The History of Ghosts Explained

Throughout human history, it appears we just can't seem to let go of the dead. We long to see our loved ones again, but at the same time, the thought of spirits wandering among the living scares the daylights out of us. It's also a way to explain away the unknown things that frighten us even more just because they are unknown. Over time, belief in ghosts went from comforting because it was evidence that our souls continued after death, to terrifying, because we can't control what mischief those lost souls want to practice on the living. (via Laughing Squid)