# data[].attributes.body
By: Amy McHugh, Melissa McClatchey, Kaitlyn Ihasz

# data[].attributes.body
The red flag of All Natural is defined as something that is composed of ingredients or an ingredient itself that are/is from nature and has no artificial or synthetic additives. Something that is considered “all natural” should be 100% safe and healthy; although, there are many “natural” things that can still harm us greatly.

This video goes through a list of 25 different “all natural” items/foods that people encounter every day. The video gives information regarding each item and how just because they are considered “natural” does not mean they are technically good for us. These items range from water, to mushrooms to beauty products.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
25 All Natural Things That Can Be Harmful To You

# data[].attributes.body
The red flag Conformation Bias is defined as the tendency of humans to search for, believe or recall only information that confirms or supports their own belief or values on a topic. Many people have a set of beliefs and values that they do not want to stray from or open their mind to other opinions. These individuals will purposely only look for “evidence” that proves what they already think. This is an example of how humans process information; whether it is because it seems “easier” and less overwhelming, to protect their self-esteem, or their relationship with the person who told them.

This image depicts two individuals who enjoy watching the news, however they will only watch one news station because it speaks to their values and beliefs. Many people have different beliefs when it comes to what the news stations report; politics for example. This leads them to purposely choose to watch the news station that is tailored to their views and values, without giving the other channels a chance to open their mind and possibly challenge their beliefs.

# data[].attributes.body
Appeal to authority is an argument based on a certain logic that a figure “claims” to be true. This type of logic is believed due to the fact that the statement is being made by someone who is said to have “authority” on the topic or subject. Rather than focusing on the evidence or facts, people are intrigued by the idea of something based off of who is promoting it. This concept is commonly seen with celebrity endorsements.

The link below is a commercial for a skincare brand called Aveeno featuring Jennifer Anniston as the promoter of the product. In the ad, Jennifer Anniston is talking about a healthy lifestyle along with healthy skin which can be achieved through the use of Aveeno. “Naturally beautiful results” is the claim being made by the celebrity, which will easily be believed by viewers who are fans of Jennifer Anniston or even those who just simply know of her. Commercials like this can often influence people to believe that if a celebrity uses it then it must be a good product, thus encouraging others to try the product themselves.

# data[].attributes.headline
Post #10 Critical Thinking of the Aveeno Commercial

# data[].attributes.subject
Post #10 Critical Thinking of the Aveeno Commercial

# data[].attributes.body
Define Problem:
The problem is that the brand, Aveeno is promoting a product used by a well known celebrity that has easy access to a healthy lifestyle and enhancements to make herself look better. Aveeno claims that having a healthy lifestyle and using Aveeno will get rid of dry skin in just one day.
Gather Information:
The commercial for Aveeno featuring Jennifer Anniston, is to promote a daily skin moisturizer. The pros to this commercial is that the product uses natural ingredients, credits a famous actress that has flawless skin from using the product and claims to give the best results in two weeks. The arguments against this commercial is that it uses the appeal to authority red flag with including Jennifer Anniston, making people want to purchase this product. Another con to this commercial is that it gives off the illusion that anyone could look like Jennifer Anniston if they used Aveeno, which is not true.
Evaluate Evidence:
The source is credible and there are reviews for this specific product to prove it. The ingredients of this product are claimed to be natural, absorb well into the skin, and improve dry skin within two weeks. All of these claims have been proven to be correct on the Aveeno website and especially under the reviews from customers.
Recognize Assumptions, Emotions and Biases:
The personal assumptions and emotions from this ad is that peoples skin will look as heathy and beautiful like Jennifer Anniston's skin. A personal bias is for individuals to only buy this product because their favourite actress is promoting it. The potential impacts of all of these are that the customer will be disappointed by this product and end up feeling upset as to why their skin did not look like Jennifer Anniston's.
Synthesize Evidence and Identify Alternatives:
A few alternate solutions to promoting this product would be using a "normal" person instead of a well-known celebrity and showing more pictures of real results from customers. Using a "normal" person instead of a celebrity would show customers that the brand is more focused on the results from their customers, rather than getting a celebrity to promote the product, merely to sell more and make more money. Secondly, using pictures that include real life results would show customers that the product does really work and that their money is not being wasted.
Select Best Alternative:
The best alternative for this commercial would be to show real life examples of customers using the product. It would be helpful for future customers if the brand included pictures and reviews to prove that their product succeeds all the claims that are made.

# data[].attributes.body
Ancient wisdom can be described as a certain practice from long ago that people believe is very beneficial or holistic. It is commonly focused on treatment models or healing approaches that have been around for a very long time. This can be seen as alternative medication therapies from the age of “wisdom” from ancient civilization times. Although some people have strong opinions on these methods being “superior”, this is often false as there were less resources available during these times.

