Strange Encounters

My interest in the unexplained has taken me on an interesting journey, and I know it will continue. But my outlook has changed quite a bit since I started writing my little articles on these many mysteries. The more research and reading I do about this world and its wonders, the more I learn and grow. Consequently the more skeptical I become of claims of the paranormal or supernatural.

In the beginning I wanted so much for the mysteries to be real. I wanted the reports of encounters with the unexplained, tales of UFOs, Bigfoot and other mysteries of the unknown to be evidence of a greater, stranger reality.

Maybe UFOs are spacecraft piloted by extraterrestrials. Maybe Bigfoot and it's kin, are forms of unknown primates that have managed to remain elusive for centuries; Maybe ghosts are real. We don't know everything, that's true, but when I actually just sit back and think about how fantastic some of these ideas are, and how very little real evidence there is to support them, I must accept the possibility that these things are not real.

Many "believers" insist that skeptics keep an open mind when considering these subjects, but I propose that believers stop believing and open their minds to the other possibility as well. Maybe there is nothing to it after all.

It is imperative that we think for ourselves and expand our knowledge, that is the only way we can truly understand our world and ourselves. The hardest thing is actually accepting that something we've believed in so strongly, and for so long, may actually be untrue. No one wants to admit they may be mistaken, especially if what they believe is part of the framework of their life, and something they have accepted as fact for many years or even decades.

Belief runs rampant among those who are interested in the unexplained or supernatural. Therein lies the problem. Those who fanatically believe in something will avoid facts, and dismiss anything that will change their view because they want so badly for what they believe in to be real. They don't want to accept the possibility that they are wrong.

It's human nature to want to believe in something greater than ourselves; a god, spirits, something unseen moving about, guiding us through our lives. Even UFOs and aliens seem to have some sort of spiritual and religious significance for some believers. The fact is that there is absolutely no proof that such beings exist, but to be fair, there is no proof that such beings don't exist either, however logic and lack of evidence strongly supports the latter.

A system of belief does not prove anything. Only solid evidence can serve as proof, unfortunately there is no solid evidence with regard to any of these mysteries; be it UFOs, alien beings, ghosts, Bigfoot, and at the risk of opening a whole other can of worms, even God.

Many Bigfoot proponents claim that footprint casts, particular pieces of film footage, witness testimony, and other findings serve as evidence of the existence of these creatures. At one time I was inclined to agree, especially with regard to the Paterson Gimlin film footage and many track castings. But upon reading expert testimony with regard to the characteristics of curing plaster I don't necessarily agree that there is evidence of dermal ridges on track casts. I also can't agree with those who claim that the famous PG film of 1967 is proof of an unknown primate.

I'm intrigued by these mysteries, and the unexplained in general. They say everyone loves a mystery, and I'll continue looking at the pictures, listening to the stories, and imagining the ghost in the attic. But I don't really believe there is one up there. It's fun and entertaining but that seems to be about it.

One of my favorite television shows was The X-Files, and I loved the poster that hung in Fox Mulder's office in the basement of the Pentagon. "I want to believe." But I just can't, and you know, the real world isn't such a bad place when you explore scientific realities, astronomy, physics, biology and the host of other scientific disciplines. It's all quite amazing, and dare I say... unbelievable. There are many things in this world that can astound. Real things. It doesn't require a belief in the unknown to be amazed by our world, and the universe around us.