In my post yesterday, I quoted some comments by Stephen Braude about how reports of paranormal events are sometimes "similar in so many peculiar details" (The Limits Of Influence [Lanham, Maryland: University Press of America, Inc., 1997], 26). An example I've noticed that goes across multiple types of paranormal phenomena is the involvement of disembodied hands. The appearance of disembodied hands is a recurring theme in Braude's discussions of various mediums in his book cited above (43, 142, 146, etc.). As I've discussed elsewhere, disembodied hands were sometimes reported in the Enfield Poltergeist. The post just linked refers to how Alan Gauld and A.D. Cornell discuss the appearance of disembodied hands in their book on poltergeists and hauntings.
It wouldn't be too hard for people to occasionally lie or be honestly mistaken about seeing a disembodied hand, but the frequency with which it's reported and the highly credible nature of some of those reports are significant. It seems more likely that something paranormal is going on than that all of the witnesses have been mistaken in the same unusual way.
The genuine paranormal entities and/or the human frauds who want to perpetuate hoaxes probably want to add some credibility and gravitas to the experience by mimicking the well known story of the finger and hand that appeared to King Belshazzar in Daniel chapter 5.
ReplyDeleteDan. 5:5 Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote.
Speaking of Daniel, there was a recent debate on whether the book of Daniel is "Prophecy or Forgery?" which had two Christians vs. two atheists. The two Christians were Dr. Stephen Boyce & Jonathan Sheffield. The two atheists Dr. Josh Bowen & Jim Majors.
Then there was a debate review which included both of the Christians who participated in the debate along with atheist Richard Carrier.
Having watched both videos, it's times like these when I especially miss Steve. I wonder how he would have responded to the charges of forgery beyond what he'd already written in past blogs.
I used to see a hand in my room at night when I was a kid. This is the first time I have ever seen a mention of it from someone else. Thanks!
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