Will Paranormal Teams Ever Learn?

By Chris Baricko

I wrote a blog a while ago about how some teams and groups do not take the paranormal seriously.

In the last few months is has gotten even worse and people are wondering why it's don't get taken seriously anymore.

Lets start with stupid photos of the group on investigations. I have seen so many lately it is unreal. A few of groups are taking photos posing in a client's house with childish faces and just plain dumb. I said that is very unprofessional and not a good idea. Some people got upset and said so what. Well I did say you never know who the client is or knows. I got a call from a client asking for our help as they were not happy with the previous group who came out.

Here is what they told me. It has been over a month and the group has yet to get back to them with anything. So they decided to look at there home security system from the date the group was there. Well guess what. They seen them acting foolish, Taking  photos of themselves and on their phones during the investigation. They looked at the group's Facebook page and noticed the group was posting updates of the investigation. This got them upset. They also noticed the group posted they were doing an investigation. They did not say where just they were. They asked me was this common.?

Here was my reply. We never post anywhere when we have or are going on a investigation. Some groups feel there is a need. I call it the look at us we do go on investigations. The reason we do not is that most clients want to be discreet. I said unless we are at a public location we will not post any updates on Facebook, as once again there is no reason. As far as photos we will only take one of a team member if they say they feel something around them. We will not do any poses.  There are also groups or people new to the field who think they know more than they do cause they watch TV. In my opinion if you have under 10 years in the field you're new. If a group or person shows up with a duffle bag and limited equipment start asking questions.

The more respected groups will show up with cases of equipment and a table to place the equipment on. She told me they had very little equipment but told her they been around. There is nothing wrong with not having everything as we all know it costs money. But if they been around as long as they claim they should have everything other groups do.

And if they start telling you right away they think something evil or demonic is there, just ask them to leave. It is so rare I only ran into it once in over 25 years. It just seems to be the in thing today to call everything evil.

They brought up some very valid questions. How did they have time to keep posting on Facebook but not get back to them? What was the reason to take photos?

The groups or people who think it is ok to be childish at investigations reflects on us all. I am not saying there is anything wrong with having a good time or joking around on investigations, but keep it amongst the team--and off Facebook. There is no reason or room for it at a private home. It should not take longer than 2 weeks to get back client period. We have a 1 week policy.

This is just advice but when groups stop getting calls from private homes for investigations and public locations don't answer them back don't wonder why.  I am not telling anyone how to act or do there investigations but when things dry up you will only have your self's to blame. There is enough drama in this field already we do not need groups acting  kids adding to it.

There are many groups doing great things, respectable things. Helping to raise money for great causes that is great. We need more groups like that rather than the other.

Faith & the Paranormal

By Chris Baricko

I am noticing that more and more groups and people are saying and using God to help. My one question is how many of them really follow there faith? Do they go to Sunday service every Sunday? Are there children going to religion school to teach them about there faith?

I will go on record as saying we are very strong in our faith and stick by it. Our children go religious school once a week we go to mass every weekend support out church. Why do I bet at least 90% of the people or groups who preach faith or about God have not set foot in a church in years? I bet most only know our lords prayer and that is only cause it is on just about every paranormal TV show. Can they tell the client how to say the rosary? Do they know the priest's name of their local church? But yet they will spill out the words of the lord. Anyone can go buy sage or some crosses and show the client they are following God. What would happen if the client started asking more questions?

I fully support everyone's religion. But if you do not do as much with it as you claim stop posting quotes from the bible unless you really know what they mean. I see it almost daily and it drives crazy. The one that really gets me is when I see people only thanking God when they get something. Why not thank God everyday for everything you have not things you want? So many groups and people use the same old claim that they cleansed the house cause they walked through with salt or sage or said a few fancy words. Or you get a Medium who claims they crossed them over. Now if you walk through a person home saying prayers if you do not have as much faith in God as you do walking around saying his prayers guess what the spirit will not listen. They are looking at you and laughing asking why should they listen to you? You don't even practice what you're trying to preach. And in my opinion when I hear people make an excuse why they do not take an hour a week to go to mass or location of their faiths but say God knows. Really does he? How when you don't bother to give him thanks?

