Paranormal TV is NOT Real!

"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!” Or in this case, so does the public. When it comes to watching ghostly images and recounts of haunting stories on TV, the public is left with the undeniably and irrevocable thoughts of calling it what it is, “full of sh*t”! After all, is it evil to misrepresent the spirit world? I always felt it was.


It never ceases to amaze me what they put on TV and just how absolutely insane they have gotten in trying to wow the audience and yet, never really quite are able to show a REAL HAUNTING STORY. If you are one of the few that think that what you see on TV for reality TV or especially the documentaries is real, you are truly one of the few. Why is that? Is it really because the public doesn't believe? Well, if they don't, it might have something to do with misrepresenting the spirit world in such a disdain, inaccurate and quite obviously ignorant way, it's not surprising the public doesn't just jump on board with thinking everything they say is truth. After all, as I keep telling people, they underestimate the intelligence of their audiences repeatedly. If they think people want to be entertained more then being told the truth, they have already put themselves in a box of their own making and can't see out of it.


As the old time radio show called “The Shadow” had that air of mystery and that edge of relaying a story to keep you on the edge of your seat, today, they have gotten lost in the great affects and just throwing all the stops out to wow people, they actually miss the mark of retelling a ghost story. Like the radio show that was fictitious and not real, our “reality” TV is no longer real either. But, does it really entertain? Does it really? Or are people left with the feeling that it's just not right or hoped it would be better then it was after watching an episode. We all might as well be watching Harry Potter or Charmed on TV for the lack of reality, at least they do not propose to be reality.


Now, before you think me some great cynic that is merely just putting down all the documentaries out there and reality TV with it, I have had the privilege of knowing personally many of those people who have real haunting stories that have been either approached by filming crews or a good many of them have actually been seen on TV. The one thing that all these people have shockingly in common is that their story is NOT COMPLETELY THEIR STORY it is always changed in some manner to suit a make believe audience for ratings that seems at least in my opinion, non existent. I have a good reason to say this. Do people really want to be told something is real and then what they see is not exactly the truth and sometimes portions completely not true to the story? Do they? I have a hard time believing that. I also have a hard time believing that if they do not embellish or change the story, that it will not be watched. Yet, I am left with the feeling that they leave such a huge part of the story out... it's in the mystery and feelings and what happens in between the haunting phenomena that is left as if unknown and even unimportant.


One thing that always sits with me in viewing any of these shows is how it's not represented to show the reality of experiencing this type of phenomena. They can't show it if they have never experienced it and perhaps from the filming crew experience, it's all bull and it doesn't matter about telling the truth, because either the people whose stories they are filming are full of it, or... they have issues... either way, the feeling of telling a story in the manner of which it happened falls short every time. (At least as far as I have seen.) You wonder why those haunting stories seems so scary and over the top, because they are. It is not uncommon for the film crew to hear of some stories and add some of the ghost story to one they are filming to add interest, as well as shorten time lines or exaggerate greatly. It appears at least in some cases, they read the story online or it was previously submitted to them for a show idea by someone hoping to have their story told. Imagine if you will, seeing YOUR story included in another person's story. Oh yes, this happens. Online is just another place to search for ideas after all. Not that I blame these writers at all for doing this. However, plagiarizing is still plagiarizing and credit should still be given to the correct parties. That's just having values and etiquette. I do not much care about the “dog eat dog” world television production is suppose to be. I'm sure I'm not alone in my thinking here. Reflect being a jerk, that is how people perceive you, company or not.


So, can haunting stories to be told accurately? There is much that can't be shown accurately... right? Well, here's the deal, a lot can be. I notice that often they like to make a action packed show... but, it's the calm and then sudden action that have you in the sensation of feeling like you have truly witnessed something so unearthly and magical and yet, so very terrifying, because it goes so far outside what you thought was possible. You don't know what it is, why it's happening or what to expect. THAT is never even attempted in a telling of a story. It's the calm before the storm that is needed. It's the wonder and gaps in between where you do not know if something evil or angelical. It's the mere mystery and yet... the almost sudden and unexpected phenomena that happens in hauntings that truly make the stories different. They miss the magical, mysterious and unknown world that is so very different then the world we are conditioned to believe is.


Stories do not need more happening... they need the stories told in a manner that makes sense and is more true to what it is really like to live through a haunting. One thing about haunting is, the why's are not always answered, nor are the who or what it is. It's common for people to think a haunting is friendly when it may not be or to think it evil when it's not. People make assumptions on dark mist being evil for instance, but, is it? No matter what intention a ghost entity has, not knowing makes it threatening, mysterious and that feeling lingers. Now, they say that they can not show feelings. I beg to differ on that. Not only can they show feelings, they can show a story that will have the audience react. We are conditioned to react to our fellow man and their plights after all. It is much of the reason Ghost Investigators get involved with helping people. It is always a large part of the motivation behind people in this field.


I would like to challenge the TV networks and film crews that make these shows to bring about a truth to those stories and honor not only the people who are telling the stories, but, the spirit world. For how often does the story telling of lies oversee the reality of truth and make myth into reality in the beliefs and hearts of society? It's a dangerous proposition to play at such spiritual truths.


One thing people should be aware of is the “mockumentaries” that are documentaries gone wrong in my opinion. One such show is called “Mermaids” that is suppose to be for entertainment, but, is completely made up. I have heard some people think parts are true. Well, no, it's all completely made up as much as “War of the Worlds” was. The scientist and experts are all actors, the proof fabricated and the filming all done by a professional film crew. It's as fake as “The Blair Witch Project”. It has come to a point in time where telling the truth on supernatural or paranormal events is not needed and lying is acceptable. Or is it?


