Commerce residents share paranormal beliefs
For years, all around the globe, there are have been documented instances where a person or a group of people have experienced something they could not explain – something paranormal. There have always been those people who believe readily in such incidents, but with every believer come a group of cynics to condemn them.
Residents of Commerce are not immune to the supernatural hype, due to recent media coverage of paranormal phenomenon – the most recent example being the film, "Paranormal Activity" – which has had a noticeable impact on the number of people who are willing to believe.
"I never gave it much thought before," junior radio and television major Victoria Christopher said. "But after that movie, I actually have some sort of belief in it for the simple fact that there are things that are unknown out there…and I feel like some people may experience them more than others."
There are some people who devote a large portion of their free time to investigating the paranormal. There have even been groups and organizations founded to locate and investigate the existence of paranormal events and entities. One such group is the Dallas Area Paranormal Society, or DAPS. As DAPS president, not only does Nicholas Nix help in paranormal investigations, he also tries to educate people in the ways of the paranormal.
"Many people have the belief that every time you go somewhere, as soon as you turn out the lights, paranormal activity begins," Nix said. "In fact, it is a long and tedious event that takes hours and lasts an extremely long time. In the end, you may not have anything at all, or maybe the only activity you have was recorded…and you had no personal experiences."
While "paranormal media" has recently breathed new life into peoples' beliefs, this still does not take away the existence of skeptics. Though their numbers may be reduced, many nonbelievers still balk at the idea of paranormal activity.
"I believe there are things we can not explain but as far as typical paranormal stuff…I would say no," sophomore biology major Victoria Walters said. "I believe there is a spiritual world but typical angels or demons or ghost…I think they are kind of subjective to personal beliefs."
The term paranormal, by definition, refers to anything beyond the range of normal experience or scientific expression. However, due in part to the media's portrayal of the weird and unexplained, many people do not include any form of religion or spirituality in their personal definition of paranormal – despite the fact that religious beliefs are beyond the scope of scientific expression.
There are, nonetheless, those who recognize their religious views as paranormal and, thus, incorporate them into their personal definition.
"I believe that when people or maybe even animals die, their soul lives on through other life forms…so that they are still part of the Earth," junior early education major Tabitha Dupree said.
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
Recent The East Texan News Articles
Discuss This Article
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
LATEST THE EAST TEXAN NEWS
- 'Expendables 2' epitomizes dumb but fun action
- 'The Bourne Legacy' disappoints with same old thrills
- Tasteless 'Total Recall' remake leaves audiences underwhelmed
- Actor chemistry saves 'The Watch' from being boring waste
- Batman goes out strong in final 'Dark Knight' film
- 'Ted' marks promising film career for McFarlane
- Stylistic choices sink 'Savages'
RECENT THE EAST TEXAN CLASSIFIEDS
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- Moving Resources For Military Families
- Historic Agreement Signed By Red Cross and Armed Forces
- Salonpas® Brand Stands the Test of Time
- Tips to “Yard Your Way” This Spring
- Upgraded Upstate Power Grid Will Deliver a Smarter,...
- A Story To Sing About
- The Gap in Gum Care: Why Caring For Your Teeth’s F...
- Top Tips for Signature Scents and Better-Smelling Laundry
- A Dog Trainer’s Top Tips to Support Pets Through Life S...
- Clear the Air of Indoor Pollutants This Spring
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- BookTrib's Bites: Four Captivating Spring Reads
- Moms Kick Back with Mamaritas
- Generac Urges Americans to Prepare for Power Outages Early
- Youth Apprenticeship Week Spotlights Opportunities
- New Expo Showcases AI Innovation
- Self-Care and Mental Health Tips for Caregivers
- Adventure Awaits: Discover the Playset that Brings...
- Need Auto Glass Repair? Don’t Despair
- Pioneering Fast and Affordable Broadband for the Underserved
- 7 Reasons Renting an RV Should Be On Every Family’s S...
COLLEGE PRESS RELEASES
- Guidenar Launches New Career Test for Gen Z
- GotIt! Education Offers MathGPT Free to All State & Community Colleges
- Shoff Promotions Comic Book & Sports Card Show
- Semiconductor Research Corp unveils 2024 Research Call, $13.8M Funding
- Charles River Associates Opens Second Scholarship Cycle, Expands to the UK