Do you believe in ghosts?

[JAB]

Thanks Bearman, All good jokes and joshin aside, Mamaw Delius could tell a tale and did many that would make a grown man turn white. I'm not a very good typer but if anyone has interest I'll post a couple of other tales. One that I mentioned earlier was about a young fox hunter who had a encounter with a wolly bugger in Sevier County. Many years later, I learned that Woolybugger was an accepted name for what most of us know as Bigfoot. Not sayin that I've seen him or believe just relaying a good tale

While I have had real experiences with things I can't explain, I also love to hear a good tale about ghosts - especially Appalachian tales of spooks, haints, boogers and the like. It sounds like your mamaw (and you) have a gift for telling those tales.

Others on the forum have mentioned The Foxfire Books - a series of books about Appalachian culture that cover everything from home remedies to shaped note singing to bear hunting. The second book in the series has a section where some Appalachian old-timers are interviewed regarding their thoughts on such things and a few of them even have a tale or two to tell.

Also, there was an writer named Manly Wade Wellman who wrote many books on various subjects - both fiction and nonfiction. Some of his best known books, though, are horror/fantasy tales - especially stories about a character named, simply, John (sometimes known as John the Balladeer or Silver John.) In the stories, John is a wanderer who likes to travel around (walking mostly) in the Appalachian region. He is a good guitarist and sometimes competes in music contests. He carries a guitar strung with silver strings and is a very good, wholesome person. He isn't what you would call a true wizard or magician but does have some knowledge of - and skill in - Appalachian folk magic. He uses this knowledge to help the folks he encounters overcome enemies of a 'darker' supernatural nature - usually creatures, haints, etc. inspired by Appalachian legends and lore. Great stuff!

Edited April 9, 2010 by JAB

[Guest Jamie]

As a Christian and a believer that the Bible is true, I do not believe in spirits walking the earth.

Then you should read the bible a little more carfully, 'cause it mentions "unrested spirits" or something of the like in there, as well as demons and such. ( No, I can't quote chapter and verse; it's been a long time since I read it. )

Having spent a great deal of time in a house that would qualify as haunted, I don't have much choice but to believe that there's something that we usually refer to as ghosts... But as to the exact nature of that "something", I have no clue. Might be the left-overs of dead people, might be something entirely unrelated.

J.