Non-Catholic Supernatural Experiences - your take?

[meltzerboy]

That is a bit of a broad statement. I can find you documents of several Jewish sects ancient and new that disagree. I don’t think it is wise to say “Judaism believes X” without defining which variety of Judaism your referring to. As I’m sure your aware the people of Israel are a diverse bunch.

You’re correct that Jews do not agree on many things. Even the Thirteen Articles of Faith by Maimonides are not all universally agreed upon. Some Jews don’t even believe in the existence of Satan, and that non-belief cuts across various branches. They believe Satan is our own interior evil inclination gone awry. But most Jews of Orthodox persuasion believe that Satan is not a demon. I would sincerely be interested in reading those documents that say otherwise, because I always like to learn something new.

 

[jlhargus]

So I saw a show on TV, about people who share their ghost stories. This episode was about “Religious ghosts” where a Jewish woman and Hindu woman talked about their supernatural experiences.

The Jewish woman talked about when she was a little girl, her family moved into a home, once owned by Catholics, and a result they had to take down pictures of various saints. Later on the day, this ghost kept bothering them. His last appearance was a dinner, when they were praying at dinner, a ghost (holding a rosary in his hand) appeared. The father mistakenly said “Satan’s in this house!” because the ghost interrupted the prayer and the image wasn’t sharp. And then the ghost when away.

The Hindu woman talked about how ghosts attacked her but then Krishna (and I think his wife) appeared and rescued her. As a Catholic, what are your take on these experiences?

JL: I think you need to distinguish between ghost as a wandering soul (spirit), which I don’t believe in. As apposed to a soul (spirit) of a saint appearing. The Jewish story sounds like a grace of God allowing a saint to appear to convert the Jewish family. The second Hindu one sounds like a demon not a ghost.

 

[Nine_Two]

Demonic oppression beyond doubt and if it happened to you (it did to me) you would say the same thing.

It has happened to me.

I woke up in the middle of the night, I was on my side (according to Wikipedia and people I’ve talked to it usually happens when people are on their back), I couldn’t move and I was overcome with a sudden sense of terror, then as I lay there with my eyes open a figure walked around my bed (there was stuff on the floor to make that impossible, by the way), and just stood over me watching for a moment (my mind instantly began repeating the Jesus prayer) or so before leaving the way it came. When it was gone again I was able to move.

I have a friend who said one night he woke up with it (he had been lying on his back) and the disembodied head of his dead mother-in-law, who he had never met, was on his chest looking at him. Interestingly in this case he didn’t feel fear, he just saw it as a curiousity.

 

[Nine_Two]

Many years ago, during a very emotional and stressful time in my life I used to have episodes of sleep paralysis. I would be awake and aware of my surroundings, but I could not move. This often was accompanied by auditory and tactile hallucinations–I would “hear” certain things; once I “felt” something on my chest, crushing me, something evil I thought. It could be terrifying, like a bad nightmare. It also could be rather sexual.

I experienced these fairly regularly until the situation resolved and the stress abated. Then they quit occurring. It has probably been close to 20 years, and I think I’ve had maybe one minor episode.

I have never attributed this to anything supernatural. I consider it a sleep disorder brought on by extreme emotional distress, which resolved once the stress resolved, in my case. There may be other causes in other people, but from what I read, stress is a fairly common precipitator. I do not, and never will, believe this is a result of demonic activity. It is a sleep disorder. It is a subject that is well-researched, has data to back up the scientific conclusion of what it is, and is entirely explainable scientifically. All of which would DISqualify it from being a supernatural or preternatural phenomenon if the Church would investigate it.

I also believe that most of the tales of incubi and succubi are actually the hallucinations which occur during sleep paralysis.

Yeah, I tend to agree with the scientific consensus on it. When I experienced it I was stressed, although far from the most stressed I have ever been. It immediatly came to my mind what it was so I didn’t panic over the fact that I couldn’t move.

I question it though because I’ve known people who had it after they had woken up.

 

[Inego_de_Loyola]

You’re correct that Jews do not agree on many things. Even the Thirteen Articles of Faith by Maimonides are not all universally agreed upon. Some Jews don’t even believe in the existence of Satan, and that non-belief cuts across various branches. They believe Satan is our own interior evil inclination gone awry. But most Jews of Orthodox persuasion believe that Satan is not a demon. I would sincerely be interested in reading those documents that say otherwise, because I always like to learn something new.