I have this one last fleeting message... how great would it be to have a film crew brave enough and yet creative enough to try to tell a REAL ghost story and get it right? It might be the best story ever seen. I always think that there is a reason to object to spiritual messages that appear to have gone wrong. It's one of the reasons I do what I do. I do not think I am alone. I am only almost alone in having the guts to just go out in public and blurt out what I think. Nobody ever likes to be lied to or accepts it as OK, even when proposed as truth by a mere television show.


The truth is out there... believe it.


By Evan Jensen,
Producer of Beyond the Edge of Reality Radio Network
http://beyondtheedgeofreality.net


(Note: I did not leave names or examples of whom I am speaking of about what isn't true in TV to protect those people who are under contract, as well as their reputation. However, if you know someone that has been on TV, feel free to ask them for the whole story and what has changed. One part is that often, the haunting continues and is not resolved.)

Paranormal or Supernatural?

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

Last week I wrote about the demonaphobia that is prevalent on the many TV shows dealing with the supernatural. 

With very few exceptions, these dozens of diverse shows are in sync with each other in avoiding the mention of the demonic (Biblical demons, not characters from Charmed). A month-long experiment of focusing on how various TV shows viewed the demonic was startling and sobering—even well respected researchers like John Zaffis bent over backwards to not see demons as the cause for paranormal activity. Demonaphobia is real and rampant, and (this is key) this dismissive attitude regarding demons is effecting the beliefs of tens of millions of Americans. When there is paranormal activity it is assumed that trapped human spirits are the cause. In this regard, television accurately mirrors the majority report in the paranormal community. Of the roughly 4,000 groups listed on paranormalsocieities.com most are not explicitly Christian in their beliefs and methodology. Hence, the assumption of these investigators is that genuine activity is almost always caused by intelligent human spirits or residual energy and that demonic activity is very rare. This phobia is furthered by the tendency to refer to negative or dark spirits instead of simply calling them demons. However, it is primarily TV which is shaping the collective mindset of Americans regarding the demonic and the paranormal. Demons have been so marginalized on these paranormal shows that the paranormal realm has become synonymous with demonaphobia, no matter how unconscious it might be.

Last week’s blog and today’s form a unity—part one and two (I would strongly encourage you to read it because the two are an organic whole . . . in addition to my longer newsletter). I have wanted to write this article for two years but it wasn’t until recently that I felt the nudge. The reason for my hesitation will be manifestly clear in about thirty seconds.

We all know that words are powerful; I don’t need to go on and on to establish that point. But sometimes we can use words that are harmful and not even be aware of it. My impossible task is to persuade you that the word paranormal is one of those harmful words.  Do I really need to elaborate on the centrality of this word? It is the linguistic glue that binds this whole thing together—literally. I am acutely aware of the name of this excellent blog site, and it is with an even more acute sense of my own personal sinfulness, weakness, and brokenness that I write this . . . hopefully to simply stimulate some discussion.

What we think the word paranormal means is not important; what the dictionary’s definition is . . . that’s not important either—what IS important is common usage, because that is the real meaning of the word. It’s time for Christians to understand that this word has become so corrupted that it is irredeemable. Let me explain.

Based on what was said last week, and what is summarized above, the word paranormal connotes an invisible realm where ghosts dwell and where science alone can uncover its mysteries; God, the bible, demons, and spiritual warfare are all marginalized in the word paranormal. Honestly, is that not what paranormal has come to imply on TV and in culture (try not to take into account your personal beliefs)? I do not like what I am writing, but unfortunately it is an undeniable fact. Repeated so frequently, it is shaping a collective worldview in our culture . . . causing a paradigm shift in the spiritual landscape. Paranormal suggests a man-centered reality instead of a God-centered reality. This word is having an insidious effect on millions of people as they watch TV . . . insidious and profound. It is actually reshaping how the contours of invisible reality are perceived. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” is NOT the world of the paranormal. The world of the paranormal is more, “Forever there has been Energy, and the vibrations are increasing until there will be a revolution in consciousness.” It is the worldview that is going to make being a Biblical Christian increasingly difficult.

My suggestion is that we substitute the word supernatural in place of paranormal, because historically that is what Christians have referred to the invisible realm as. Like the word Trinity, supernatural is not in the Bible but it effectively connotes a Biblical reality. “The Jones’ are having supernatural activity in their home, so I am going tomorrow to cleanse and bless their demonically infested house.” Insert the word paranormal and see the difference? Maybe not, but that is my point . . . we have to realize that we are inadvertently causing misunderstanding, and even promoting an unbiblical view of reality by our continued use of this loaded word. We shouldn’t sentimentally cling to a word that is clearly conveying an anti-Christ agenda.  PLEASE, my intent is not to offend the people I care about . . . but I have to follow my calling.

Satan has co-opted this word, and is skillfully using it to hurtle this paranormal juggernaut across our country.  If ghosts are his most successful global deception—and I am convinced they are—then this word is vital in his strategy. As a brilliant general (linguist, wordsmith, and deceiver), he knows the importance of propaganda and the connotation of words in effective warfare strategy. A single word can dehumanize an entire group of people and cause genocide. In one word (paranormal), Satan summarizes a whole host of deviant beliefs regarding the invisible, and is causing spiritual genocide. Please don’t think I am joking or exaggerating.

What we call the paranormal realm is the realm God has sovereignly ordained to be the temporary home of Satan and his demonic followers . . . did you catch that? (Please read it again) Tragically, it is also the realm we poke around in, informing them not to be afraid of us. We are playing in Satan’s sandbox . . . otherwise known as the paranormal realm.

Lord Jesus, please help us. Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet. I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I have been weeping a lot lately. My message and book are largely ignored, but I know it is the truth. Here I stand . . . clinging to Jesus and His word—trying, in my stumbling way, to stand in the gap.