Before prescription medications were available, people relied on the use of plant and animal products for medicinal purposes. In the article below are 7 examples of ancient medical techniques. Animal products such as lizard blood and horse saliva are some of techniques that were used as topical ointments in ancient Egypt. One of the more common techniques was the use of cannabis for curative purposes and this is still something that we see in today’s society. This demonstrates ancient wisdom, as all of these medical treatment techniques were from ancient times and some are still even used in today's society.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
1. Bloodletting

For thousands of years, medical practitioners clung to the belief that sickness was merely the result of a little "bad blood." Bloodletting probably began with the ancient Sumerians and Egyptians, but it didn't become common practice until the time of classical Greece and Rome. Influential physicians like Hippocrates and Galen maintained that the human body was filled with four basic substances, or "humors"-yellow bile, black bile, phlegm and blood-and these needed to be kept in balance to maintain proper health. With this in mind, patients with a fever or other ailment were often diagnosed with an overabundance of blood. To restore bodily harmony, their doctor would simply cut open a vein and drain some of their vital fluids into a receptacle. In some cases, leeches were even used to suck the blood directly from the skin.

While it could easily result in accidental death from blood loss, phlebotomy endured as a common medical practice well into the 19th century. Medieval doctors prescribed blood draining as a treatment for everything from a sore throat to the plague, and some barbers listed it as a service along with haircuts and shaves. The practice finally fell out of vogue after new research showed that it might be doing more harm than good, but leeching and controlled bloodletting are still used today as treatments for certain rare illnesses.

2. Trepanation

Humanity's oldest form of surgery is also one of its most gruesome. As far back as 7,000 years ago, civilizations around the world engaged in trepanation-the practice of boring holes in the skull as a means of curing illnesses. Researchers can only speculate on how or why this grisly form of brain surgery first developed. A common theory holds that it may have been some form of tribal ritual or even a method for releasing evil spirits believed to possess the sick and mentally ill. Still others argue that it was a more conventional surgery used to treat epilepsy, headaches, abscesses and blood clots. Trepanned skulls found in Peru hint that it was also a common emergency treatment for cleaning out bone fragments left behind by skull fractures, and evidence shows that many of the patients survived the surgery.

3. Mercury

Mercury is notorious for its toxic properties, but it was once used as a common elixir and topical medicine. The ancient Persians and Greeks considered it a useful ointment, and second-century Chinese alchemists prized liquid mercury, or "quicksilver," and red mercury sulfide for their supposed ability to increase lifespan and vitality. Some healers even promised that by consuming noxious brews containing poisonous mercury, sulfur and arsenic, their patients would gain eternal life and the ability to walk on water. One of the most famous casualties of this diet was the Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang, who supposedly died after ingesting mercury pills designed to make him immortal.

From the Renaissance until the early 20th century, Mercury was also used as a popular medicine for sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis. While some accounts claimed the heavy metal treatment was successful in fighting off the infection, patients often died from liver and kidney damage caused by mercury poisoning.

4. Animal Dung Ointments

The ancient Egyptians had a remarkably well-organized medical system, complete with doctors who specialized in healing specific ailments. Nevertheless, the cures they prescribed weren't always up to snuff. Lizard blood, dead mice, mud and moldy bread were all used as topical ointments and dressings, and women were sometimes dosed with horse saliva as a cure for an impaired libido.

Most disgusting of all, Egyptian physicians used human and animal excrement as a cure-all remedy for diseases and injuries. According to 1500 B.C.'s Ebers Papyrus, donkey, dog, gazelle and fly dung were all celebrated for their healing properties and their ability to ward off bad spirits. While these repugnant remedies may have occasionally led to tetanus and other infections, they probably weren't entirely ineffective-research shows the microflora found in some types of animal dung contain antibiotic substances.

5. Cannibal Cures

Suffering from persistent headaches, muscle cramps or stomach ulcers? Once upon a time, your local physician may have prescribed an elixir containing human flesh, blood or bone. So-called "corpse medicine" was a disturbingly common practice for hundreds of years. The Romans believed that the blood of fallen gladiators could cure epilepsy, and 12th century apothecaries were known for keeping a stock of "mummy powder"-a macabre extract made from ground up mummies looted from Egypt. Meanwhile, in 17th century England, King Charles II was known for enjoying a draught of "King's Drops," a restorative brew made from crumbled human skull and alcohol.

These cannibalistic medicines were thought to have magical properties. By consuming the remains of a deceased person, the patient also ingested part of their spirit, leading to increased vitality and wellbeing. The type of cure prescribed usually corresponded to the type of ailment-skull was used for migraines, and human fat for muscle aches-but getting fresh stock could be a gruesome process. In some cases, the sickly would even attend executions in the hope of getting a cheap cup of the freshly killed person's blood.

