If you have ever lost a close loved one or friend, have you ever seen them in a vision, as an apparition, or in what you think was an hallucination?
I ask because I never have, and that makes me wonder if something is “wrong” with me.
Let me explain. I have just started reading a book about a dialogue between John Dominic Crossan and N.T. Wright regarding the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Crossan thinks the resurrection was not a physical event, attributing it to visions that people typically see after the loss of a loved one. N.T. Wright believes the event was a real, physical event. Both provide good points for their views.
But, the key thing that hit me, for the moment, is Crossan emphasizing how typical it is for people to have visions of lost loved ones. This is not the first time I’ve seen this sort of thing in print. In my readings after the passing of my wife, a little more than 7 years ago, many of the articles and books said that seeing visions of lost loved ones are common. Indeed, my Dad “saw” his mother setting at the kitchen table after she passed away, my Mom had a similar thing happen with her departed dad, and my brother saw (and heard) my late wife when she sat in the passenger side of his car as he was driving.
But I have not seen Vickie, despite the fact that I loved her more than everything else combined. I have not seen my late Dad. Nor any of my departed friends.
So, is there something “not so normal” about me, or are the visions perhaps not as common as they are made out to be? I do know that I am very skeptical, have been all of my life, and very apt to not believe in something that does not have a naturalistic explanation. Does this keep me from seeing Vickie, and Dad, and others?
I have had a couple of lucid dreams, in which Vickie seemed so real in the dreams that it startled me into waking up. And that sense of realness lingered for a long while after the dreams. It was spooky. But that’s it. No visions. No apparitions. No hallucinations.
I know this is off the beaten path for a topic, but I would be interested in hearing from you, if you don’t mind sharing your experiences in this area.
I am of a similar mental outlook as you: I believe that events labeled as “supernatural” always have some sort of rational explanation.
That being said, I’ve had “hallucinations” of deceased people on infrequent occasions over the years. These have always taken the form of their speaking a word or sentence to me out of the blue — never any visual hallucinations. I do not believe these are manifestations from beyond the grave; they are just manifestations of the activity of my subconscious mind, nothing more or less.
I believe hallucinations are just that: hallucinations, mental constructions. The fact that you have never had any hallucinations involving departed loved ones simply means that you are “wired” not to have them. This is not a deficit on your part; it’s just the way it is.
So, bottom line, I don’t think there is a “normal” as regards hallucinations in people without mental illnesses. Some people have them and some don’t for a variety of reasons, all value-neutral. The fact that you don’t have hallucinations is neither normal nor abnormal: It just is. And it is not a cause for concern.
A very insightful comment, Mike. Thank you very much.
unfortunatly, i must tell you that you never see actual ghosts, only demons. wolves in sheep’s clothing. the dead are asleep…and well…
i see them too. too often for my comfort.
there isn’t anything wrong with you. i promise. but if i were you, i’d tell them to go away. never converse to them. ever.
I know some people believe this, but I assume you are joking. So, haha.