Emirates - There's Haitian Vodou, Louisiana Voodoo, and African Vodun. There's also Hoodoo. It's an offshoot and deals with most of the 'magic' stuff people are familiar with. When you think of Voodoo, you're usually actually thinking of Hoodoo. The ones that start with V are actual religions, Hoodoo is not.<br /> <br /> Back to the zombies. It happens in Vodun but it's more familiar in Vodou. They're made and generally controlled by a guy called a bokor. It's supposed to involve TTX and datura, I think. There's quite a bit of evidence of zombies, but not enough for it to be definitive, so take it with a grain of salt. There might be zombies, but there's a good chance that there aren't, either.<br /> <br /> Either way, zombies/zonbis go pretty deep into the culture of Vodun and its variations.

I don't believe in the "normal" mythological vampires that many people think of when the word vampire is said or discussed.<br /> <br /> Rather I think of a psychic vampire, who drains 'life force' energies. I have been around one that has acclaimed themselves to be one, but this was before I knew they were. I'm fairly sensitive to the 'paranormal' and it did bother me, until I understood what they were and actually got some help about it.<br /> <br /> I sought help from a 'school of metaphysics' because I actually was having quite disturbing dreams about being chased by a large spider(I have no fear of spiders normally) or having dreams that just had a large spider in the background just kinda watching. The teacher there told me that spiders hint of a bad or evil presence that has sort of latched onto me, and they were eating my energy. He gave me a piece of Rue, told me to put it under my pillow when I slept and I never saw that spider in my dreams after that to my knowledge.<br /> <br /> Before that, I never believed in vampires of any kind existed in the non-fiction world. I do know there are people to take on the Victorian lifestyle along with vampire-like tendencies, but I doubt they're truly a vampire of any sort as psychic vampires are quite low key type people from what I've experienced. You don't notice them usually, they act like normal people and don't have this odd way of talking, moving, thinking, or otherwise anything that'd make you think you should guard yourself around them. They are a true predator.<br /> <br /> <br /> Another guy I once knew believed he was a werewolf.... I can't say I believe him, but he was a very doom and gloom type of person so I believe he was just trying to make his own world come to life outside of his head. Which is usually what happens.

I don't beleive in the part about vampires rising from the dead or the fact that they turn into a bat.<br /> <br /> Example- I do NOT believe in the Twilight vampires, especially the sparkling.<br /> <br /> I believe that a vampire is born from another vampire, and that they do age, but slowly.

Theres actually a disease accredited to the creation of the myth of vampires <br /> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porphyria">Porphyria</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.bydewey.com/drkporphyria.html"> Link #2</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://factoidz.com/porphyria-the-vampire-disease-that-started-the-legend/">#3</a>

Ooooo I was hired at a local haunted corn maze, they told me to show them my stuff. I ended up playing a person with severe lycanthropy, it was so much fun.<br /> <br /> It was annoying how many times I was asked if I was a vampire though. because you know, vampires bark and growl like dogs. <br /> <br /> So.... I agree Nath, it is quite fascinating. Sad if you look into how it used to be treated though

I agree with geist...

Gonna have to agree with the naysayers. It's fine and dandy to love fantasy, but some dead guy rising from the grave to drink the blood of the innocent isn't really plausible.<br /> <br /> For those of you wanting to believe in werewolves, though, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertrichosis">there's this genetic disorder</a>...or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_lycanthropy">clinical lycanthropy!</a> Reality is pretty cool/strange without legends, guys.

I don't believe in "the undead" but I do believe in people who call themselves vampires, but really aren't though in their mind they are. Not to sound rude, but those who drink human/animal blood are either having a mental problem or are true believers. I believe in mutations but I know mutations do not lead to people having super powers (example) but that would be cool for I wish that could really happen like werewolves! Wolfy does love her wolves *.* -drools-

I also agree with Geist. There are people who act "like vampires" out there, and some societies. But I don't believe in the rise from the dead, immortal, burn in sunlight vampires.

I agree with Geist. No way people rise from the dead and go suck blood from the living.