Of the top of my head the book(s) of Enoch refer to Satan as the chief demon if I recall rightly. And the book of Wisdom 2:24 Identifies him as he by whom death entered the world. The Talmud is clear in teaching as you stated but there are Jewish traditions older than, and contrary to, the Talmud. Some sects still follow those, or incorporate them together as a mish-mash, or make it up as they go along. Even in spite of this though they are still Jewish because Judaism isn’t a religion; Judaism has a religion, and in fact nowadays several, but Judaism or more properly Hebraism is a Nation, or a people. (I know you know all of this part Meltzer, but I figured I should explain to the other people on the thread who may not be so well versed.)

 

[Inego_de_Loyola]

Yeah, I tend to agree with the scientific consensus on it. When I experienced it I was stressed, although far from the most stressed I have ever been. It immediatly came to my mind what it was so I didn’t panic over the fact that I couldn’t move.

I question it though because I’ve known people who had it after they had woken up.

I am among those who were awake during the attack. The “scientific position” is unsound on scientific grounds. It hasn’t been observed in a controlled environment nor has it been tested for veracity. It is a slap up job of explaining and dismissing things they don’t really understand. I am fond of and fascinated by science especially quantum, but I don’t approve of bad science which states an untested position as fact simply because they are unwilling to consider alternatives.

 

[CB_Catholic]

I am among those who were awake during the attack. The “scientific position” is unsound on scientific grounds. It hasn’t been observed in a controlled environment nor has it been tested for veracity. It is a slap up job of explaining and dismissing things they don’t really understand. I am fond of and fascinated by science especially quantum, but I don’t approve of bad science which states an untested position as fact simply because they are unwilling to consider alternatives.

Bull. There is plenty of good scientific research out there on it and the causes and pathophysiology are well known. This has been studied for years, it has a recognized medical diagnosis, and it can be medically treated. I don’t know what you think gives you the authority to pronounce research on the subject “unscientific”.

What is unscientific is experiencing it, or just hearing about it, and declaring it to be the work of demons without any foundation. You can’t even do believable research on that. You should know better than that if you are as scientific-minded as you claim to be.

If you want to call it demonic, in your opinion, fine. You have a right to that. But don’t try to denounce the scientific research that has been done, and the medical profession which recognizes it as a sleep disorder and understands it’s causes and even has a treatment for it. You don’t have a right to try to tell perfectly reasonable people that Drs. don’t know what they are talking about when it comes to this, and you do.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Stress and trauma are often “the” cause of seperation of conscious and unconscious. Many other reasons also, medical and mental heath, genetics etc.

Nevertheless, while one may not believe, it would wiser to say I do not know, nor have experienced any of this. In fact that would be the more accurate statement of truth.

Your traveling through the supernatural, the fact you can’t comprehend this in your mind, only indicates your own lack of experience with it, very common to disbelieve what you haven’t witnessed and also to rationalize one time events.

Disbelief will not change truth to any degree. All it means is one has deemed his own lack of experience not related to fact more relevant than another actual experience which others have in fact witnessed.

Science is the knowledge of facts and princibles of the physical and material world gained by a systematic study. And as we see its still in its infancy.

The Lord talks about faith in a constant manner. There is the concept which leads his followers to Him. Those are the souls He chose’s otherwise there would be no seperation of true believers and pretenders. So then you receive the test before the lesson. Grace follows your constant path of belief through endurance.

Science and religion do not work against each other they walk a path side by side constantly coming closer together. And in many different fields let alone just medical and the mind.

I am a rational person, and I have experienced the supernatural. I am a firm believer in God and I do believe in and I renounce Satan and all his filthy works and lies. Sleep paralysis is not supernatural. You have no right to question my faith or try to tell me I don’t believe enough.

 

[meltzerboy]

Of the top of my head the book(s) of Enoch refer to Satan as the chief demon if I recall rightly. And the book of Wisdom 2:24 Identifies him as he by whom death entered the world. The Talmud is clear in teaching as you stated but there are Jewish traditions older than, and contrary to, the Talmud. Some sects still follow those, or incorporate them together as a mish-mash, or make it up as they go along. Even in spite of this though they are still Jewish because Judaism isn’t a religion; Judaism has a religion, and in fact nowadays several, but Judaism or more properly Hebraism is a Nation, or a people. (I know you know all of this part Meltzer, but I figured I should explain to the other people on the thread who may not be so well versed.)