6. Wandering Womb

Ancient Greek doctors believed that a woman's womb was a separate creature with a mind of its own. According to the writings of Plato and Hippocrates, when a woman was celibate for an extended time, her uterus-described as a "living animal" eager to bear children-could dislodge and glide freely about her body causing suffocation, seizures and hysteria. This curious diagnosis endured in some form into the time of the Romans and Byzantines-well after doctors had learned that the womb was held in place by ligaments.

To prevent their wombs from going on walkabout, ancient women were counseled to marry young and bear as many children as possible. For a womb that had already broken free, doctors prescribed therapeutic baths, infusions and physical massages to try to force it back in position. They might even "fumigate" the patient's head with sulfur and pitch while simultaneously rubbing pleasant-smelling lotions between her thighs -the logic being that the womb would flee from the bad smells and move back into its rightful place.

7. Babylonian Skull Cure

For the ancient Babylonians, most illnesses were thought to be the result of demonic forces or punishment by the gods for past misdeeds. Doctors often had more in common with priests and exorcists than modern physicians, and their cures usually involved some component of magic. For example, if a patient ground their teeth, the healer might suspect that the ghost of a deceased family member was trying to contact them as they slept. According to ancient necromantic texts, the doctor would recommend sleeping by a human skull for a week as a way of exorcising the spirit. To ensure this disturbing treatment worked, the tooth-grinder was also instructed to kiss and lick the skull seven times each night.

Fact Check

We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
7 Unusual Ancient Medical Techniques | HISTORY

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Doctors are supposed to operate under the maxim "do no harm," but history shows this has sometimes been easier said than done.

# data[].attributes.body
Mystical energy is false energy; made up to sound scientific. New age practitioners seem to think that energy is a "cloud" that can go wherever it is needed. Mystical energy does not use scientific measurements or information to prove that it is real. An individual practicing spiritually or paranormal activity would be using mystical energy, but if the term energy were to be replaced with measurable, it would not make any sense as mystical energy is not scientifically proven.

The link below is for a website that speaks on the use of crystals. Crystals have been around for decades and have been believed to heal people's energy through their mind, body and soul. People are drawn to these crystals for their unique colours, shapes and sizes. Crystals have not been scientifically proven to show any healing capability; physically and mentally, but since there is explanations behind each crystal, people believe that their healing powers are real.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
There's been a recent uptick in American adults turning to what's known as complementary and alternative medicine. This includes everything from acupuncture and yoga to tai chi and even healing crystals.

In fact, you've probably heard people talking about, and showing off, these beautiful stones. But you may not know what they could offer you.

There are a number of different types of crystals, each filled with their own healing abilities for the mind, body, and soul. They're thought to promote the flow of good energy and help rid the body and mind of negative energy for physical and emotional benefits.

Historically speaking, crystals are touted as ancient forms of medicine, with philosophies borrowed from Hinduism and Buddhism. However, it's important to know that there's no scientific evidence to support the use of crystals. Despite this, people are still drawn to their colors and beauty.

The key to indulging in this self-care experience is mindfulness, reflection, and acceptance. For instance, researchers found that a person's mind may have much more healing power than it's given credit.

Even though there isn't a great deal of scientific support of crystals, a number of people swear by their powers. So, if you're curious to give them a go, make sure to keep an open mind and check out what each stone can do for you.

To help you get started, we compiled a comprehensive roundup of some of the most popular crystals.

Clear quartz

This white crystal is considered a "master healer." It's said to amplify energy by absorbing, storing, releasing, and regulating it. It's also said to aid concentration and memory. Physically, clear crystals are claimed to help stimulate the immune system and balance out your entire body. This stone is often paired with others like rose quartz to aid and enhance their abilities.

Rose quartz

Just as the color may suggest, this pink stone is all about love. It's said to help restore trust and harmony in all different kinds of relationships while improving their close connections. It's also claimed to help provide comfort and calm during times of grief.

It isn't all about other people, though. Rose quartz is said to also encourage love, respect, trust, and worth within one's self - something we could all use in this day and age.

Jasper

This smooth crystal is known as the "supreme nurturer." It's said to empower the spirit and support you through times of stress by preparing you to fully "show up." It's claimed to protect you from and absorb negative vibes while promoting courage, quick thinking, and confidence. These are traits that are extra helpful when tackling important issues - which is exactly what this stone may be good for.

Obsidian

An intensely protective stone, obsidian is said to help form a shield against physical and emotional negativity. It's also said to help get rid of emotional blockage and promote qualities of strength, clarity, and compassion to help find your true sense of self. For your physical body, it may aid in digestion and detoxification while potentially helping reduce pain and cramps.

