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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2008 BARROW JOURNAL PAGE 5A Says paranormal findings of group should be dismissed Dear Editor: I thoroughly enjoyed my stroll through your inaugu ral edition of the Barrow Journal. The article on page 2A, “Ghosthunters” search for the supernatural is the reason for my submission. Another related article about haunted places in Barrow County needs no rebuttal - it should be read through a “legend-only” lens. Although I certainly have an appreciation for those who show a general, or should I say “generic,” interest in supernatural, paranormal, or spiritual matters, I would caution anyone with a “scien tific" background and even a cursory exposure to logic, and anyone who would otherwise be ignorant on both accounts, to dismiss the so-called find ings of the data collected by the BCPS. When engaging in the scien tific process, one must recall that raw data may or may not be interpreted as clear evidence that the hypothesis is true. Results from purely subjec tive experimentation without proper controls will certainly not confirm the hypothesis that paranormal activity is real or measurable (in this case, the hypothesis follows the question: Ghosts, to boo or not to boo?). One can not read his sus picions (or should I say, superstitions) into the results where the results can not be measured objectively. In the scientific process, one must resist the temptation to make a fore-drawn conclusion without continually testing and retesting the hypothesis, and one must resist the temp tation to adjust or skew all of the metrics in order to achieve the desired outcome. If one's presupposition that ghosts are real and among us is proven in repeated con trolled experiments in which full sensory observations can be clearly made, then those findings should be reported to the scientific community at large. I doubt the BCPS will readily collect, much less submit such findings. Any student of freshman- level psychology can also present a compelling and cogent argument on how the human mind may work against itself when fear is experienced. Fear has a way of magnify ing the stimulus and causing physiological reactions such as increased levels of per spiration, adrenaline in the bloodstream, etc. This puts the individual in somewhat of an altered state, at which time he is capable of performing physical acts beyond normal capabilities (for example, lifting larger, heavier objects to free a crushed victim). In this state, mental perceptions are also strained or altered. Allow me to insert here that I am not a profession al scientist or psychologist (I'm sure that is evident). I am a concerned citizen. While many pursue the truth through necromancy, spirit contact through mediums, ghost hunting, divination, and other forms of contacting the deceased (all of which fall under a larger umbrella of witchcraft), I wonder why we aren't more attentive to mat ters of the living. This article has given me further cause for alarm as more evidence that we are truly a culture obsessed with death. The first and ancient king of Israel, Saul, violated God’s law against similar practices and paid for it with his life (I Chronicles 10:13). He want ed to know the outcome of the battle with the Philistines - I'd say he learned the truth about that event, but he missed the greater truth that God loved him and chose him for a specific, more glorious purpose. God wasn’t speaking to Saul, so Saul sought to cir cumvent that channel and gain a glimpse into the future apart from God. Pursuing the truth about the deceased, employing the services of psychics, recording voices - none of that will lead any one to the greater truth about life, and it really won't help anyone understand death in greater detail or depth than scripture has already made known to us. If you want to read a really awesome account at Halloween (or any time), read what happened when Jesus died and rose again. Earthquake, large rocks split ting, and many who were dead were brought back to life and they were seen walk ing around Jerusalem follow ing his resurrection (Matthew 27:51-53). This event was verified by a larger body of witnesses than just the dis ciples - these verses would have been eliminated from the text long ago had they not found acceptance by a larger group who could validate the claims. It is not my aim to spoil anyone’s fun or even ulti mately to disprove paranor mal activity (as if the asser tion were needed). I think the greater question is: Does it even matter? What if there were solid scientific evi dences and objective, con crete facts, that bumps in the night were ghosts or haunts or other such things? Is there any cause to be afraid? For those readers who fear such things, I coun sel you to take comfort and refuge in the truth of the living God who tenaciously guards his own. You have no reason to be afraid, unless you, like Saul, are determined to bypass God in hopes to get at the truth. There is also the mandate to ‘fear not" or ‘do not be afraid’ which occurs more