Dear Laura, dear all,
with regard to the believing in ghosts I might propose that it is quite usefull to compare this believe with other believings (specially under museological aspects), - but:
as we have learned to differentiate, we have to ask:
1) In which countries most people believe in ghosts (maybe anglosaxon countries), in which not? Is there an aequivalent?
2) What is a ghost at all?
3) Can ghosts really be compared with things believed, but sometimes really getting reality (I believe in love, in the unforseen like "wonders", in beztter weather tomorrow). I mean - some of these believings can be proven. Ghosts, as we have seen, can not be proven.
4) Ufos, Reincarnation, the resurrection of the flesh, visions of the virgin Mary - these belevings can not be proven too. But there seems to me quite a difference between these believings and the believing in ghosts: According to the folk tales, there are only a few ghosts being nice guys and gals, most of them incl. all mummies and undeads want you to be scared. And here again I have to ask the old latin question "Cui bene?" (advantage for whom?) Who might be interested in a public living in fear? Not in fear of an allseeing god (or the police), but in fear of restless (interesting topic) dammed (too) souls.
Most of the people I met in GB and Ireland mentioning ghosts in their ruins and castles did it with a twinkling eye. It it just this what I miss here in this discussion. For me from another part of the world where ghosts play not role at all, I find it interesting how many statements in this list assume ghosts are existing.
Therefore I ask the list: Are ghost really part of the ICOM term Intangible "Heritage"? (Another problem: "Heritage" is not yet been defined...)
Best regards
Christian Müller-Straten
"Laura Lee" <[log in to unmask]> schrieb:
> Well...I've sat here intrigued by this topic and discussion... It's a good
> one.
>
> I'm guessing that believing in ghosts is like the belief in reincarnation:
> more people & cultures on Earth believe in it than not. You can call it
> goofy, new-agey, psychic-hooey, nonsense, but I'm also guessing crazy
> pioneers like Columbus heard much of the same when he set off into the
> unknown.
>
> Just because we can't see that the Earth is round from where we're standing
> doesn't mean that it isn't.
>
> Laura Lee
> Curator of Collections
> Boulder History Museum
>
> PS: I'm with Fox Mulder...
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> Of Susannah West
> Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 3:13 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [MUSEUM-L] ghosts at historic sites
>
> Though I have no stories to tell about ghosts at the Rankin House, an
> African American tour guide, who brings tour groups to visit the museum,
> says he's seen fugitive slaves slipping through the trees, and heard
> spirituals being sung. Raymond Dobard co-author of the (somewhat
> controversial) book Hidden in Plain View, also claimed to see spirits when
> he visited. Some visitors who say they are "psychic" claim to "feel
> presences" in the House. I have had many people ask me about ghosts,
> including a couple who are collecting Ohio ghost stories.
>
> Susannah West
> John Rankin House
> Ripley, Ohio
>
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