Citrine

Bring joy, wonder, and enthusiasm to every part of your life with citrine. It's said to help you release negative traits from your life like fear, and in turn help encourage optimism, warmth, motivation, and clarity. It's also claimed to enhance mindful qualities, like creativity and concentration.

Turquoise

This blue crystal has powers that are said to help heal the mind, body, and soul. Generally speaking, it's seen as a good luck charm that can help balance your emotions while finding your spiritual groundings. When it comes to the body, it's said to benefit the respiratory, skeletal, and immune system.

Tiger's eye

If you're in need of a power or motivation boost, this golden stone may be for you. It's said to help rid your mind and body of fear, anxiety, and self-doubt. This can be beneficial for career aspirations or even matters of the heart. Tiger's eye is also said to help guide you to harmony and balance to help you make clear, conscious decisions.

Amethyst

This purple stone is said to be incredibly protective, healing, and purifying. It's claimed it can help rid the mind of negative thoughts and bring forth humility, sincerity, and spiritual wisdom. It's also said to help promote sobriety. Sleep is another claimed benefit of this stone, from supposedly aiding in insomnia relief to understanding dreams. Physically, it's said to boost hormone production, cleanse blood, and relieve pain and stress.

Moonstone

Known for "new beginnings," moonstone is said to encourage inner growth and strength. When starting fresh, this stone is purported to also soothe those uneasy feelings of stress and instability so you're able to move forward successfully. It's also claimed to promote positive thinking, intuition, and inspiration while bringing forth success and good fortune.

Bloodstone

This powerful healing stone lives up to its name. Bloodstone is claimed to help cleanse the blood by drawing off bad environmental energies and improving circulation. Mindfully speaking, it encourages selflessness, creativity, and idealism while helping you live within the current moment. It's also said it can also help you rid yourself of feelings of irritability, aggressiveness, and impatience.

Sapphire

This blue stone is one of wisdom and royalty. It's said it can attract prosperity, happiness, and peace while opening up the mind to accept beauty and intuition. As for physical health, this stone is claimed to also help heal eye issues, cellular levels, and blood disorders while also easing depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

Ruby

A red standout, this stone helps restore vitality and energy levels. This can help improve things such as sensuality, sex, and intellect. It's also said to help bring self-awareness and the realization of truth to one's mind. Rubies were used in ancient times to help remove toxins from blood and improve the overall circulatory system.

First things first: Identify what you feel you're missing before looking into what stones can provide you. This will help you indicate what's going on within yourself before depending on outside sources.

From there, just let your intuition choose what's best for you. Whether a crystal catches your eye or you can feel a physical pull toward one, your inner subconscious will help guide you to the crystal that's right for you. Once it's pick out, you can create the connection you need.

When you first bring your crystal home, you'll want to cleanse away any negativity it may have picked up. You can hold it under cold, running water from a tap or rinse it in a natural source of water. Either way, be sure the water is cool, not warm or hot.

Add a bit of sea salt to the cleanse or burn sage to really help it get rid of unwanted energies. You can also leave it out to dry in morning sunlight or full moon light to let the light filter through.

It's not just about their physical care, though. For crystals to work their magic, you mentally have to remove the negative energy or skepticism you may have about their capabilities. It's important to respect what they can do for you.

The main benefit of crystals may be their healing abilities. But if we're being perfectly honest, they're also really beautiful. So it's no surprise people make tons of accessories out of them, like jewelry or home decorations. Not only will the crystals look nice, keeping good energy around never hurt anyone.

Prayer beads

Crystal prayer beads are worn against the heart to inspire all kinds of positive feelings, whether it be hope, courage, or peace. They're a great way for anyone to carry around the healing powers of crystals.

Jewelry

Jewelry is another great way to incorporate a crystal's abilities. Not to mention, it also allows you to show off each stone's beauty.

Coasters

These stunning coasters are made from genuine gemstones from Brazil. The agate stone in this household item will help promote balance and harmony within the home. These are ideal for those who want to bring good energies into their abode.

Sex toys

These crystal sex toys mix their energies with your sexual energy to help provide pure, sexual pleasure. They're great tools for those who've been in a sexual rut to help them get open up.

Pipes

Believe it or not, you can even smoke out of crystal-made hand pipes. They're smooth, easy to use, and sturdy. This makes them a great gift for anyone who uses medical marijuana to manage a health condition.

Water bottles

Trendy water bottles are just as trendy as crystals now, so it's no surprise the two have been merged into one. In the bottom of these beautiful glass bottles sits a "gem pod." It's said to promote everything from wellness and beauty to balance. This is the perfect accessory to bring to your next yoga practice.

If you're already skeptical about these healing crystals, then they likely won't do you any good. They're unlikely to do you any harm, though. While there's no scientific evidence for crystals, that hasn't stopped people from trying them.

