Current Pfiles
Things that go Goosebump in the Dark
Yesterday was All Hallow’s Eve, or as it’s known around the world, Halloween. And tonight is November 1st or All Saints Day. Or as it’s known in the rest of the world … November 2nd.
I have this theory about goosebumps and of our affinity / draw to the supernatural. I call it my SUN Worlds Theory. Consider this blog the teaser to the longer explanation later (on my videoblog).
Never having been a big fan of horror films, the class I took in grad school about how God can use horror as an effective means of communicating redemptive truth was a challenge for me.
I saw Poltergeist at a sleep over when I was in 3rd grade. Fortunately the tamer “First Blood” with Sylvester Stallone was on afterwards or I wouldn’t have slept a wink.
I still don’t like Horror films. In fact, I think they are corrosive, exploitive and damaging. Which begs the question; corrosive, exploitive and damaging to what? If there is no spiritual realm then the things they are messing with is just for fun. A chance for us to stare death in the face, laugh, scream, experience catharsis and then enjoy the fact we are still alive all the more.
Or at least that’s how the advertising runs. Unless …
There’s something to this. Something super, para, inter … BEYOND our own natural world experiences. Again, the longer explanation of my comprehensive and compelling grand theory will have to wait for later. For now, consider the anecdotal goosebumps that most, if not all, of us have experienced at times in our lives.
What if there are other realms? Other dimensions? Planes of existence? As I type this I’m getting goosebumps just thinking of the possibilities (good and bad) that such realms hold.
Why is it we feel so alive when being scared to death? Why is the paranormal so compelling? Why do vampires, zombies, ghosts, goblins, poltergeist (I know this is just another word for ghost, but I’m trying to make my list longer so it looks more impressive), demons, ghouls, werewolves and the like fill our imaginations and even more so; why do such monstrosities capture our thoughts, creativity and at times worship?
Could it be that such mental entertainments of these super or unnatural creatures gives us a glimpse of these other realms? It gives us goosebumps. An uncanny, eerie feeling that gives even more meaning to our existence. A connection to a higher state that manifests itself as the hairs on our arms, neck and back raising and our mind whirling.
I obviously think that this is the case, otherwise I’m wasting perfectly good transistors even typing this. I’ve also invested a lot of Pepsi and Munchies into this endeavor so there’s that too.
The last few years I’ve been teaching about the sun, earth and moon and their relationship and the properties (spatially speaking) of each. The moon is blamed for many unnatural thing (werewolves, vampires, lunacy, lunatics, etc…), while the sun doesn’t get such slander.
“Oh no! The Sun’s out, now we’ll be able to see clearly and not be scared!!! Things are starting to spring out of the ground from … AAAGGHH Photosynthesis! Now, we’ll all have stuff to eat!” “Just when you thought it wasn’t safe to go outside…” Les Cravin’ presents “The Sun.” A horror film in brilliant luminosity that stalks and slays the night.
A basic truth about the sun and moon is that the sun creates its own light, while the moon merely reflects the light from the sun. What if all this obsession with unnatural beings (see unnecessarily long list above or just review the kid’s costumes that came by your house on Halloween) is a poor copy of the REAL source of light.
I get goosebumps … a LOT. But I don’t get it watching evil, unnatural, demonic, unclean agents of death and destruction – these things get me pissed off because I know their true intentions (John 10:10). I get goosebumps when I’m looking at the sun. Not that Sun!, that would burn your retina. The Son. When I’m contemplating God and His wonders. Singing praise or redemptive songs (even bad karaoke). When I discover some truth in scripture, nature or through fellowship with other believers. Goosebumps galore.
Even now I’m getting goosebumps as I’m making the connection between this line of thought and the dualistic argument that God and satan, good and evil, yin and yang are equally matched. I’m making the connection that the moon and sun are the same size – relative to our position. The truth is that the moon is only 2% of the size of the Earth and a million earths could fit in the sun. So… mental math time (no calculators please)… 50 million moons = 1 sun. Not exactly a fair fight. When viewed in this way it easily debunks most of the false religions, ideologies and heresies of the past 6,000 years.
I’d much rather get my “goosebump” fix by fixing my sight on the true source of life, truth and illumination. The Light of the World.
Another connection: One horror film (and the only one I own – though I’ve only watched it once) is the Exorcism of Emily Rose. In this film they present the argument that “people say that God is dead, but how can they think that if I show them the Devil.” As I was trying to find this quote I read some others from the movies and they too gave me goosebumps. Its just one of those goosebump filled nights … and the fan in my study is NOT on.
The sun and moon: Interesting that much of our knowledge of how the sun works is revealed during a solar eclipse when the sun is blocked by the relatively same sized moon. This eclipse allows scientists to observe, measure and study the sun in ways that can’t be done normally. The evil that the devil authors (dude! The devil is evil with a lowercase d!? – just saw that) while temporarily overshadowing the normal goodness in God’s creation actually helps to reveal attributes of God that we wouldn’t normally see.