I won’t discuss the Biblical verses with you on this thread (maybe on another) for fear of derailing it entirely. But regarding some of your other comments, at the risk of stereotyping myself, all I can say is “Oy”! Now, it is true that modern Karaite Jews do not accept the Oral Law (Talmud), only the Written Law (Torah), and also true that the Jewish sects of ancient times–Sadducees, Essenes, Pharisees–did have diverse views on a whole bunch of issues. However, the Pharisees won the heart and soul of the people, and modern Judaism is defined within the Pharisaic tradition. That means Judaism accepts the whole Law, including Oral Tradition. The evolution of Catholicism is not all that different in this respect. I’m not sure exactly what you mean when you say Judaism HAS a religion, or religions. Perhaps you’re referring to the idea that identifying oneself as Jewish, for some, goes beyond a religious classification and incorporates a cultural, historical identity as a people. That I agree with. Judaism is also thought of as a way of life, as is Christianity. However, it most definitely is a religion as well, more orthoprax than orthodox compared to Catholicism, but nonetheless consisting of core beliefs, sacramental rituals, holidays, practices, and customs. And no one “makes it up as they go along.” We may interpret the Torah Law differently, according to the context of the beliefs of our particular branch, but we must remain consistent with the moral principles of the faith.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

So I saw a show on TV, about people who share their ghost stories. This episode was about “Religious ghosts” where a Jewish woman and Hindu woman talked about their supernatural experiences.

The Jewish woman talked about when she was a little girl, her family moved into a home, once owned by Catholics, and a result they had to take down pictures of various saints. Later on the day, this ghost kept bothering them. His last appearance was a dinner, when they were praying at dinner, a ghost (holding a rosary in his hand) appeared. The father mistakenly said “Satan’s in this house!” because the ghost interrupted the prayer and the image wasn’t sharp. And then the ghost when away.

The Hindu woman talked about how ghosts attacked her but then Krishna (and I think his wife) appeared and rescued her.

As a Catholic, what are your take on these experiences?

To begin with I think ghosts exist. I’ve related elsewhere a story where my old pastor predicted I’d be doing a certain job, and apparently the main reason was simply so that “the Lord would just want (me) to hear about a ghost”. And it happened.

Nurses often have ghost stories, since they work with the dying.

So I fail to see why people of other religious persuasions would not have their own ghostly experiences. After all, Christ himself referred to the term, saying that a ghost did not have flesh and blood as he did. In doing so, He was implying ghosts exist. On another occasion, the disciples thought they were seeing a ghost, namely Christ when he walked on the water. So they also had a belief in ghosts.

The problematic issue is the seeming deliverance by non-Christian means. Now for one thing, I think ghosts, and even demons, are generally prohibited from directly harming people, in this life anyway, although they may scare them. Obviously there are cases of possession, but they’re a minority.

In the first story above, it seems to me the ghost was overstepping the boundaries, and I think it may also have been demonic. Hence it retreated due to the prayer.

Likewise in the second story, I suspect the “ghosts” were demonic, since as a rule ghosts don’t seem to attack people. And the reality is that most time demons are forcefully removed even if we don’t invoke the name of Christ. They’re not allowed to do anything they want. The issue of Krishna is a bit more troublesome, but I also think Christ allows people some latitude with their own religions, since that is all they know.

 

[GaryTaylor]

You have no right to question my faith or try to tell me I don’t believe enough.

Never did that, just stated my opinion.

 

[lauraabarlow]

The belief in ghosts is frowned upon in Judaism. That doesn’t necessarily prevent anyone from having their own personal experience, however. I tend to believe only in Caspar, the friendly ghost.

 

[Inego_de_Loyola]

Bull. There is plenty of good scientific research out there on it and the causes and pathophysiology are well known. This has been studied for years, it has a recognized medical diagnosis, and it can be medically treated. I don’t know what you think gives you the authority to pronounce research on the subject “unscientific”.

What is unscientific is experiencing it, or just hearing about it, and declaring it to be the work of demons without any foundation. You can’t even do believable research on that. You should know better than that if you are as scientific-minded as you claim to be.

If you want to call it demonic, in your opinion, fine. You have a right to that. But don’t try to denounce the scientific research that has been done, and the medical profession which recognizes it as a sleep disorder and understands it’s causes and even has a treatment for it. You don’t have a right to try to tell perfectly reasonable people that Drs. don’t know what they are talking about when it comes to this, and you do.