An open mind is key to obtaining the positive qualities these beautiful stones can offer. Whether it's overall good energy you want or specific healing powers, there's nothing wrong with giving crystals an honest try. Who knows - you might be pleasantly surprised.
Emily Rekstis is a New York City-based beauty and lifestyle writer who writes for many publications, including Greatist, Racked, and Self. If she's not writing at her computer, you can probably find her watching a mob movie, eating a burger, or reading a NYC history book. See more of her work on her website, or follow her on.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Healing Crystals 101: Finding the Right One for You

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Despite the lack of scientific research, a number of people swear by the powers of crystals. So, if you're curious to give them a go, make sure to keep an open mind and check out what each stone can do for you.

# data[].attributes.body
Agenticity is defined as humans natural act of “assigning” a meaning or deep connection to a particular invisible being. These beings can come in the form of ghosts, spirits, gods, souls, angels, aliens, demons and more. People believe that not only do these beings exist but that they have some sort of “power” and intention in their lives. There are many conspiracies behind the idea of these agents and what their purpose is. For example, some believe aliens are brought here to warn humans of something bad coming; or, angles are protecting and guiding us.

This article from The Atlantic discusses and questions why people believe in ghosts/spirits. It goes into detail of surveys done showing that a significant portion of the population (40-50%) believes in ghosts. The article discusses that the reason for believing for many comes from reports of people having paranormal experiences. For most individuals who stand behind the idea of agenticity there is a feeling of emotional connection, for example a family member who has passed away and they feel they have a “guardian angel”. There is also the belief that people who have had paranormal experiences were hallucinating or perceiving something wrong.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In June, Sheila Sillery-Walsh, a British tourist visiting the historic island prison of Alcatraz in San Francisco, claimed that she captured an image of a ghost in a picture she snapped on her iPhone. In the frame of what was otherwise supposed to be a picture of an empty prison cell was a blurry black-and-white image of a woman. The story, which was printed in the British tabloid the Daily Mail, featured on the Bay Area's local KRON4 TV station and mocked by SFist, isn't the first time the Daily Mail has claimed that strange images have come up on smart devices.

Normally, a paranormal story wouldn't catch my attention, but a few months before the story came out, a Spanish friend of mine named Laura showed me a weird image she found on her phone while I was traveling in Madrid. The photo, taken on her iPhone while on a trip to Ethiopia, shows a boy looking down at leaves he is holding in his hands. Seemingly superimposed onto the boy is another image of the boy, hands in a different position and eyes looking straight at the camera.

Laura was convinced she captured an image of a ghost.

Then a few weeks later I discovered an image of a man in the background of a photo I took with my own iPhone. The picture was taken in my apartment and the man, whom I can't identify, was not actually in the apartment at the time. I've been using the photo to scare my friends, and myself, ever since.

Recent surveys have shown that a significant portion of the population believes in ghosts, leading some scholars to conclude that we are witnessing a revival of paranormal beliefs in Western society. A Harris poll from last year found that 42 percent of Americans say they believe in ghosts. The percentage is similar in the United Kingdom, where 52 percent of respondents indicated that they believed in ghosts in a recent poll. Though it's tough to estimate how large the paranormal tourism industry is-tours of sites that are supposedly haunted (rather than staged haunted houses)-there are 10,000 haunted locations in the U.K. according to the country's tourist board, and sites like HauntedRooms.co.uk list dozens of allegedly haunted hotels where curious visitors can stay. In the U.S., residents of places like Ellicott City in Howard County, Maryland, pride themselves on their haunted heritage.

While the terms spirit and ghost are related and even interchangeable in some languages, the word ghost in English tends to refer to the soul or spirit of a deceased person that can appear to the living. In A Natural History of Ghosts, Roger Clarke discusses nine varieties of ghosts identified by Peter Underwood, who has studied ghost stories for decades. Underwood's classification of ghosts includes elementals, poltergeists, historical ghosts, mental imprint manifestations, death-survival ghosts, apparitions, time slips, ghosts of the living, and haunted inanimate objects.

It seems that belief in ghosts is even more widespread in much of Asia, where ghosts are characterized as neutral and can be appeased through rituals or angered if provoked (as opposed to our scarier depictions of ghosts in the West), according to Justin McDaniel, a professor of religious studies and director of the Penn Ghost Project at the University of Pennsylvania. "[Ghosts in Asia] can be asked for help in healing humans, winning the lottery and protecting one while traveling or while pregnant," he says. "Like American ghosts, they have an attachment to the human realm which keeps them haunting and helping humans."

In China, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand, the seventh month of the lunar calendar (which falls in August this year) ushers in the Hungry Ghost Festival, when it is believed that ghosts of the deceased are temporarily released from the lower realm to visit the living. In Taiwan, some people believe that the presence of wandering ghosts during Ghost Month can cause accidents to the living. At least one study has shown that people avoid risky behaviors during this time, including those in bodies of water, reducing the number of deaths by drowning.

