Ghosts vs. Religion

I have always been fascinated by ghost stories. True ghost stories with some basis in fact, or at least history. Creepy stories because they tell of things unknown, of spirits or energy that linger or come through the veil.

So, imagine how giddy I was when I read Fractured Spirits: Hauntings at the Peoria State Hospital written by my good friend Sylvia Shults who also shares a love of history and the ghosts of the past. But unlike me, she also enjoys a good in person investigation. I’m the one who would rather stay outside with the escape vehicle running. Although, I am also quite the inquisitive soul—good thing I am not a cat—with a love of photography, so it is likely my curiosity would get the better of me at some point.

I was excited about her book, not just because she is a friend or the subject matter, but mainly because the focus of the book. The Peoria State Hospital, also known as the Bartonville Asylum by those who live in the Peoria, Illinois area, the hospital has a long and storied history and was run by the Dr. George Zeller. He established it as more of a campus of different buildings dedicated to innovative care of the mentally ill, in addition to one—Pollak Hospital—for the care of patients suffering from tuberculosis.

In time Zeller passed away, and the hospital complex faced the same issue many institutions of its time dealt with, funding difficulties leading to changes in care, followed by its eventual shutdown. A few years ago, the administrative building—the Bowen Building—was torn down and the limestone used in its construction was sold off. It is a shame because it was a historical part of Peoria’s landscape, sitting on the top of a hill.

Many of the outbuildings still standing were sold while some were torn down. Those still standing and turned into businesses are reportedly haunted, and it is some of these ghost stories Shults focuses on in her book. She talked to several people who say they’ve had encounters with spirits, but one that stuck out—and still does to this day—is a comment from a bar and grill establishment.

This pub was one of the old hospital outbuildings near the Pollak. Shults visited the pub talked to some people because she heard talk customers told of experiencing something. However, the woman she talked to said something that made me want to scratch my head. If memory serves, I did utter a “huh?” under my breath.

The woman, one of the owners, told Sylvia they didn’t believe in ghosts because they were Christians. It got me thinking. I mean I figured there were people who didn’t believe in the paranormal, but I had never had anyone say it was because of religion.

The Bible talks about, and Christianity teaches, about the Holy Spirit, which is the ultimate spirit, part of the Holy Triumvirate. So, her statement did not make sense. I did start doing some research, also known as rabbit holes to most people, in hopes of putting together a book. But at some point, I put my project on the back burner. I haven’t forgotten about it, though. Thanks to working on House of Stitched, I am back to researching ghosts/spirits/the paranormal and how it relates to religious/spiritual or cultural beliefs. So be sure to check back each Friday to see what I find.

With that I’ll see you on the next page.