Acronyms and Apparitions

David Fontana's "Is There an Afterlife?" is nothing if not comprehensive, as the subtitle suggests. The author sifts through all of the major areas of evidence we have from non-religious traditions - hauntings, apparitions, the work of mediums, Instrumental Transcommunication, NDEs, OBEs, and reincarnation - in an attempt to give the reader a broad summary of how bodies like the Society for Psychical Research approach their field. On so many occasions, he introduces a subject and just as quickly refrains from discussing it at any length due to limitations of space. Even so, it's a weighty book, both in stature and by the nature of its topic. I had come across some of the material before, particularly on Near Death Experiences and on reincarnation. The area that was new to me was ITC - Instrumental Transcommunication, and particularly the unusual realm of EVP - Electronic Voice Phenomena. (It appears that you are not truly researching the paranormal until you have familiarised yourself with about 10 000 acronyms). Dr Anabela Cardoso began experimenting with this form of paranormal research after the son of some friends had died, and after some initially promising results, decided to harness the potential another acronym, DRV (Direct Radio Voice) and obtained even more impressive results. The author was present at some of the sittings and was suitably "wowed" by the outcome.

Despite having witnessed much paranormal phenomena himself, Fontana does us the courtesy of holding back from evangelising about the whole thing, remaining moderate and balanced throughout the entire book. Admittedly, I approached the book in a fairly childish manner, hoping to have some answer to the question which the title poses after 450+ pages of Fontana's work. But it remains a matter of faith, as I should have known. Ghost stories are dramatic and impressive, but the reader needs experience to come to their own conclusions. I remain agnostic, though hopeful that the afterlife is as wonderful as the traditions say, and open to people like me who have spent their lives sitting on the theological fence.