Traditions of Belief: Women and the Supernatural

Traditions of Belief: Women and the Supernatural by Bennett, Gillian. paperback edition. ISBN: 9780140228007.

Is our belief in the supernatural really on the decline? Gillian Bennett’s research would suggest otherwise. In an intensive, small-scale survey she interviewed a group of women about their attitudes towards ghosts, poltergeists, ESP, dreams, premonitions and fortune-telling. Their anecdotes – rich in family folklore and deep-rooted beliefs – reveal a continuing faith in the presence of spirits, often those of loved ones, that may comfort, warn or guide them in their day-to-day existence. These personal experiences, vividly recounted, explore a fascinating area of British folklore and throw new light on the way in which factors such as tradition, personality and social pressures can influence what and why we believe. Gillian Bennett also observes the limits to our at what point do we become skeptical? Do some of us simply have closed minds or are there certain aspects of ‘the mysterious side of life’ that are taboo? Whether they are due to intuition, mysticism or physic powers, many of us do have paranormal experiences. This illuminating book may explain both why and how.