From the tone I get the feeling I offended you. If that is the case I am truly sorry. I think I should mention I am coming off of a double all-nighter so if I am not clear I hope you will forgive me. I meant not to call into question the general capabilities of the medical profession, but merely to say that in this case there doesn’t seem to be much quality work. I am not saying, “because of these problems it must be demonic”, but only that there are problems with the research as I understand it. I) I and others I have talked to have had this experience while wide awake. II) I am aware of no studies in a controlled environment, nor falsifiable tests conducted to prove or disprove their model that it is caused by REM atonia; likely because as positivists they would not have thought to even entertain the possibility that there could be another cause. III) The treatment plan they propose at least according to the Wikipedia article is the following, “Treatment starts with patient education about sleep stages and about the muscle atonia that is typically associated with REM sleep. It is recommended that patients be evaluated for narcolepsy if symptoms persist.” In other words all they can do is tell them what they think is the cause.

There is plenty of good scientific research out there on it

It may be so but I haven’t seen any.

and the causes and pathophysiology are well known.

Well asserted, not well known; REM atonia doesn’t explain why it happens to people without narcolepsy while wide awake (Me and others I have talked to.) nor why it doesn’t happen to those suddenly or violently awakened from REM sleep. Their largely untested (Insofar as I am aware.) model doesn’t seem to fit the evidence, which is the sole reason why I feel confident to say that, as it stands, it is poor science to dress this conjecture up as fact.

What is unscientific is experiencing it, or just hearing about it, and declaring it to be the work of demons without any foundation. You can’t even do believable research on that. You should know better than that if you are as scientific-minded as you claim to be.

If I am clear on nothing else I want to be crystal clear on this. I am not making a material scientific claim that it was demonic. I hold that as my opinion and not without foundation, but I do not presume to claim that as a scientific fact. As, in my opinion, it is a spiritual event, and spirit is only just starting to enter the purview of empirical science, then it makes no sense to make an empirical claim about it. (Off topic but Spirit has been essentially proven by the quantum sciences to exist, which is one of the reasons it has me fascinated.) I hope you do not feel I am trying to force this opinion upon you.

Once more, I’m sorry if I have offended you and if there is readily available research on the Internet that I missed please feel free to link to it. I only have two eyes and have been wrong about things before.

 

[Inego_de_Loyola]

I won’t discuss the Biblical verses with you on this thread (maybe on another) for fear of derailing it entirely. But regarding some of your other comments, at the risk of stereotyping myself, all I can say is “Oy”! Now, it is true that modern Karaite Jews do not accept the Oral Law (Talmud), only the Written Law (Torah), and also true that the Jewish sects of ancient times–Sadducees, Essenes, Pharisees–did have diverse views on a whole bunch of issues. However, the Pharisees won the heart and soul of the people, and modern Judaism is defined within the Pharisaic tradition. That means Judaism accepts the whole Law, including Oral Tradition. The evolution of Catholicism is not all that different in this respect. I’m not sure exactly what you mean when you say Judaism HAS a religion, or religions.** Perhaps you’re referring to the idea that identifying oneself as Jewish, for some, goes beyond a religious classification and incorporates a cultural, historical identity as a people.** That I agree with. Judaism is also thought of as a way of life, as is Christianity. However, it most definitely is a religion as well, more orthoprax than orthodox compared to Catholicism, but nonetheless consisting of core beliefs, sacramental rituals, holidays, practices, and customs. And no one “makes it up as they go along.” We may interpret the Torah Law differently, according to the context of the beliefs of our particular branch, but we must remain consistent with the moral principles of the faith.

Yes, you have managed to decipher my meaning. Sorry, as I said in an earlier post that was almost the start of my third day without sleep, and that does things to your head. :whacky:

And no one “makes it up as they go along.”

To avoid giving offense to anyone I will avoid mentioning which group I had in mind with this comment, in all honesty I should have cut it from the final post, they have all sorts on the forum.

However, the Pharisees won the heart and soul of the people, and modern Judaism is defined within the Pharisaic tradition.

It helps to have a theological leg to stand on, and a hope for a future. (Not a fan of the Sadducee’s whole, “life’s a pain and then you die” outlook.)

 

[GaryTaylor]

I’m not of the opinion there is anything demonic with sleep disorders, or those who suffer from mental heath issues, hear voices etc. Though I wouldn’t say, it could be for fact ruled out either. Anything is possible.

