by Joe Nickell
Duckett, Jodi. 1991. Morning Call (Lehigh Valley, PA). November 5.
“Grave Doubts.” 1992. Louisville Courier-Journal, March 3.
Horswell, Cindy, and Steve Friedman. 1987. “‘Nothing but Hell There’ Says Man Who Fled ‘Haunted House.’” Houston Chronicle, June 26.
Nickell, Joe. 1995. Entities: Angels, Spirits, Demons, and Other Alien Beings. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.
———. 2006. “Death of a Demonologist: Ed Warren Dead at 79.” Skeptical Inquirer 30, no. 6 (November/December): 8.
“Ray Garton.” 2009. Wikipedia. http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Garton (accessed February 27, 2009).
Schmidt, Karen. 1992. “Couple Sees Ghost; Skeptics See through It.” Hartford Courant, October 30.
Tutt, Bob. 1987. “Ghost Trial Opens Grave Discussion of Fears That Won't Die.” Houston Chronicle, July 4.
Warren, Ed, Lorraine Warren, Al Snedeker, and Carmen Snedeker, with Ray Garton. 1992. In a Dark Place: The Story of a True Haunting. New York: Willard Books.
Williams, Ben, Jean Williams, and Bruce Shoemaker. 1991. The Black Hope Horror: The True Story of a Haunting. New York: William Morrow.
Chapter 55. Satan's Step
“Black Footprint.” N. d. Flyer from Frauenkirche, Munich, Germany.
Die Frauenkirche in Munchen. 1999. Regensburg, Germany: Schnell & Steiner.
McLachan, Gordon. 2001. The Rough Guide to Germany. London: Rough Guides, p. 75.
Schmeer-Sturm, Marie-Louise. 1998. Die Schwarzen Führer: Munchen, Oberbayern. Freiburg, Germany: Eulen Verlag.
Thompson, Stith. 1955. Motif-Index of Folk-Literature. 6 vols. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Chapter 56. Footprints of the Devil?
Brown, Theo. 1982. Devon Ghosts. Norwich: Jarrold Colour, pp. 47–53.
Colby, C. B. 1971. Strangely Enough. New York: Scholastic, pp. 174–75.
Dash, Mike, ed. 1994. “The Devil's Hoofmarks: Source Material on the Great Devon Mystery of 1855.” In Fortean Studies 1, pp. 71–151.
Dingwall, Eric J. Cited in “The Devil's Footprints,” pp. 102–106, in Ebon 1981.
Ebon, Martin, ed. 1981. The World's Greatest Unsolved Mysteries. New York: Signet.
Edwards, Frank. 1959. Stranger Than Science. New York: Ace Books.
Furneaux, Rupert. 1977. The World's Most Intriguing True Mysteries. New York: Arc Books.
Gould, Rupert T. 1928. Oddities: A Book of Unexplained Facts. 3rd ed. New York: Bell, 1964, pp. 9–22.
Knight, W. F. Jackson. 1950. Cited in Dash 1994, pp. 107–109.
Nickell, Joe. 1995. Entities: Angels, Spirits, Demons, and Other Alien Beings. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books. (See index entries for contagion, “copycat” effect, and hysteria.)
Owen, Richard. 1855. Letter to editor, Illustrated London News, March 3, quoted in Gould 1928, pp. 16–17.
Stein, Gordon. 1985. “The Devil's Footprints.” Fate (August): 88–95.
Van Kampen, Hans. 1979. “The Case of the Lost Panda. Skeptical Inquirer 4, no. 1 (Fall): 48–50.
Chapter 57. Fire from Heaven—or Hell?
Arnold, Larry E. 1982. “Did Jack Angel Survive Spontaneous Combustion?” Fate (September): 60–65.
———. 1995. Ablaze! The Mysterious Fires of Spontaneous Combustion. New York: M. Evans.
Beck, Theodric R., and John B. Beck. 1835. Elements of Medical Jurisprudence. 5th ed. Vol. 2. Albany, NY: O. Steele et al., pp. 60–68.
Fort, Charles. 1941. The Complete Books of Charles Fort. Reprinted New York: Dover, 1974.
Hopkins, Albert A., ed. 1976. Magic, Stage Illusions, Special Effects, and Trick Photography. New York: Dover.
LeCat, Dr. Claude Nicholas. 1813. Quoted in Arnold 1995, 29.
Lewes, George Henry. 1861. “Spontaneous Combustion.” Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine 89 (April): 385–402.
Nickell, Joe. 2001. Real-Life X-Files: Investigating the Paranormal. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, pp. 28–36, 240–44.
