Residual Haunts and Energy

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

Continued from Residual Haunts & the Laws of Thermodynamics

This is the second in a series on the theory of residual haunts. We noted that  this theory allegedly explains the majority of true paranormal activity, and that alone is sufficient to call this a crucial issue. What I find odd is that, I cannot find any serious self-reflection or analysis of this theory--it is simply presupposed to be true. Personally, it takes considerable serious analysis of a theory before I can find "cognitive rest" regarding it. The fact that residual haunts is considered to be so common is reason enough to warrant sustained scrutiny. In addition, many Christians who are adamantly opposed to the notion of trapped intelligent spirits, DO believe in the residual phenomenon. My thesis is that these alleged residual haunts are not only intelligent, but they are demonic

Energy is energy is energy regardless of its outward form. We noted that energy is part of God's good creation, and it must "behave" according to the invisible scientific laws the Lord has interwoven throughout reality. One such law of God is the Second Law of Thermodynamics.(please see last week's blog for discussion of this phenomenon) Put succinctly, whenever energy is released into the environment, then this absolute law dictates that the released energy cluster will immediately begin to break apart and separate--entropy occurs until the energy has dispersed enough to reach equilibrium.Hence (and this is key) it is impossible for prison walls to retain within them an energy cluster. Once that convict was slain in a violent fashion, whatever energy that was released by that violent event will immediately begin to disperse in all directions. It CANNOT remain trapped in an inanimate object--to do so would be a blatant contradiction or violation of an absolute law of science (this is usually referred to as a miracle).

On The Haunted Collector tonight John Zaffis commented as he pointed to two stuffed fish, "Even though these fish have been through the taxidermy process, they still may retain some energy from when they were alive." I respect Mr Zaffis, but that is nonsense. During our lifetime, our perception of the very nature of reality has changed drastically--energy is king! But how many folks heard that comment on TV and it cemented in their minds the unscientific notion of a residual haunt? A worldview which has an infinite/personal God as primary reality, has given way to a worldview in which today most folks--perhaps unconsciously--see energy displacing God as prime reality. We need to recognize this shift in presuppositions regarding the nature of reality because it is this non-biblical worldview which gave rise to this notion and is causing it to grow like kudzu. To sum up this review, all energy is subject to the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Since I first introduced this objection in Seeing Ghosts through God's Eyes, nobody has offered a serious rebuttal.

There is a problem that plagues virtually all investigative groups that operate autonomously (self-guided, and not bible/God guided).--and that is the arbitrary nature of determining if the paranormal activity is residual or intelligent. What are the criteria one should look for to make this very significant determination? When you have been in an active location, what indicators do you look for to make this decision? Is a single EVP which appears to be non-intelligent? May I suggest that we be ruthlessly honest with ourselves here because our advice to the client is directly affected, and hence their welfare.. Again, how folks determine if a haunting is residual is usually based on woefully insufficient evidence..Determining if activity is intelligent is not as simple as many seem to think.

With the peer agreement within the paranormal community, it is not uncommon for folks to assume--even before arrival--that the odds are high that whatever activity there will likely be residual in nature. With this tacit assumption, we would be naive to assume that it is not affecting our judgment, and even how we :see: the data..

"I know it is residual if it is non-intelligent." But again, the 64,000 dollar question is:how do you determine if the entity is intelligent? Residual activity allegedly can do virtually anything an intelligent spirit can--cause smells, touch you, appear, make wide variety of sounds--even move and change forms right before your eyes.

1. What quantity of evidence is needed to be sufficient? One weird EVP... or three ...or just enough until you FEEL that you got it right?

2. Is it not true that many come to snap decisions because you believe you can intuit intelligence in a spirit or activity?

3. Has anyone ever ignored you? Of course....well, then why do we come to the conclusion the activity is residual due to lack of verbal response?

4. Do we not automatically assume some activity is residual (e.g. Footsteps), when we  also hear footsteps in undeniably intelligent haunts? How does one discern an intelligent footstep?

5. Do you have a thought through, consistent criteria or is it more of arbitrary and subjective in nature?

6. Assuming for arguments sake that ghosts exist, could they not play around and intentionally try to throw you off?

7. The criteria varies from group to group. It is often assumed that battlefields will be full of residual activity.. However, tonight on Deep South Paranormal, it was manifestly clear to them, and the audience, that all of these entities on this Civil War battlefield were very much intelligent. Who is right  regarding battlefields?

8. It is generally agreed in the paranormal community that demons are rare (which of course is wrong) but it is also generally believed that demons are deceptive and that they can appear in any any form they wish--or mimic any activity of alleged trapped spirits. Is it not conceivable then, that they could intentionally attempt to appear to be non-intelligent--to deceive us and lure all involved into false sense of security.? Once you admit the existence of any demons, then you are faced with a huge problem...demons can mimic everything alleged residuals do. How can you be certain it is residual and not demonic? Remember that demons can make the room feel like it is full of light and love--discernment is a spiritual gift which is usually given to one at conversion. Out autonomous reason and intuition is no match for demonic deception...it is naive to think otherwise..

The bible is God's personal communication to us, and as His creatures we are to interpret His reality by humbly bowing before scriptures authority. It is autonomous (self guided instead of God-guided) reason that has created this unbiblical, non-real notion of a residual haunt. Further, can we not see by common sense how attractive it would be for Satan to deceive us by convincing us that the infesting demons are nothing but residual energy, which the client need not worry about? He knows that once deemed residual then invading spirits will be left alone. I shudder to think of the many thousands who have been informed that they have nothing to worry about because it was determined that it was nothing but trapped energy..Surely for the clients sake we should be willing to re-think our views of residual haunt.

It seems that Satan often alters or augments his strategy based on his observations of the current "lay of the land.” That is, Satan is a brilliant military strategist, and with the growing popularity of the notion of residual energy, he was only happy to oblige by assigning more of his subordinates to deceive us by "playacting" as non-intelligent. If humans can perform battlefield re-enactments, then it would be a snap for him (and demons) to play-act by intentionally appearing to be non-interactive. I have found that demons ability to deceive is as wide and diverse as their cruel creativity can conceive.


On a personal note, I have never encountered paranormal activity which did not respond to biblical provocation in some intelligent fashion. If it were merely residual energy, then it would not respond to such provocation. This is where my thesis is empirically verifiable--wherever there is genuine supernatural activity which is thought to be residual, the sustained and sincere biblical command to leave in Jesus name will eventually get rid of it.

In our next, and last, blog on residual haunts we will discuss the various analogies put