“Paranormal State” – a Different Type of Paranormal Investigation Show

Paranormal investigation shows become popular recently. Shows like Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters International, and Destination Truth search for physical evidence of paranormal phenomena. The techniques employed by these teams are very similar. They use detection and recording equipment to conduct their investigations, and then analyze their evidence in order to draw their own conclusions.

A&E network’s Paranormal State takes a different approach to paranormal investigation. Ryan Buell and his crew – members of the Paranormal Research Society (PRS) – come from a place of faith. Their main focus is on helping their clients deal with their circumstances. Sometimes, PRS finds natural explanations for the claims their clients make. When that happens, PRS informs the clients that their experiences are not, in fact, the result of paranormal activity.

But when PRS does find evidence indicating a spiritual presence, they shift modes. They move from searching for evidence to doing what they can to deal with the spiritual presence. Sometimes, they employ the help of clergymen or other experts to confront the spirits and send them away. When the spirits aren’t causing any problems for the clients, PRS advises them on how the clients can take their own steps to either live with those spirits or send them away.

It’s a controversial approach. Some believers in the paranormal prefer the more empirical approach of GH and DT. But since the paranormal, by its very nature, exists outside the realm of science – to date, there has been no peer-reviewed evidence accepted by the scientific community to prove the existence of paranormal phenomena – I’ve always found it odd that paranormal investigation focuses so much on finding these shreds of evidence that cannot stand up to scientific evaluation.

I don’t have a problem with paranormal investigators that do adopt a semi-scientific approach. Everyone has their own style. But for me, the paranormal is rooted in faith, not science. The existence of benevolent and malevolent spirits and the idea that ghosts are the spirits of the departed are issues that require belief in some form of afterlife and non-human entities that are interested in humanity. At this point, Science cannot prove or disprove the existence of divine forces, or an afterlife, so employing technology to find empirical evidence of these phenomena is an odd choice.

The Paranormal State team avoids this conundrum. They use psychics. They pray. They conduct cleansing rituals. This faith-based approach makes for far more engaging television. Both types of investigators converse with spirits. But PRS has the techniques to directly engage entities if they need to. These confrontations add a lot of interest to the episodes, elevating them above the standard ‘investigate – analyze – conclude’ model employed in other paranormal-themed shows.

In terms of pure entertainment value, Paranormal State offers its audience more by focusing on the spiritual side of their cases, rather than just the collection of evidence.