So unless you're strong in your faith don't go around claiming you're going to send a spirit on its way. No matter how you say it. God is on the other side of that white light and no one will cross if he doesn't feel they mean it. He will not allow Evil into his kingdom. So either start going to your weekly services or stop talking about God. Wearing a cross is only as good at the support behind it

Paranormal Groups & Facebook

By Chris Baricko

This blog is about my personal opinion regarding groups who feel the need to post on Facebook every time they are going on an investigation.

I have been investigating the paranormal for over 25 years and not once have a ever felt the need to post when I was going on an investigation. There is one group I see post every single time they go on an investigation. That's not the worst of it. They take group photos of themselves in a clients' home making dumb and childish faces. REALLY?  How much  more childish and unprofessional can you get? Then they posted they were still doing reviews from March.

Again really? Most groups get back to the client in a week. They called you for help not to wait for months. I posted about this on Facebook and got mixed reactions. Some agreed with me some did not. One person felt the need to write an essay about why it was okay. They even felt the need to try and attack me by bringing in another group's name who I know and have spoken with. This person I also invited on many investigations but they always had an excuse on why they could not make it. So They are one of what I call wannabe investigators.

What people do not think about is the legal trouble. Unless you have something in writing from the client saying you can release anything, you're opening yourself up to a can of worms.

I had another person ask me why do I care what others do? Well, after all the years it is disgusting how many groups out there are a joke. They do not know what type of harm they can cause a family. Then another said I only post bashing others. No I post advice basically saying grow up.

Then she said it's not sportsmanship. I never knew paranormal was a sport? These are the people who need to pack it up and stay away from clients.

Reputation is everything. So to the groups who feel you need to post every time you go on an investigation and then take dumb photos at clients' houses, when the hammer falls I will be the one laughing.

New Paranormal Groups & Why It's Getting Harder to Get Permission to Investigate Locations

By Chris Baricko

As most of us know there is a major increase in paranormal groups showing up almost weekly. We have to thank the Travel Channel for this now many people are hoping to catch their big break like Ghost Hunters did. Let's start with a few facts. SYFY went through well over 200 groups asking who would be willing to fly out to L.A. to film a pilot for a show about ghost hunters. They had a hard time finding people who were willing to leave their jobs and families for an unknown period of time. I was contacted a few years before the show aired and also turned it down. Jason and Grant were willing to take the chance and were lucky enough to have an employer willing to work with them. So in the end it paid off for them.

And this brings us to my next point--all the new groups, and even some older ones--who seemed to have lost their way in hopes of getting on TV. In the 25 years I've been investigating the paranormal I turned down two offers after I read what they wanted me to do and how to act. We all see some groups on Facebook that you just look at their postings and think to yourself are you kidding me? I've just recently seen a group who posted three photos. The first one said: Us at a private location taken in the clients living room. Then a second photo with them making really stupid faces something you'd expect to see in grade school. Then a third photo of them making mafia faces and they called it a tradition. REALLY?! Since when did acting like a complete moron and acting unprofessional  become a tradition? So think about -- if you were the client and you left your home hoping for help or were a potential client looking for a group to help you, would you really want anyone like this in your home? Not if you're looking for help. I know I would pass and find someone more professional with a good reputation.

Then I did some web searches and I can't believe how some have a bloopers section or they list that they were on TV or in newspapers. Does any client really care if your were on TV or in the media? From my experience most see that and tend to back far away, as they do not want any of their information out there. Yes my group has been in the newspaper and on many Internet radio shows. That doesn't make us better than anyone else. It just means that people respect and value our opinions. Paranormal investigating is a hobby for most of us and we want to get answers and help people. But sadly there are those who do not do much investigating at private homes so when they do it turns into a big joke or the LOOK AT ME. There are so many people out there claiming to be paranormal investigators but ask them how often they really investigate and where they investigate. The average respectable groups will do at least one investigation a month whether it be a public location or private home.

