind if it had happened to someone looking to believe.

The above does illustrate how easy it is to interpret the same facts differently depending on your state of mind, and motivation. Coincidence is also a major player.

If I had had the bad throat but not asked for a sign, or the medium hadn't supposedly seen a spirit in the cell, then the story would be completely different.

On the balance of probability it is of course nothing but a good story, and I am sure that subconsciously even I have embellished the truth in the tale.

It does however, show how easy it is to view the same data from two completely viewpoints, with two quite different belief structures.

Whilst I respect believers right to believe, I hope that this article gives some food for thought about the validity of personal testimony and its limitations, and some insight to the sceptic mind as well.

HP.

A question of interpretation? Sceptic v Believer