———. 2004. The Mystery Chronicles: More Real-Life X-Files. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, pp. 10–13, 162–64, 339–40.
———. 2012. CSI Paranormal. Amherst, NY: Inquiry Press.
Nickell, Joe, and John F. Fischer. 1984. “Spontaneous Human Combustion.” Fire and Arson Investigator 34, no. 3 (March): 4–11; no. 4 (June): 3–8.
Nickell, Joe, with John F. Fischer. 1988. Secrets of the Supernatural. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, pp. 149–57, 161–71.
Randles, Jenny, and Peter Hough. 1992. Spontaneous Human Combustion. London: Robert Hale.
Stevenson, Thomas. 1883. The Principles and Practice of Medical Jurisprudence. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lea.
Note: Italicized page numbers indicate images.
Aaron's rod, 347
Abadiania, Brazil, 213
Abgar (Edessan king), 105–06, 109
adipocere. See grave wax
Adler, Alan, 124
Alberto, Marlene, 74
Allen, Thomas B., 372
Altemus, Kathy, 388
Alvarez, Luis, 286
Amityville Horror, The (book), 381, 382
Amityville “horror” hoax, 381–84
Ananias, 105–06, 111
Andrew, St., 139
anecdotal evidence, 293
“Angel, Cloud,” 266
Angel of Mons, 265–66
angels, 261–67, 267, 269
animated images, 57–63, 63. See also “glowing” statues; milk-drinking statues; “weeping” effigies
Anson, Jay, 382
Anthon, Charles, 280
apparitional experiences, 165–66, 227–230, 289–90
argument from ignorance, 74, 216
defined, 74
Arthur, King, 149
Atahualpa (Inca king), 29–30
Augustine, St., 91, 139
Ault, Henri, 35, 38
automata, magical, 22
automatic writing. See Ryden, Vassula
Baal. See Bel
Bader, Christopher, 261
Baker, Robert A., 207, 265, 288, 370
Barber, Theodore X., 275, 281. See also fantasy-prone personality
Barnum, P. T., 169
Bel
idol of, 19–20, 22
fire miracle and, 20
“Belgian Lourdes,” 187–190
belief tales, 225, 228
defined, 228
Benedict XVI, Pope, 254
Bernadette, St. See Lourdes
Bernas, Lilian (stigmatist), 341–44, 345, 346
Besançon, Shroud of, 110
Binga, Timothy, 114, 119
Bishop, Raymond J., 371–72
Blackmore, Susan, 293
Blatty, William Peter, 371
Blavatsky, Madame Helena P., 281–82
Blood, Holy. See Holy Blood
Bollone, Pierluigi Baima, 135
Book of Mormon, 279
Borromeo, St. Charles, 170
Bowdern, William S., 371
Brodie, Fawn, M., 279–80
Brown, Dan, 142, 153
Bruge, Holy Blood of. See Holy Blood
Brunvand, Jan, 262
Bruse, James, 325
burden of proof, 15
Burnham, Sophy, 261, 264–65
Caiaphas, 236
Calming the Sea, 299–300
Calvin, John, 91, 94–95, 141, 151,
Camino pilgrimage, 159–166
Canterbury Tales, The, 91–94
carbon-14 dating, 126
Carson, Johnny, 199
Cayce, Edgar, 280
Changing Water to Wine, 298–99, 306
charismatic movement, 202
Charney, Geoffroy de, 120
Charney, Margaret de, 120
Chaucer, Geoffrey, 91–94, 98
Chevaliér, Ulysse 128
Chimayó (healing shrine), 191–96, 196
Chrétien de Troyes, 142, 150
Christopher, Kevin, 344
Christopher, Milbourne, 373
Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 277
Cipac, Marcos, 32
Clement V (pope), 102
Clement VII (Avignon pope), 120
“Cloud Angel,” 266
Coin in the Fish, 302
Colby, C. B., 395–96, 398
Cold Spring, Kentucky, 258, 259
Colombo, John Robert, 37
Columbus, Christopher, 149
confabulation, 245
confirmation bias, 137
Constantine the Great, 96
contagion, psychological, 229–30, 397, 400
defined, 397
Conyers, 185, 258–59
Cook, Mary Jean, 363
Cox, Robert G., 73
Craveri, Marcello, 229
Cromarty, Barbara, 382