So how can you tell what type of paranormal group or person you would want in your home? Do some looking into first. Ask a few questions.
1 - How long have you been around?
2 - Do you have four references you can provide me with? Make sure it's at least from a private home not related to any team member. Yes, many will do their own homes or friends' homes just to list an investigation.
3 - If you ever get asked for any money hang up the phone or slam the door shut.
4 - Look at their web page and contact some locations yourself. We get most of our private investigations through word of mouth and reputation. Yes I am proud to say it. It shows act professional be professional the rest will follow. If you want to take stupid photos or videos or your team then don't wonder why your phone is not ringing. To put it bluntly: Grow Up.

The Problem with Haunted Houses

By Lisa Grace

Watching the paranormal shows the first thing the homeowners/renters usually do is call a paranormal group to document or agitate the supernatural beings.

Which of course, is the wrong thing do. Paranormal groups want more connections, not less with these evil beings. They have no interest in driving them out and choose instead to communicate and attract more of them. Many plan on repeating visits, again showing no interest in helping the residents to drive them out.

If someone truly wants evil beings driven out, they call a man of God to bless the house and drive the creatures out, permanently. If the inhabitants are not saved, the creatures could come back, as those who are not saved are easy to "attach" to and to possess.

Unfortunately, doing a house blessing, fasting, anointing with oil, and praying, and then having "no activity" may lead to a peaceful dwelling place, which does not make good TV.

People pay to stay at haunted places, and they have become tourist attractions in their own right. In Jesus' times, possessed people were kicked out of town (or worse), and evil spirits seemed to migrate to caves. Not all demons are equal, some prefer to mimic past living people, others get physical, and others seem almost passive or friendly (they're not). Playing with these entities is dangerous. They can "attach" to anyone who is unsaved. Many people who work against the demonic surround themselves with a strong circle of prayer warriors who pray for protection for them continually.

Playing with these entities is dangerous and should not be treated like a game.

Observations on the State of the Paranormal Community - Part 1

By Reverend Mark Hunnemann

With the New Year I feel compelled to ask: what is the state of the paranormal community? Before I respond, let me say that I consider myself part of the paranormal community (though I prefer to call it supernatural), and I care for these folks. I am not an outsider throwing rocks at these “nuts”, rather I am inside trying, in my weak and stumbling way, to change people’s minds through reasoned persuasion. Because of past bad experience with the church, often it is hard to gain an audience, and this grieves me. So, thank you dear friends for your continued interest and support.

I whittled it down to two issues—what is happening to the investigators and what is happening regarding the investigations. In this section we will deal with the former. When I say investigators, I mean that in the broad sense of anyone who is actively and regularly making contact with the spirit realm by attempting communication with the dead—there are untold millions of Americans who are engaging in this activity privately or informally, primarily due to what they have seen on TV. Perhaps we could distinguish between formal investigators (group structure and a stated purpose to assist others who have problems), and informal investigators (one or two individuals who do it for themselves or just for the thrill, and no mission statement). In 2009, when I began this quest, paranormalsocieities.com listed 950 formal investigative groups; today the count has risen to 4,054 groups—by any standard of measurement, that is astonishing growth! However, the amazing growth only serves to underscore the importance of doing an analysis of how things are going.

