Ghosts, Spirits, and Psychics: The Paranormal from Alchemy to Zombies

by Matt Cardin (Editor)

Overview

This fascinating work provides a complete overview of paranormal phenomena, including the beliefs, attitudes, and notable figures who have attempted to explain, defend, or debunk the mysteries behind the unknown.

Recent interest in the paranormal as pop culture fodder belies its historical status as an important subject of cultural, philosophical, and scientific significance. This book traces the trajectory of paranormal studies from its early role as a serious academic and scientific topic studied by mainstream scientists and eminent scholars to its current popularity in books, film, and TV.

This compelling reference work details the experiences, encounters, and ideas that make up this controversial field of study. The contributed entries examine the broad phenomena of the paranormal, addressing the history of scientific investigations along with its contemporary media depictions to illustrate the evolution of cultural attitudes about the paranormal. A selection of primary documents provides real-life accounts and contributions from noted experts that explore the full scope of themes from spiritualism to poltergeists to astrology. Accompanying images, timelines, quotations, and sidebars make the content come to life and encourage alternative explanations of these events.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798216090014
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	07/28/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	456
File size:	1 MB
Age Range:	7 - 17 Years

About the Author

Matt Cardin is an instructor at Ranger College in Ranger, TX.
Matt Cardin, PhD, is vice president of accreditation and an instructor of English and world religions at Ranger College. He is author or editor of several reference works and horror fiction collections.

Table of Contents

Guide to Related Topics xi

Preface xv

Acknowledgments xvii

Introduction xix

Chronology xxv

A-Z Entries

Abduction Experience 1

Akashic Records 4

Alchemy 5

American Society for Psychical Research 10

Angels 12

Animals and the Paranormal 14

Anomalistic Psychology 17

Apparitions 21

Art, Creativity, and the Paranormal 23

Astral Plane 27

Astrology 30

Aura 33

Automatic Writing 36

Bilocation 39

Cayce, Edgar 41

Channeling 43

Clairvoyance 47

Committee for Skeptical Inquiry 49

Consciousness 51

Demonology 57

Discarnate Entity 59

Divination 61

Doppelganger 65

Drugs and the Paranormal 67

Ectoplasm 73

Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP) 75

Enfield Poltergeist 77

Exorcism 79

Extrasensory Perception (ESP) 81

Fate Magazine 87

Fort, Charles 88

Fortean Phenomena 91

Fox Sisters, The 93

Ganzfeld Technique, The 97

Geller, Uri 100

Ghost 102

Ghosts 104

Gooch, Stan 108

Hallucinations 111

Haraldsson, Erlendur 113

Haunting 114

Healing, Psychic and Spiritual 118

Hypnagogic State 122

Imaginal 127

James, William 131

Jung, Carl 133

Keel, John A. 137

Kirlian Photography 139

Koestler Parapsychology Unit 142

Krippner, Stanley 143

Lily Dale Assembly 147

Lucid Dreams 148

Meditation 151

Mediumship 154

Mesmerism 158

Miracles 161

Myers, Frederic W H. 166

Mystical Experience 169

Near-Death Experience (NDE) 173

New Age 176

Occultism 181

Ouija Board 184

Out-of-Body Experience (OBE) 186

Paranormal 191

Paranormal Dreams 193

Paranormal in Literature 197

Paranormal in Movies 202

Paranormal on Television 206

Parapsychological Association 211

Parapsychology 213

Past-Life Readings 217

Past-Life Regression 219

Poltergeist 221

Possession 225

Precognition 229

Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research 231

Prophecy 233

Pseudoscience 237

Psi 239

Psychic Archaeology 241

Psychical Research 242

Psychokinesis (PK) 247

Randi, James 253

Reincarnation 254

Religion and the Paranormal 260

Remote Viewing 264

Rhine Research Center 268

Ritual Magic 271

Science of Mysticism 275

Scrying 277

Seance 279

Shamanism 282

Sheep-Goat Effect 286

Siddhis 287

Sleep Paralysis 289

Society for Psychical Research 293

Spirit Photography 296

Spiritism 300

Spiritualism 303

Stanford Research Institute 307

Stevenson, Ian 309

Strieber, Whitley 310

Survival after Death 312

Swedenborg, Emanuel 318

Synchronicity 320

Tarot 325

Telepathic Hypnosis 327

Telepathy 328

Theosophy 332

Thoughtography 335

Transpersonal Psychology 337

UFO 339

Unconscious Mind 341

Vallée, Jacques 347

Vampires and Poltergeists 348

Vastliev, Leonid Leonidovich 352

Whiteman, Michael 355

Wilson, Colin 357

Witchcraft 359

Witches and Poltergeists 363

Zombies 367

Bibliography 371

About the Editor and Contributors 381

Index 389

Editorial Reviews

Given its currency and its thoughtful, even-handed approach to the field, Ghosts, Spirits, and Psychics is highly recommended for undergraduate and larger public library reference collections.” —RUSA

“Editor Matt Cardin's encyclopedia of the paranormal . . . proves effective in giving the reader a basic understanding of what a given term encompasses and how one ought to start looking if one wishes to do further research on a topic.” —Religious Studies Review

From the Publisher