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Paranormal Culpability.


So my Advanced Abnormal Psychology class is discussing our society's obsession with abnormal functioning and how it's celebrated through our media. Awards are given to actors and writers who eloquently depict the life and time of someone suffering a syndrome or disorder caused by Abnormal Functioning. Posted below is my contribution to the discussion.

Abnormal functioning can be explained through several of different veins of understanding. The few that come to mind immediately are: chemical imbalances that can result in syndromes such as Aspberger and autism, personality disorders such as bipolar or ADHD. Then there are characterizations of abnormal functioning that introduce paranormal diagnoses. The term paranormal is an adjective; a further descriptive term to explain a situation usually deemed as a phenomenon. Paranormal is essentially anything that is beyond or contrary to what can be deemed possible or probable. It is usually associated with telekinesis (ability to move objects by using mental power only) or clairvoyant (ability to see into the future). These subjects tend to be of great interest to us because, as human beings and God’s creation, the operational atmosphere of something paranormal isn’t within our realm of natural possibilities. Humans are a motivational species; we set goals and devise plans to help us reach those aspirations or at least to explain away the seemingly inaccessibility of such an ambition. In short – we don’t like to take “no” for an answer. We disregard the traditional boundaries of knowledge. We press through our own limitations to seek answers.  We want to know. We want to understand why. We want to explain how.  We want to make sense of our own “void”: the blank space inside us that can only be filled when we accept Christ and become filled with God’s Spirit.

Our society is largely cultivated through media: movies, novels, social networks, television, etc. The trouble is that our society’s obsession with all things considered paranormal does not address in a positive, self-actualizing light that Spirit-filled Christians can still function as healthy, normal participants of social order. Many actors/authors/screen writers are portraying Christians as socially inept, ham-fisted morons blundering through life, shouting religious idioms, casting judgment on all those around them, or sometimes even living quiet, boring lives. It is no wonder why the masses don’t identify with those characters or seek to mimic them. Instead they begin searching for thrills and answers through other means of entertainment.

I believe we were created with a void deep inside our souls for a purpose. It should be our life’s quest to seek out the spirit of God for that paranormal fulfillment. The Bible is replete with evidence of people being filled with “the Spirit”, “the Holy Spirit”, “God’s Spirit”. One of the most commonly quoted scriptures is Acts 2:38, “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

My personal opinion in regards to our fascination with paranormal activities is that we are naturally inclined to believe the negative in a situation before we accept the positive as a possibility. We prefer to be the victims because that removes the element of culpability; we can’t be held responsible for something out of our control. Therefore we can much sooner make sense of or accept a negative spirit taking over our minds and bodies because being filled with the Holy Spirit takes an effort on our behalf. There are steps and things we must do in order to be a vessel fit for entry of the Holy Spirit. This makes it a purposeful decision, a commitment resulting in accountability. And accountability is scary.

The bottom line is that portraying the negative, since it removes us from the equation as responsible participants, sells more tickets and books. The media thrives on sales, and whatever makes the dollar is what will be created and sold. Proportionately there are more stories told of psychological disorders, abnormal and paranormal functioning, and syndromes out of the victims control, therefore, it makes sense these actors would receive the awards for well-played depictions of such characters.



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