"Like in the West," McDaniel says, "people in Asia have kept their belief in ghosts despite the rise of science, skepticism, secularism, and public education. In places like Japan where secularism is very strong, the belief in ghosts is still high. Even hypermodern and liberal Scandinavia has a high percentage of people believing in ghosts."

It turns out that a significant number of people report having personally experienced paranormal activity. In a study published in 2011, 28.5 percent of undergraduate students surveyed at a southern university reported having had a paranormal experience. In a 2006 Reader's Digest poll, 20 percent of respondents (21 percent of women and 16 percent of men) reported that they had seen a ghost at some time in their lives.

But it's also true that if you already believe in ghosts, or are told a place is haunted, you are more likely to interpret events as paranormal. A 2002 study found that believers in ghosts were more likely than nonbelievers to report unusual phenomena while touring a site in Britain with a reputation for being haunted. Visitors who were told that there was a recent increase in unusual phenomena occurring at the site also reported a higher number of unusual experiences on the tour.

Another study demonstrated that hearing or reading about paranormal narratives, especially when the story came from a credible source, was enough to increase paranormal beliefs among participants. With the abundance of ghost-hunting shows in the U.S. and the UK, like Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures and Most Haunted, which is returning to screens this fall, it's probably not surprising that studies have also linked belief in ghosts with exposure to paranormal-related TV shows.

"What we have is people trying to make sense of something that, to them, seems inexplicable," says Christopher French, a professor of psychology and head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at Goldsmiths, University of London. "So you get the misinterpretation of noises or visual effects that do have a normal explanation, but not one that people can think of. People assume that if they cannot explain something in natural terms, then it must be something paranormal."

According to French, hallucinations are more common among the general population than most people realize, and are sometimes wrongly interpreted as ghosts. He points to sleep paralysis-a phenomenon that occurs when someone wakes up while still in the dream-inducing REM stage of sleep, in which your body is paralyzed-as one example. Studies have shown that around 30 to 40 percent of people have experienced sleep paralysis at least once in their lives, with about five percent of participants reporting visual and audio hallucinations, including the presence of monstrous figures, and difficulty breathing.

The experience has been interpreted as paranormal in several cultures. In a study done in Hong Kong, for example, 37 percent of students reported at least one instance of what they refer to as "ghost oppression." In Thailand, the term for sleep paralysis- phi um-translates to "ghost covered." In Newfoundland, Canada, it is known as a visit from the " Old Hag." The woman in Swiss artist Henry Fuseli's famous 18th century painting, " The Nightmare," is said by French and other researchers to be suffering an episode of sleep paralysis.

Michael Shermer, author of The Believing Brain, argues that we see causal, intentional relationships-even when they don't exist-because it is evolutionarily advantageous to do so and because humans have the tendency to look at patterns and see them as deliberate. In a column for Scientific American, Shermer writes, "We believe that these intentional agents control the world, sometimes invisibly from the top down (as opposed to bottom-up causal randomness). Together patternicity and agenticity form the cognitive basis of shamanism, paganism, animism, polytheism, monotheism, and all modes of Old and New Age spiritualisms."
"People assume that if they can't explain something in natural terms, then it must be something paranormal."
One example of this is our tendency to see faces in random images, a phenomenon called pareidolia. In a study conducted at the University of British Columbia, researchers Aiyana Willard and Ara Norenzayan found that participants with a higher tendency to anthropomorphize-meaning those that are more likely to assign human qualities to nonhuman things-were also more likely to have paranormal beliefs.

"There is also the emotional motivation for these beliefs," French says. "The vast majority of us don't like the idea of our own mortality. Even though we find the idea of ghosts and spirits scary, in a wider context, they provide evidence for the survival of the soul."

With that in mind, I reached out to Apple Inc. for a comment on the images at the start of this article. A representative for the company was kind enough to check out the images, but didn't have a comment for the story. And though a few independent analysts had a good look at the photos and suggested that Laura's could be something related to high-dynamic range photography, no one was able to come up with a definitive explanation for the man in my apartment.

Maybe more images like mine will surface and someone will come up with a technical explanation for these spectral iPhone photos.

Or maybe, it's just a ghost.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
episode of sleep paralysis.michael shermer

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In June, Sheila Sillery-Walsh, a British tourist visiting the historic island prison of Alcatraz in San Francisco, claimed that she captured an image of a ghost in a picture she snapped on her iPhone. In the frame of what was otherwise supposed to be a picture of an empty prison cell was a blurry black-and-white image of a woman.

# data[].attributes.body
A system of beliefs, values, theories and/or policies one may follow. The most common example is the ideology of religion or spirituality and the set of values that follow each. There are many other forms of ideology such as politics, economics, culturalism and more.

