Wikipedia says:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This article is about paranormal phenomena. For other uses, see Ghost (disambiguation).
A ghostly woman coming down the stairs. This image was fabricated, based on the descriptions given by people who claim to have seen ghosts.
Ghostly face of a murderer or just rippled glass? This image is undoctored, and many claim it shows a ghost. Others, however, say it is an illusion caused by the way the light hits ripples in the glass.A ghost is usually defined as the apparition of a deceased person, frequently similar in appearance to that person, and encountered in places he or she frequented, or in association with the person's former belongings. The word "ghost" may also refer to the spirit or soul of a deceased person, or to any spirit or demon.[1][2] Ghosts are often associated with haunting, which is, according to the Parapsychological Association, "the more or less regular occurrence of paranormal phenomena associated with a particular locality (especially a building) and usually attributed to the activities of a discarnate entity; the phenomena may include apparitions, poltergeist disturbances, cold drafts, sounds of steps and voices, and various odors."[1]
Ghosts are controversial phenomena. According to a poll conducted in 2005 by the Gallup Organization, about 32% of Americans believe in the existence of ghosts.[3] The term ghost has been replaced by apparition in parapsychology, because the word ghost is deemed insufficiently precise