Let me plunge right in and say that I do not know of anyone who has regularly attempted to contact the dead, who at some point, has not dealt with demonic activity of their own. Recently I was on a Christian paranormal radio podcast in which the host, who has many more years’ experience than I do, concurred. (I was touched by the dignity and respect that was shown to me by this Christian woman)  We agreed that this is an extremely noteworthy phenomenon which is being systematically swept under the rug. I am sure that someone reading this will disagree with our observation, and that is okay. However, the undeniable fact is that a very high percentage of investigators (both kinds) are/have developed demonic issues. We may disagree as to what it is, but I think most would agree that experiencing paranormal activity appears to come with the territory. But why does it? And who/what is it that is following you home? Why is there so much obsessiveness that transcends healthy passion? As a man determined to see ghosts through God’s eyes, the bible must be our guide, along with science and critical thinking. All truth is God’s truth, but only the bible is inerrant and must be our only guide to faith (beliefs) and practice. Sola scriptura! (2 Tim. 3:16-17) You owe it to God, yourself, your team mates/friends, and your loved ones to grapple with this and not sweep it under the rug.

Biblically, the picture is sobering for all who are attempting communication with the dead, because God explicitly commands us not to engage in this (Deut.18:9-14; Lev.19:31; 20:1-6). So, first and foremost, every time an investigator investigates, they are disobeying God’s objective law. There are gradations of sin, and speaking to the dead is one reason God ordered the complete slaughter of an entire Canaanite people and culture (men, women, and children). In v.12 we are told explicitly that the occultic sins mentioned in these verses are the reason for the utter destruction of the inhabitants of the land. They were not innocent; the people who sought mediums and spoke to the dead were doing something the Lord considered “abominable.” All of these activities, including child sacrifice, are designed to seek supernatural wisdom apart from God. It is instructive that this text is juxtaposed with the section on God’s prophets (including the prophecy of a prophetic line culminating in Jesus)—the true and only source of wisdom we are to seek regarding God and the supernatural. In the Leviticus text, the heinousness of spirit communication is accented by stating that it was: whoring in God’s eyes; it was a capital crime; and if the Jews failed to kill the ghost whisperer, then God Himself would kill them…this is the only place in the Old Testament, that I am aware of, where the Lord threatens such personal involvement in the punishment for a particular sin. All sin is cosmic treason against our holy God, but some sins are particularly hateful to Him, and spiritism is one such sin. Therefore, the punishment and consequences of violating this command are especially severe. However, we must never lose sight of what we call the ellipsis of a negative prohibition (flip side); it is because God LOVES us that He wants us to delight in the words of His prophets/apostles and not be burned by touching the hot occultic stove.

Spirit solicitation is spiritual warfare! As we have noted before, the solicitation of EVP’s is attended by the same dangers as conducting an Ouija session. By entering into the spirit realm, we give the demonic a legal right to attach and attack, because we are trespassing in the realm that the Lord has given to them as their temporary home. Also, for the first time in recorded history, lay people in large numbers are plunging headlong into a world that universally has been approached in the past by a community’s representative—a priest or shaman—due to a natural fear of the spirits. Hence, the canopy of God’s common grace of protection is removed. In a word, the paranormal community is rapidly becoming demonized—investigators are coming under ever deepening influence of unclean spirits. Tragically, this is the dirty, dark secret of the paranormal community; for a variety of reasons we are not being honest with ourselves and each other. I suggest that this is not wise, and is only causing more people to be affected. Are we reluctant because it may signify a systemic problem in our ranks? When we unwittingly dance with the demonic, then we open ourselves to their accelerated activity. The condition of investigators is perilous in the extreme, and is getting worse each passing day…Lord have mercy on us. Next time we will look at the state of investigations.

ACTION STEPS

We must determine to speak out regarding this issue…it is a matter of integrity and compassion.

Some of you are under demonic influence, and you may, or may not, sense it…yet. Seek godly, competent help in dealing with it.

Eph. 6:12 states that we are to WRESTLE…do you realize how strenuous wrestling is? Many Christians are in lounge chairs…or doing the spiritual equivalent of “professional wrestling”—which is a joke and mockery of perhaps the most rigorous of all sports. Do we wrestle in prayer, as Daniel did, and was highly esteemed because of it? Pray for our country, other countries, the paranormal community, and our families…for ourselves that the Lord would increase our influence and fruit.

Read Part 2--The Investigations