In the attached website, there is a list of basic duties and rights that a Catholic person would follow. Every religion is different with their own set of duties, but this is for a practicing Catholic. This demonstrates ideology as there is a set of beliefs and values that a Catholic individual would live by to maintain and respect their religion.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Role of Law in the Church

Despite its spiritual nature, the Church on earth is composed of imperfect human beings. Thus laws are needed, just as in civil society, to protect the rights of the People of God, and also to prescribe their responsibilities as members of the Christian community.
It is important at the outset not to confuse Church law and moral law.... Church law governs the external relationships of individuals in the Christian community. In itself it does not bind under pain of sin, although sin may well be involved when Church law is transgressed....
The direct relationship of the individual to God is governed by a higher law, which includes the moral norms.... Transgression of moral law involves sin.
Canon law requires that its laws must indeed be obeyed, but with the following understanding: When the spiritual needs of the individual or group are such that strict adherence to the law would prove counter-productive, or when there is doubt about how to apply the law to a particular situation, the obligations of the law may be removed by one having the authority [to remove them]....
The Church is a multifaceted society -- all of its various aspects,...even its laws, are ordered to a supernatural end.... By keeping this in mind, we can see the canons not as a collection of restricting rules, but as a guide to living the Christian life within a specific community, the Catholic Church.
-- Thomas P. Doyle OP. Rights and Responsibilities -- A Catholic's Guide to the New Code of Canon Law (Pueblo, 1983).

* * *

Duties We Have As Catholics
1.To maintain communion with the Church and fulfil our Christian duties. (209)
2. To seek the truth about God and the Church; to embrace that truth and keep it.
(748)
3. To obey Church authority. (212)
4. To express to Church authorities our viewpoint on matters which affect the
Church. (212)
5. To lead a holy life. (210)
6. To assist at Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation; to abstain from work
or business that inhibits worship, celebration or relaxation on those days.
(1247)
7. To take an active part in the celebration of Mass and to receive Communion
frequently. (898)
8. To receive Communion at least once a year, during the Easter season. (920)
9. To abstain from food and drink (other than water) one hour before receiving
Communion. (919)
10. To refrain from receiving Communion if under the penalty of excommunication,
interdict, or grave sin. (915, 916)
11. To make an individual and complete confession of all grave sins, unless
physically or morally unable to do so. (960)
12. To confess grave sins by kind and number at least once a year. (988, 989)
13. To be Confirmed at the proper time. (890)
14. To be married in the presence of a priest (or a lay person designated by the
bishop) and two witnesses. (1108, 1112, 1119)
15. To do penance and observe special days of penance established by the
Church (such as the Fridays and the season of Lent). (1250)
16. To fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. (1251)
17. To proclaim the Gospel and give witness to Christian faith by our activity in the
world. (211, 225)
18. To reject doctrines contrary to the teaching of the Scriptures or those proposed
as divinely revealed by the Church. (750)
19. To give "religious submission of intellect and will" to doctrines declared to be
matters of faith and morals by the Church. (752)
20. To adhere with a "religious submission of mind" to the authentic teachings of
the bishops. (753)
21. To observe other decrees which Church authorities issue to define doctrine or
erroneous opinions. (754)
22. To fulfill the responsibilities to one's spouse and family incurred by marriage.
(1134, 1135)
23. To build up the family of God through our marriage and family. (226)
24. To baptize our children and raise them in the Catholic faith. (867, 1366)
25. To provide for the religious education of our children. (226, 774)
26. To establish, promote and maintain Catholic schools. (800)
27. To promote social justice according to the Church's teaching. (222)
28. To care for the needs of the poor. (222)
29. To support the church financially. (222, 1262)