than 60 times in scripture (not the 365 times that some have erroneously noted after viewing the movie, “Facing the Giants"). Mr. Colley of BCPS stated, “I know that there is some thing else out there going on and it’s not just angels and demons . . . There are people that are still here in spirit. Are they waiting for the end of the world, the return of Christ? Who knows?” This logic in this statement self- destructs. Mr. Colley and his team have apparently not been introduced to logic, but I digress. Took carefully at three specific claims imbedded in his statement. He claims to know: 1) something else is out there (though undefined); 2) [it is] not just angels and demons (another issue alto gether); and 3) there are peo ple still here in spirit (but unidentifiable). He attempts to anchor his assumptions with an appeal to Biblical Christianity (angels, demons, and the return of Christ), but his last question assumes the previous state ments are true - statements which have no Biblical basis whatsoever (are ‘they’ wait ing?). The “who” (“people that are still here in spirit") has not been established, at least not by any scientific evidence. But, these are spiritual mat ters, and getting material data from immaterial sources is always tricky (trick or treat?) His last and lingering ques tion is probably the most qualified remark of the whole article: Who knows? God, and God alone. Personally, I think the members of the BCPS have too much free time. If they can not produce any other viable or feasible explana tions for the phenomena they encounter, why not leave it at that? These phenomena are simply unexplainable! Creating local hysteria over open-ended and ill-estab lished science will only lead to serious problems in their personal and professional relationships and life. I have some wonderful suggestions for them and society in general. Cease all recreational forms of horror, gore, violence, and other paranormal interests or activities aimed at magnify ing fear stimuli - cut out the repackaged horror B-movies churned out by Hollywood would-bes, and start reading to fire your imagination. Employ the services of psychics for selecting lottery numbers, but you’ll still be wasting time and money. You want truth? I hope you can handle it, and take a lesson from the life of Saul. I think I’ll establish my own BCPS: the Barrow Christian Polemicist Society! Sincerely, Chris Poole Winder Obama continued from 3A focuses on at-risk youths, said Obama’s victory gives new hope to children. “What this does is it gives every parent like myself an opportunity to sit down with their children and say, ‘You can do that,”’ he said. Lumpkin noted that Obama’s Jan. 20 inauguration will fall one day after the national holiday commemorating the birthday of slain Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. “I think there will be formed a contingency of peo ple who will make the trip to Washington to be part of that event,” Lumpkin said. Winder City Councilman Charlie Eberthart said he believes Obama was destined for greatness. “I think he was born, just like Martin Luther King was born, to break the racial bar rier,” Eberthart said. “Barack Obama was born to become the first African-American president. I think it was God’s calling. “I hope we can move this country forward in a right way and that all races will accept him for who he is, not for the color of his skin. When he made his victory speech last night, he said this is not a black America, it’s not a white America - it’s an America.” Obama received 6,651 votes in Barrow County on Tuesday. That was 62 percent more local votes Democratic nominee John Kerry received in the 2004 general election (4,095) and 82 percent more votes than A1 Gore received in 2000 (3,657). Still, that number fell far short of McCain’s heavy draw of 17,613 votes in Barrow County. The Secret of Success Is To Look Cool And Calm On The Surface And To Be Paddling Like Heck Underneath! At the Barrow Journal, our “success” means doing whatever it takes to help our advertisers be successful. Let us help you with your print and online advertising needs! Call Susan Treadwell at 770 867 NEWS (6397) www.BARROWjOURNAL.com This won’t hurt a bit.. Really! You’ve heard that before, right? Flu shots are now available... Barrow Regional Medical Center will provide FREE flu shots at Beans, Bears & Band-Aids Thursday, Nov 6, 4pm-7pm Winder Community Center YMCA Health Fair Saturday, Nov 15, 10am-4pm Winder YMCA All flu shots will be adult only (15+ yrs, or if received adult flu shot before). Pediatric flu shots must be administered at a physician’s office. Why get a flu shot? THE best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year. How the flu shot works: A flu shot is an inactivated vaccine (containing the killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. About 2 weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus infection develop in the body. ** Information provided by the Centers for Disease Control www.barrowregional.com 316 N. Broad Street 770-867-3400 BARROW Regional Medical Center