Yet another metaphor. The sun holds onto the earth, while the earth with it’s gravity holds onto the moon. The moon influences the tides and some other things but beyond that its influence is miniscule compared to the influence the sun has on our planet and life. Feel free to connect the dots of this information to the role that God, satan/evil and our world plays. I’m just wandering if someday humanity could let go of this encumbering “lord of the tides.”
For those who know me this next section will seem very hypocritical, ne’ertheless I persist.
Food. It’s easier and tastier to get a high from processed sugars, foods and empty or bad calories. While developing a taste for good, healthy foods is more difficult; but in the end worth it (I’m told).
Spiritual connections / goosebumps. It’s easier to make a connection to the spirit realm through horror, witchcraft or even superhero books and movies. However, developing a taste for a true / healthy spiritual connection is more difficult, but well worth it (and on this point I know something of which I speak).
I once told my brother-in-law Logan (when he was much younger) that witchcraft is bad because the power has to come from somewhere. Apparently, that stuck with him. Where does the power behind goosebumps reside? Beware, cause it will stick with you.
10 Books that have stuck with me (from Facebook but worth posting on blog)
10 books that have stuck with me. This should be easy since if I can’t remember them they must not have stuck with me.
1. Lords of the Earth – Don Richardson – First three chapters will make you want to be a missionary yesterday.
2. Eternity in their Hearts – Don Richardson (pretty much everything by this man is awesome and deep, currently reading his most recent two books)
3. Lost in Translation (3 volume series) John Klein & Adam Spears. You’ll never read Revelation of any of the scripture the same way once you see it through Hebrew eyes.
4. A Different Gospel – D.R. McConnell – A critique of the Word of Faith movement. Not trying to stir up this kettle, but good critiques are hard to come by.
5. David Copperfield – Charles Dickens – Read this on my trip to Turkey in 1995. Very Good.
6. History of World War II – Winston Churchill – Largest book series I ever read. Shared the experience with my brother Eric. Named my second son Luke Churchill after Winston.
7. Disinformation – Ion Mihai Pacepa – Former Romanian Spy Chief’s take on Communist Disinformation. If you ever wanted to join the 10th man program / not sheeple (ie. us wacko conspiracy kooks, this would be a good entry book).
8 Dedication and Leadership – Douglas Hyde – Short but powerful book on how to lead people. A rare book that is a diamond that the church needs to polish.
9. The Silver Chair – CS Lewis – My favorite of the Chronicles of Narnia. Best reveal ever!
10. Tie: Wild at Heart (John Eldred) and The Science of God (Gerald Schroeder) – I made them a tie because I didn’t finish either of them, but the first halves that I read have stuck with me in many ways for many years.
* The Bible – Multiple Authors, One Inspiration: Not eligible for the list but it is the source that has inspired most of the above books and continues to amaze me with its simplicity and yet extreme depth and breadth of insight, knowledge and history.
Writer Reanimates and Recruits for the Reinklings in his Retelling
Ever been in that position where you have so much to do that you end up doing nothing?
Me neither, or at least I won’t admit it. That would require me to do something.
Not to bore you with a sob story but I finished my first draft of the novel I’ve been working on for 10-15 years. Finished it last Thanksgiving actually.
Now I need feedback. I started with family and close friends and only three people read it (Tamara, my wife, Roberta, my mom, and my new best friend Brian Ambrose). I told them that I’d put them in the acknowledgements if they read it and gave me feedback. I’m still waiting for the detailed feedback about how awesome it is and the one or two errors (probably homophones). But they’ve reserved their place.
Well, now its your turn to read the next great American novel patterned after the Great British novels by J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. I’m attempting to capture Lewis’ clarity and profundity in the Chronicles of Narnia with Tolkien’s scope and depth from Middle Earth. The only way to see how I did is to read it for yourself (and if I’m not there yet, help me get there).
If you read my novel and give me feedback then I’ll include you in the acknowledgements, and when I publish it you’ll get one of the first, signed copies and an autograph picture of my daughter Anna’s dog Rascal (maybe I’m trying too hard to sweeten the deal). Or if you prefer you can get a “signed” picture of our new collection of pet rats.
Here’s the temporary book jacket cover. Yes, all the pictures are lifted off the internet but it does capture the gist of the novel. Anyway, if you are interested in reading, giving me honest feedback and receiving the above mentioned autographed dog photo then just e-mail and I’ll send you the PDF (which you can read on any book reader like Kindle, Ipad, etc…) My e-mail address is philip@pfanstiel.com.
The rough cover of my novel. Act now and you can find your name in the final book.
Ironically, for all the things I need to do, this post wasn’t one of them. But that’s how procrastination works. Yeah! Baby, Yeah!
Older but newer Pfiles ...
- Antisocial ramblings of a pessimist (you’ve been warned)
- Travel Tips for a Terrific/Terrible Time / Prophetic Ponderings
- Magical “Dark” Science that Matters
- Democratic Dad
- Wo! Men are Weak
- I humbug Santa
- Flight of the Fightless (Carefully Confront or Cowardice)
- Praise be the Power of a Positive Perspective
- Sovereign God, Incompetent Man
- I never met a student …
