All About Zombies

Zombies have been a staple of various folklore for centuries. Zombie costumes are even very popular during Halloween. What are zombies? Zombies are mythological creatures with the ability to come back from the dead. After they have been dead and buried, they are brought back to life as reanimated corpses who are forced to walk the earth. Usually, zombies possess superhuman strength, enough to crush metal, but subhuman speed. Most zombies aren’t capable of any thought, and most have a taste for human flesh.

Hollywood Zombies

There are different types of zombies. The concept of Hollywood zombies is drawn from the like of Hollywood's B movies. These zombies were average people who died and were then resurrected. These reanimated corpses are mindless and remember nothing from their previous lives. Hollywood zombies come back to life because of some curse or special day of the year. They are mindless and are noted by their slow, bumbling gait. These modern Hollywood Zombies are generally depicted with rotting flesh and open wounds. These zombies generally move in packs and have no ability to communicate.

Voodoo Zombies

Furthermore, the concept of Haitian Voodoo Zombies stems from the Voodoo religion native to Western Africa which combines many facets of African religions with European Roman Catholicism. One of the unique beliefs of the Voodoo religion is that of the zombie, stemming from the West African deity Nzambi. Zombies of this nature were once average people that were placed subject to sorcery by a bokor, or voodoo sorcerer. When the person is reincarnated as a zombie, it has no recollection of its past life or loved ones. Its only purpose is to obey the demands of its master.

Philosophical Zombies

Meanwhile, philosophical zombies are identical to humans in almost every way – except that they lack sentience and emotions. They do not experience pain or happiness like humans because they do not have any real physical experiences to draw from. They are often used in thought experiments. Some of these different types of zombies are behavioral zombies which act like humans, neurological zombies which have human brains, and soulless zombies.

Are Zombies Real?

There are many beliefs that zombies can actually exist and there is some scientific evidence that points to this possibility. This evidence comes in the form of the virus known as rabies. The symptoms of rabies create behavior which is similar to that of the zombie. Rabies drastically changes human behavior, robbing its carrier of freewill. People who suffer from rabies become a slave to the infection which affects their mind.

There is also a separate virus called baccilus that makes the blood circulate at a much slower rate than is normal but the body is still able to maintain its functions. To produce energy, the cells in the body need fresh blood, which could lead to a lust for blood in humans who have the virus. When the body does not get this fresh blood, the virus releases toxins that cause the flesh to begin decaying. These symptoms are rather similar to the elements of a classic zombie: blood-lust and decaying flesh.

For Further Information:

• Zombies: A brief overview of zombies.

• Haitian Zombies: Explains beliefs about Haitian zombies.

• Methods Of Necromancy: Explains different methods of necromancy.

• Conversation With Zombies: An article discussing the process of zombies actually rising from the dead.

• Zombies Exist: Article about voodoo zombies.

• Zombie Myths: Discusses the myths around zombies.

• Zombies In Films: Discusses the roles zombies play in films.

• The Ethno-biology and Ethics of the Haitian Zombie: Provides information about Haitian zombies.

• In Defense Of Zombies: Article that argues that zombies could exist.

• How Are Zombies Made: Discusses the different Haitian theories of zombie-making.

• Lessons Learned from Haitian Voodoo: Offers information on “zombification” in Haitian Voodoo.

• Zombie History: Discusses the origins of the modern concept of the zombie.

• The Science Of Zombies: Discusses the science necessary for zombies to rise from the dead.

• Zombie Survival Guide: A guide dedicated to the preservation of zombies with tips to help them survive.

• Zombie Research Center: Site for an organization devoted to zombies and zombie research.

• Conceivability of Zombies: Article that explores the concept of zombies.

• Papers On Zombies: A list of papers written about zombies.