I have seen patients wake in the night, walk around, act with intent, talk, and be totally unaware the following day. I have also seen MH patients who were troubled by the experience of what they thought to be demons speaking to them or a regular basis. The later isn’t uncommon and is often a result of individuals mis-medicating themselves. Often these individuals have a pound zip-lock bag of medications, different dosage, and time schedules. Once they are back of the proper med. schedule they are normal. Whatever “normal” means in ones paradigm. And so forth.

What in fact happens, and whats possible are two different situations. What delusion they entertain, I do not know, I do know its very real to them. And I can think of one individual off the top of my head who’s visions I found troubling, enough where I have never forgot him. I was of the impression he should have gone and seen a priest, but hey thats IMHO.

I’ve seen an individual in the service wake in the middle night, pick up a 45 walk around talking all kinds of trash also, one of the guys simply walked over to him, told him everything was OK, and walked him back to his bunk. He remembered nothing, and thought we were joking with him the following day. I only caught the part and woke when he started screaming about shooting people. So, I found it slightly alarming. Stress, trauma takes a toll on individuals as I said earlier.

Peace

 

[exnihilo]

If the topic is just supernatural experiences and not ghosts then my father had one and neither he nor I are Catholic. As I recall he was working outside one day. He walked a bit into the woods. He then saw a brilliant light before him. He felt overwhelmed with peace and joy. Time seemed to stand still. He asked ‘is that you Lord?’ After some time, he can’t be sure how long, it ended. If you knew him as I do you would know that he is not the most spiritual person. He is very rational. And he is supremely honest.

I’m curious about peoples opinion on what Sleep Paralysis is? Is it spiritual, or is it a halucination as medical science states. I read descriptions of it and I’ve met people who have experiences that meet most of the criteria, but not all. One person I’ve spoken to mentioned that he was awake for several minutes before it hit.

I had it happen to me some in college and whatever it is it is one of the most terrifying experiences one can have. I had no idea what happened to me when I experienced it. Only later did I learn that this was not a unique to me experience. When it happened I had an experience of evil. What I mean is my thoughts, dream, or feeling at the time gave me a sense of evil. I remember wanting to cry out and being unable to speak. I remember feeling unable to move and like something was on my chest. Thank God I haven’t had that experience in a while because it was terrifying. I have no idea exactly what happened to me in these episodes but since thoughts are themselves immaterial I can say it was not a purely physical experience.

 

[Anna_Scott]

From my own experience I worked nights on a ward. Every single time I did, even if there was a completely different group of patients in that area, whether the patients were known to hallucinate or not - they all complained about children laughing and playing too loudly, and pointed at them.

The site the ward was on used to be a workhouse, with children. I found that out after I remarked on patients complaining again to a senior nurse.

I could tell you many more stories. Like I say, anyone who’s worked on a hospital ward for long enough has at least one.

Personally, I believe the veil between this world and the next is very, very thin on hospital sites. A lot of people cross over there. But I am aware that it is a very superstituous belief.

LemonAndLime,
I used to work the night shift as well. One night, a patient complained of chest pain. I brought him an injection for pain. Before I gave the medication, he said, “I just saw my dead mother standing at the foot of my bed waving me towards her. Does that mean I’m going to die?” He looked so scared. I looked around the room, a bit shaken myself. I tried to offer words of comfort, and I gave him the pain medication. I called the doctor and transferred the patient to Intensive Care. Tests revealed he was having an acute MI (heart attack). He did survive, partly because we intervened so quickly; and partly because. . . .well, I’m not sure. Strange things do happen at night.

Anna

 

[Publisher]

I tend to take “apparitions” and visits from those who have gone on before with a grain of salt. I do believe in “psychic phenomena” to an extent…I do believe the mind is a powerful tool…and it can “create” visions and manufacture “voices” that may have their root not so much in the “supernatural”…but in the fact that sometimes our minds need to be “unlocked”…and manifests the “unlocking” in a “psychic” experience.

I am skeptical of all “supernatural” occurances…even those that have happened to me…my mind manufactured them from very rational occurances…how the mind chose to “get the message” to me of what I needed to do…change…manifested itself in a “spiritual/supernatural” occurance. Now…that doesn’t mean the result was not profound and life changing…it simply means I am ignorant of the workings of the mind.

I seriously doubt there are 'ghosts" or “shades” that continue “among the living” when the body dies. I am more willing to give credence to some mechanism of quantum physics…which I do not understand by the way to any significant degree…and I would also tend to believe that those “psychic”, “religous”, “magical” occurances so many millenia ago recoreded in the various volumes of scripture of the worlds faiths and myths also have their basis in the phylsical operations of our universe than any “supernatural” occurance.

