With Halloween fast approaching, I find myself asking whether I believe in ghosts, spirits or anything spooky…
Honestly, I’m not sure. I’ve never clapped eyes on a ghost myself, though I have heard plenty of tales from people who swear blind they’ve seen one. I don’t doubt they believe what they saw, but whether it was an actual spirit or just their brain playing silly tricks, that is my question.
Do Brits believe in ghosts?
Britons are a mixed bag when it comes to the supernatural. Around 38% think ghosts could exist, though only 12% are completely certain about it. A bigger crowd, 56%, say it’s all nonsense, though fewer than a third are bold enough to say they definitely don’t exist.
Belief in other creatures isn’t quite as popular. One in five think witches might be real, a fair few Scots (16%) still give Nessie the benefit of the doubt, and a brave 8% reckon vampires or werewolves could be out there. Only 3% of the public believe all these creatures are real.
Which supernatural practices are most believable?
When it comes to supernatural practices, things get even more interesting. Hypnosis tops the list, with six in ten convinced you really can send someone into a trance. Karma has its believers too, with nearly four in ten thinking cosmic justice is a thing. About 30% think telepathy and reiki might be real. Smaller numbers have time for astrology, magic, and crystal healing. One in five even believe you can talk to the dead.
There is also a clear difference between the sexes. Women are generally more open to all this than men. Nearly half of women believe in karma, compared to less than a third of men. And, women are far more likely to give reiki, astrology and telepathy the nod.
Men are more skeptical than women
When it comes to ghosts, men are mostly unconvinced, while women are split down the middle. And crystals, almost a quarter of women are fans, while only 10% of men are buying them for anything other than paperweights.
So, what about you? Do you believe in ghosts, or do you put it down to creaky floorboards and too much cheese before bed?