Cromarty, James, 382
Crookes, William, 35
cross. See True Cross
Crossan, John Dominic, 241
Crowdery, Oliver, 282
Cursing of the Fig Tree, 300–301
D'Arcis, Pierre, 120–21
Davenport brothers, 374
da Vinci, Leonardo, 142
Da Vinci Code, The (book), 142–43, 153
deathbed visions, 291–94
DeFeo, Ronald “Butch,” 381, 383–84
DeFeo family murders, 381
Delcour, Adrien, 189
Della Sala, Sergio, 144
demons, 208, 369–79, 381–84, 385–89
Devonshire, England, 401
Diego, Juan. See Guadalupe, Image of
Dietz, Albert G. H., 361
dirt, blessed. See Chimayó
DNA evidence, 61, 124
Doctrine of Addai, The (book), 105
Donahue, Ginger, 354
dowsing, 280
dream contacts, 288–89
Duyser, Diana, 51
Duyser, Greg, 51
Edamaruku, Sanal, 80
Eddy, Mary Baker, 281
Edessa, Image of. See Mandylion of Edessa
Embriaco, Guglielmo, 151, 154
emerald grail, 149–155, 153–55
Emmerich, Anne Catherine, 233–39
“entities, healing,” 214
epilepsy, 369
Eucharistic miracles, 221, 241–46, 310–11
Evans, William, 63
Evita. See Peron, Eva
exorcism, 369–79
Vatican guidelines, 369–70
Exorcist, The (movie), 369
“extraordinary proof” maxim, 15
exuding effigies, 60–62, 65–69, 71–78. See also “weeping” effigies
Falk, Ruma, 286–87
Falmouth, Kentucky, 258, 259
fantasy-prone personality, 165, 211, 229, 233, 264, 275, 281–82, 335
traits of, 281
Fatima, Portugal
influence of, 311
“miracles” and “secrets,” 249–55
Feeding the Five Thousand, 302–03, 306
Feeding the Four Thousand, 303–04
fire immunity, 356, 358
Fischer, John F., 32, 124, 405
folklore, 162–63, 245–46, 320–21
folk saints. See saints, popular
Fowler, Nancy, 185, 273–74
Fox sisters, 374
France, Anatole, 184, 195
Francis of Assisi, St., 323–24
Frauenkirche (Munich), 391
Frei, Max, 124–26, 136
Furneaux, Rupert, 397–98
Gallemore, Ronald P., 74
Garlaschelli, Luigi, 130–31, 144–45, 148
Garton, Ray, 389
Garza-Valdez, Leoncio, 124
generalization technique, 200–01
Geoffroy de Charney. See Charney, Geoffroy de
ghostlore, 228
ghost photographs, 287
ghosts, 165–66, 227–30. See also apparitional experiences
Gibson, Mel, 233, 235, 239
Gil, Antonio, 315–16
glossolalia, 202, 230, 356–57
“glowing” statues, 83–87, 87
“golden door” photos, 45, 48, 259
Golden Legend (book), 152–53
Gora, Vikas, 81
Gordon, Henry, 80
Graham, Billy, 206, 261, 262
grave wax, 170
Greffe, Dr. Brian, 194–95
Gregory, Father Archimandrite, 67–68
grilled-cheese Madonna, 51–54, 55–56
Guadalupe, Image of, 31–33, 72, 192, 317
forensic illustration of, 34
guardian angels. See angels
Guscin, Mark, 134, 135, 137
Halahan House (Southington, CT), 387–88
Halley's Comet, 245
hallucinations, 229, 265. See also “waking dream”
handwriting evidence, 270–72
Harris, Martin, 280
Healing Oils of the Bible (book), 74
healings, miraculous, 175–222
by Jesus, 175–80, 181
See also “Belgian Lourdes”; Chimayó; Hinn, Benny; Lourdes; Popoff, Peter; Santo, Audrey
Heatherington, Dale, 46
Helena, St., 96, 97, 141
Heller, John, 124
“hell's fire,” 403
herbal remedies, 216
Herod Agrippa I, King, 158
Hero of Alexandria, 21–22
Hershey, Barbara, 359, 360, 362
Hindu deities, 79
Hines, Terence, 195–203
Hinn, Benny, 203, 205–11, 212
Holy Blood
at Bruge, 101–03, 103
on Shroud of Turin, 122–23
on Sudarium of Oviedo, 135–36
other, 141, 142–43, 146, 150
Holy Blood, Holy Grail (book), 142, 153
Holy Grail, 142–43, 147, 152–53. See also emerald grail
Hornby, Sir Edmund (judge), 289–90
Hosts, 241–43