I believe God exists. I believe God created an orderly and eventually understandable universe governed by very real “laws” of physics and quantum mechanics. Our minds to a great extent are a “mystery” in many ways…psychology and neuroscience is a relatively “new” avenue of science and medicine.

I tend to be a proponent of Occam’s Razor…that the explanation that is the simplest and makes the fewest assumptions is probably the “truest”.

That God would allow or suspend the very laws He placed to govern our universe doesn’t make a lot of sense to me…angels and spirits decending and ascending back and forth between heaven and earth with no valid reason or effect on our world…makes no sense to me. I’m not even sure heaven exists…perhaps “heaven” is simply our explanation to console ourselves as we cannot fathom the cessation of “self”…our “spirits” simply return to the God that gave us life…we enter again and join with the Presence…Universal Mind…the Wholly Other…Light Beyond Limitless Light…or any other poetic phrase we wish to use to describe the “change” from the state we call “life” to the state we call “death”.

I have experienced something I cannot explain…that was profoundly life changing for me…I simply accept it…I have no problem believing that God’s grace and mercy and my ‘connection’ to Him in my “inner man” manifested the spiritual phenonema thru my mind and touched upon that part of my mind which governed “self preservation” and the need for wholeness and resolution of grief caused a psycho-physcial occurance which caused an endorphine/seratonin release which assisted in the resolution of grief and pain. That my physical senses were effected by the inner workings of chemical reactions in my brain in no way lessens God’s work…it offers a more “rational” explanation in my mind than a breakdown of the laws of physics and thermal dynamics…which I do not pretend to understand either to any meaningful measureable degree…but others do…and their understandings of such happenings give me pause to credit a “spiritual” experience to anything that happens in my life I cannot explain.

And besides…who’s to say the release of endorphins/seratonins/chemicals in the brain mainifests itself with sensory and auditory experiences…as the Psalmist said…“We are fearfully and wonderfully made.”

 

[Anna_Scott]

. . . .And besides…who’s to say the release of endorphins/seratonins/chemicals in the brain mainifests itself with sensory and auditory experiences…as the Psalmist said…“We are fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Publisher,

You made some important points. I’ve seen documentaries about experiments involving stimulating a certain part of the brain with some type of transcranial magnetic stimulator. Certain areas stimulated resulted in the experience of God. Stimulation of other areas resulted in the experience of evil.

The question is, does stimulating certain areas of the brain make us more perceptive of the realities of the spiritual realm, or does stimulating certain areas of the brain produce an artificial sense of good and evil? Fascinating question. I tend to believe it is the former.

Peace,
Anna

 

[LemonAndLime]

LemonAndLime,
I used to work the night shift as well. One night, a patient complained of chest pain. I brought him an injection for pain. Before I gave the medication, he said, “I just saw my dead mother standing at the foot of my bed waving me towards her. Does that mean I’m going to die?” He looked so scared. I looked around the room, a bit shaken myself. I tried to offer words of comfort, and I gave him the pain medication. I called the doctor and transferred the patient to Intensive Care. Tests revealed he was having an acute MI (heart attack). He did survive, partly because we intervened so quickly; and partly because. . . .well, I’m not sure. Strange things do happen at night.

Anna

I can believe that. It’s a myth that a hospital sleeps at night. I think that ghosts of nurses and old patients take the ‘less busy’ time as an opportunity to move around.

A colleague of mine who had worked on a ward for ages told me this story. I’ll put it in first person so it makes more sense -

“The ward upstairs had relocated to the new building, so it was left empty. They padlocked the doors and only the porters had the keys. The only things left were some old chairs and beds that had been condemned (and were going to be destroyed along with the building after we had left from the floor below). Anyway, at night we would hear doors opening and closing upstairs, patient callbells being sounded and then silenced, and chairs dragging across the floor. We could call the night porters who would bring their keys, go in, confirm no one was there (and turn off a callbell occasionally) and then lock up and leave. But it happened every single night.”

The same colleage told me that on one ward (which has also since closed) it was haunted by a man who had died from a stroke and had a cut across his forehead (from when he fell during the stroke). Patients who were confused or near death would often say “Who is that man with the sore head?” or “Who is that man?” and when asked to describe him they would always give an acurate description.

I never used to believe in ghosts but I do now.