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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 6 page paper uses a case study of possession as a springboard for discussion. Ghosts in society as well as religion are issues of focus. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
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6 pages (~225 words per page)
File: RT13_SA712gst.rtf
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accepted by the scientific community, but many people report unusual events and occurrences, so much so that many modern day people believe in this concept called the ghost. Of course,
ghosts are not a product of modernity. They may serve as a form of escapism, but they do have religious roots. They are also deeply entrenched in ancient and indigenous
cultures. Yet, some indigenous cultures take ghosts seriously and they do not joke about the subject. Rather, the presence of a ghost can explain what is going on in respect
family life. In a chapter about a ghostly possession, Freed & Freed (1990) write about one case which is summarized as follows: "...a low-caste girl, Sita, is possessed by Taraka,
the ghost of a childhood friend who committed suicide. Sita is stressed by the need to have sex with a new husband, the lack of support that meets a bride
in her husbands household, and the deaths of three friends and several brothers and sisters" (p.299). Authors claim that the concept of being possessed does reduce the anxiety that Sita
has (Freed & Freed, 1990). Of course, when analyzing everything from a social science perspective, it seems that all behavior can be explained by motivation. In the case of
this story, the idea that someone of a rather primitive culture is using the idea of possession as something that can alleviate her conflict does make sense. Also, one
may attribute Sitas spells to ordinary stress and strain. One part of the description includes the following observation: "She moaned, breathed with difficulty, and then collapsed in a semiconscious state"
(Freed & Freed, 1990, p. 300). Others in the village would attribute such a thing to possession (Freed & Freed, 1990). However, a reasonable explanation for her physical state is
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