defined, 242
Turin “miracle,” 243–46, 247
See also Eucharistic miracles
Houdini, Harry, 374
Hough, Joseph C., 211
Hough, Peter, 292, 405
Hughes, E. Albert, 375
Hugo, Victor, 142
“Hugo Christ” photo, 266–67
“Human Blockhead” (sideshow act), 215–16
Hume, David, 13–14
hypnosis, 207–09
“hysteric,” 313
iconoclasts, 57–58
iconography, 32, 34, 109–10, 112, 131
ideomotor effect, 271
idolatry, 57–58
versus veneration, 57
Image of Guadalupe. See Guadalupe, Image of
“Incorruptible” corpses, 169–72, 172
infrared photography, 32
Irene, St. (weeping icon of), 67
Jacopo da Voragine, 152–53
Jahoda, Gustav, 286
James, St. (Santiago)
miraculous relics of, 157–66
statue of, 168
Januarius, St., 102, 143–45, 148
Jeanne des Anges, 370
Jerome, St., 139
Jesus
apparitions of, 227–30
burial of, 119, 149
healings by, 175–80, 181
miracles of, 242, 297–305, 306–07
See also Holy Blood; resurrection of Jesus; Shroud of Turin; True Cross
Joan of Arc, 281
“John of God,” 213–18, 218
John Paul II, Pope, 184, 254
John the Baptist, St., 139, 149, 150, 244
Jordan, Peter, 382
Joseph of Arimathea, 149, 151
Josephus, 238
Judging Amy (TV show), 221
Karr, Barry, 157, 221
Katseas, Rev. Ieronimos, 66, 67
Kennedy, Anson, 46
Kübler-Ross, Elizabeth, 291
Kuhlman, Kathryn, 205, 206, 209, 211
Kunz, Geroge Frederick, 151
Kurtz, Paul, 9, 11, 157, 166
Kushner
, Rabbi Harold S., 211
Labouré, St. Catherine, 171
Lawrence, St. (San Lorenzo), 149
Lazarus, 180, 181
Le Cat, Dr. Claude Nicholas, 404
Leonard, Gladys Osborne, 281
leprosy, 177
Lewis, C. S., 13, 14
ley lines, 166
Long, Becky, 252
Looking for a Miracle (book), 15, 47, 171
Lorenzo, Cora, 71, 77
Lorenzo, St., 145
Loretto staircase, 359–363, 364, 365
“Lourdes, Belgian,” 187–190
Lourdes (healing shrine), 183–86, 186, 216
“Lourdes of the Bronx,” 185–86
lucid dreams, 288
luminescence, 36–38, 40
Luther, Martin, 175
Lutz, George, 381–83
Lutz, Kathy, 381
Machen, Arthur, 265
MacLaine, Shirley, 159–161, 165
Magi, tomb of, 140–41
Magnish, Scot, 65, 67
Mahner, Martin, 392
Malory, Sir Thomas, 149
Malz, Betty, 266
Mandylion of Edessa, 105–10, 110, 111–17, 116
“Marianity,” 238
Marian sites, 252
“Mariolatry,” 238
Mark, St., 140
Marlboro Township, NJ, 258
Mary (mother of Jesus)
apparitions of, 183, 186, 249–55, 257–59, 273, 309–10, 313
effigies of, 23–25, 31–33, 34, 51–55, 56, 61, 63, 65–68, 69, 73, 78, 83–86, 186
Mary Magdalene, 143, 149, 226–27
“Master of the ‘Shroud’ of Lirey,” 132
Maury Povich Show, The (TV show), 386
McBrien, Rev. Richard, 379
McCrone, Walter, 123–26, 130, 135
McGaha, Major James, 245
McKinney, Ida Ruth, 387
Medjugorie, Yugoslavia, 219, 257–59
Michell, John, 35
migraine, 369
milk-drinking statues, 79–81
Millet, Madame, 405
Miracle Detectives (TV show), 71, 72, 74, 75, 193
Miracle of Turin (painting), 247
miracles
defined, 13
evidence for, 14–15
as parables, 297–305
types of, 15–16
See also miracles of Jesus
miracles of Jesus
Calming the Sea, 299–300
Coin in the Fish, 302
Cursing the Fig Tree, 300–01
exorcisms, 177
Feeding the Five Thousand, 302–03
Feeding the Four Thousand, 303–04
healings, 175–78, 181
Miraculous Drought of Fishes, 301
raising the dead, 178–180, 182
Walking on Water, 304–05
Miraculous Drought of Fishes, 301
misdiagnosis, 176, 209, 216
Mitchell, S. Weir, 262
“mock sun,” 245
Moran, Rick, 382
“Mormon” church. See Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints