One of the things I find significant about this whole debate is that due to the fact that "ghost phenomena" has been around through our entire history. It's gotten to the point that a majority of people assume as fact that it's not real when there is a huge amount of documented evidence to prove that it is real. Note that though I am saying "ghost phenomena" as the fact we know something is happening does not prove "why" it is happening.
As one example are some of the new reality shows that hunt for ghosts. Most are garbage and they are staged drama heavy for the effect. They are taking advantage of the fact that most people don't know that ghost phenomena is fairly common and trying to capture it on TV for sensation. The some of these shows to me are pretty annoying but some of the authentic footage they have caught is some of the best documented evidence to date. Ghosthunters (1/6 of their episodes hold some very good evidence) and Ghost Adventures (very armature but some of the best footage I've seen). There is also Paranormal state. They seem to have the least evidence but seem to be the best at helping others when hauntings are harmful.
I know many of you have decided that there is no chance whatsoever for something after life. But doesn't the fact that there are common reports in every city of shades shaped like people, orbs of light that interact with people, and messages delivered to people who would have NO way of getting them. Doesn't that at the very least make you want to wonder if we truly know death is the end? Unfortunately most people don't like to think about death so it's very hard to get them to even concider possibilities.
My own personal experiences have been varied. As a teen moved into a 200 year old haunted farm house. I was in college on a scholarship and was tested 99% in the country in science. I decided that I was going to figure this out in a scientific method. Long story short it's good to study things scientifically but dangerous to assume nothing can hurt you. This thing would drag my queen sized bed (which had no wheels) across the room towards the window each night. I would wake to female laughter alternating in each ear sometimes and friends valuables would take flight on their own and be damaged by scratches. To my suprise at the time it was solved by a special prayer service.
Life had been pretty peaceful up until 6 months ago. Me and Kada were staying at a friends house in Indiana. We suddenly noticed what appeared to be a dark man walking around the room. The only way to describe him was he was darker than the shadows. Unknown to us there was a flood in the basement and that is when we first saw him. What I find fascinating is WHY would a ghost hold human form? There are no joints or bones. What is it of the human structure that holds after death? Things progressed with orbs chasing the 2 year old, chairs flipping, and doors opening on their own. This all also ended with a church intervention. I even suspect the pastor herself did not know what exactly happened to end it though I believe something came to "help" due to the community prayers.
Theory 1: I think the answer in part at least lays with science. I spent a large part of my youth studying magnetism. A magnetic field does not "go away". It bleeds off energy slower and slower as it fades. A magnetic field can remain for years or even longer. It can also remain for a while even though the original source has been cut off. A example of this is Kirlian photography which is a way of photographing magnetic fields. One of the noted effects are if you take a leaf and cut it you could still photograph the cut missing section of the leaf that would fade over hours. If we apply the basic principles of magnetic fields to human bodies (which are strongly magnetic and strongest in the brain) when we die there is more or less a perfect image of us that will linger for a VERY long time if not but so faintly in the electromagnetic spectrum. This would include your memory (a pattern at least even of your mind).
Theory 2: What if ghosts were not from another dimension? What if ghosts exist somewhere in the magnetic spectrum. Magnetic fields when charged by nearby power sources will emit photons (light). A ghost that is charging itself or wants to be seen could take advantage of this. It would explain a LOT of the photographs captured. Would a person simply become a ghost or would they need help? Hard to say. It's documented that orbs of light are often photographed around new graves. If you believe in God could it be possible that heaven is not another dimension so much as perhaps a different frequency in a tarahertz spectrum we can not easily see? Honestly I don't know either way but it does make one ponder?
Opinion: I went from church belief, to no belief, to now a understanding that there IS something more. Honestly I'm not 100% for sure what it all means. A very brief descriptions of my studies so far is: I do believe there is life after death. I do believe there IS a God though I don't feel he is as unforgiving or aggressive to differences as many churches think. I think when one passes many (or all, unknown) are preserved. But there are rules and they are not allowed to interact or interfear with the living. The more I think of it this makes sense. As the "youngest" ones. If the spirits of the deceased came back to talk in anything other than a minor way we would lose our free will. Rather than grow we would take direction from spirits who could see beyond our own vision. However there are spirits I feel who like in life chose not to follow the rules. They don't want to be a part of the group or are stuck. These spirits roam and sometimes push the line in interacting with people. These account for most authenticated ghost sitings. There are many reasons for the growth of these beliefs that I can't detail here without writing a book. If any one wants to know more feel free to ask in private.
Here is some footage I thought may add some food for thought enjoy:
Some scrolling pictures. Note with digital cameras (which can see into the infrared and UV) modern photographs are a lot more detailed than this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6trH81xpko&NR=1Some interesting pics:
Video:
Something caught on video at an Ohio gas station. What was interesting in the accounts is that it seemed to "hide" from people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb0upNDhKPA&feature=PlayList&p=8C084A0B811920D1&index=4Is it a dog or something else?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t87rJxKaoQ&feature=related