Never in my life did I imagine myself going on a paranormal investigation but now I can say I have. This was an optional experience that was offered while taking the Sociology course "Special Topics: Sociology of the Paranormal" with Professor Eaton. This course too I never thought I would be taking but it actually intertwined really well with my Sociology and Religion majors asking the big question: Why do people believe what they believe.

As a Christian, I struggled to decide whether or not I should go but with prayer, I decided to pursue involvement. Then specifically after reading a chapter in one of our class books "Paranormal Nation: Why America Needs Ghosts, UFOs, and Bigfoot" by Marc E. Fitch, I became a little wary of having put my name on the signup sheet. This was because of the emphasis on Satan’s working on their investigations Chapter 8:

“There are negative entities, or demons. These are evil spirits that were never alive and whose sole purpose on earth is to terrorize the living. ‘They hate us [humanity] and they prey on the weak and the sick. They’re cowards who will come at you when you are most vulnerable.’” (Fitch p.163)

Therefore, I decided I was going to take drastic measures by spending time in prayer, writing scripture on my body, wearing a cross, and bringing a Bible all for “protection”. However, after seeking a friend’s opinion I realized how unnecessary all of this was. None of these items are “good luck charms” my friend told me and God’s protection is the Holy Spirit dwelling inside me. So before the investigation I prayed, made sure I had others praying for me and put on The Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20).

The investigation started with a tedious setup of cameras, audio recorders, motion sensors and trigger objects. The first building we investigated was Lane Library and the second was West Hall. For each building, we investigated on three separate floors. As much as you’d like to hear that the books were flying off the walls in Lane Library it was perfectly calm -- although someone did claim to see a large book on a shelf moving. I saw nothing and heard only Professor Eaton’s stomach growling.

Essentially we would go to a spot with our expensive gear and sit in the dark. We would begin by having “controlled silence” in which we listened to the natural noises the building around us made like the boiler rumbling, electrical buzzing, and drippings of pipes. We would then share the sounds we heard before we began talking to the “ghosts”. It would start off like “Hi, I am Noah and these are my friends. We are not here to hurt or scare you but just like to talk with you”. Then people would ask questions with pauses in between in hopes that the audio would pick up a response.

People asked questions like, “What is your name", "How long have you been here", and "How old are you”. Then after sitting for awhile the questions became more threatening like, “Hit one of us to show us your power", "I dare you to knock this chair over", and "hurt me” to which I found myself praying harder but the others seemed intrigued.

The entire investigation I never stopped singing songs in my head that glorified God and spoke of his power. The other students eagerly contributed to asking the "ghosts" questions while I observed not wanted to participate in trying to make contact. I was surprised by how comfortable everyone felt.

“The fantasy of television can often blur truth, reality, and entertainment, and paranormal programs such as Ghost Hunters and A Haunting are subject to producer and editorial revision, rendering us a few steps further from the true story.” (Fitch p.160)

Before I took this course and still now, I do not believe in ghosts or I should say the dictionary’s term for “ghosts”: the soul of a dead person thought of as living in an unseen world or as appearing to living people. I believe that what people experience as “ghosts” are fallen angels trying to deceive us. Satan does everything in his power to twist our perception from the truth of God’s word. Once we humans die I believe we go to one of two places: Heaven or Hell. I do not believe humans spirits linger on earth.

As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so one who goes down to the grave does not return. He will never come to his house again; his place will know him no more.Job 7:9-10 (NIV)

For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten. Their love, their hate, and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun. Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 (NIV)

Overall, I enjoyed the experience but never plan on doing it again and warn against the dangers of opening yourself up to evil. Satan is powerful but God is SO much more. If you have the light of the Holy Spirit dwelling inside you, darkness must flee.

Once I got back to my room, I filled my head with scripture and rested soundly.

“Being a ghost hunter or paranormal investigator can be like standing in the middle of a war zone, a spiritual war zone that tolls casualties of the soul. If you lose control of yourself and surrender to fear, that fear will haunt you until you break physically, emotionally, and mentally.” (Fitch p.166)