* * *

Rights We Have As Catholics
1. To be recognized as fundamentally equal with all other Christians. (208)
2. To be free from being forced to embrace the Catholic faith against our
conscience. (748)
3. To cooperate in building up the Body of Christ and spreading the Gospel. (208,
211, 225)
4. To make our spiritual needs known to our pastors. (212)
5. To express our opinion to Church authorities concerning what is good for the
Church. (212)
6. To choose our vocation or state in life. (219)
7. To worship according to our own rite and to follow our own form of spirituality.
(214)
8. To hear the Word of God and receive the sacraments. (213, 843)
9. To receive Holy Communion if we have sufficient understanding and are not
forbidden to do so by Church law. (912, 913)
10. To have our confession heard by a priest who is suitably prepared. (970)
11. To confess to a priest of our own choice. (991)
12. To be granted absolution without delay if there is no doubt about the sincerity
of our confession. (980)
13. To have our confession treated in absolute confidentiality; to be protected from
having information we confess revealed in any way, for any reason. (983, 984)
14. To marry, unless prohibited by law from doing so. (1058)
15. To be supported by the Church in preserving and strengthening our marriage.
(1063)
16. To marry a non-Catholic, with the permission of the bishop, under the
procedures established by Church law. (1124, 1125)
17. To be separated from a spouse who creates grave danger of soul or body to
oneself or our children, or who otherwise makes common life difficult. (1153)
18. To receive a Church funeral and be buried in a Church cemetery (unless we are
judged to be notorious apostates, heretics, schismatics, or a sinner whose
burial in the Church would cause public scandal). (1176, 1180, 1184)
19. To be cremated (unless done for reasons contrary to Christian teaching).
(1180)
20. To have Christian teaching explained in a manner that is suited to our condition
in life and the circumstances of the times. (769)
21. To associate with others and to hold meetings for charitable reasons and for
reasons related to our vocation in life. (215)
22. To engage in apostolic action, according to our state in life and appropriate
preparation. (216)
23. To receive a Christian education, study theology, and research theological
issues. (217, 218, 229)
24. To choose the means which can best promote the education of our children
and to seek the assistance of civil society in the education of our children.
(793)
25. To have our good name and reputation protected. (220)
26. To have our privacy respected. (220)
27. To be protected from unnecessary or unfair penalties and the arbitrary
imposition of penalties not specifically required by Church law. (221, 1316,
1319)
28. To be protected from penalties imposed for violations resulting from ignorance
or misunderstanding and from penalties imposed without warning. (1321, 1323,
1339, 1341)
29. To vindicate our rights in a church court when they have been violated. (221)
30. To hold certain offices in the Church for which we are qualified. (228, 230, 766,
776, 910, 1112)
31. To receive a just wage if we are employed by the Church. (231)
32. To exercise the rights guaranteed to us as citizens by civil law. (227)

* * *

Penalities Imposed by Church Law
The following incur automatic excommunication. (Numbers 1 through 5 may ordinarily be absolved only by the Holy See; numbers 6 and 7 may be absolved by the bishop or by a priest delegated by the bishop.)
1. Using physical force against the Pope. (1370)
2. Absolving an accomplice in sexual sin.
3. Desecrating or retaining the Holy Eucharist for an illicit purpose. (1367)
4. Direct violation of the seal of confession by a priest. (1388)
5. Consecration of a bishop without permission of the Pope. (1382)
6. Apostasy (publicly denying the faith), heresy or schism. (1371)
7. Procuring an abortion. (1398)
The Code recommends canonical penalties but does not automatically impose specific penalties for the following:
1. Against parents who have their children baptized or raised in another religion.
(1366)
2. Using the public media or a public meeting for blasphemy, to defame or
stir up contempt for the Church. (1369)
3. Using physical force against a bishop, priest or vowed religious. (1370)
4. Against priests or religious in perpetual vows who attempt to marry. (1394)
5. Against a person who is not a priest who attempts to celebrate Mass, give
absolution, or celebrate a sacrament. (1378, 1379, 1384)
6. Against a priest living in concubinage or who commits a sexual crime by
force, by threat, in public, or with a minor. (1395)
7. For crimes of homicide, forced detention or mutilation. (1397)

* * *

Traditional Precepts of the Church
According to the traditional "Precepts of the Church" or "Laws of the Church" Catholics have an obligation:
* To attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation. (1246-1248)
* To confess serious sins at least once a year. (989)
* To receive Holy Communion at least once a year during the Easter season.
(920)
* To keep holy the holy days of obligation. (1246)
* To observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence. (1249-1251)
* To provide for the material needs of the Church, according to one's ability. (222)
[cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1994 (#2041-2043).]

* * *

Resources on Canon Law
Code of Canon Law (Libreria Editrice Vatican, 1983)
Apostolic Constitution Sacrae Disciplinae Leges (John Paul II, 2983)
Apostolic Letter Ad Tuendam Fidem (John Paul II, 1998)
Canon Law Seminar (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)
Introduction to Canon Law (Edward N. Peters)
Rights of the Laity (Charles M. Wilson)
Understanding Canon Law (The Catholic New World)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Role of Law in the Church Despite its spiritual nature, the Church on earth is composed of imperfect human beings. Thus laws are needed, just as in civil society, to protect the rights of the People of God, and also to prescribe their responsibilities as members of the Christian community.

# data[].attributes.body
Patternicity can be described as finding meaningful patterns in an object or being that could be seen as “meaningless”. Humans are pattern seeking beings and we tend to look for patterns in daily life, even when not trying to. We use our imagination and sense of imagery to see what we want to see, when in reality it isn’t real.

The image provided below is an example of patternicity, as the image itself is of something so meaningless, like a cloud. Although when we look at the picture, our minds trick us into finding a meaningful pattern in the clouds; the outline of a face. We are using imagery to see and recognize something that we are familiar with.