I enjoy things like this. I am not a super religious individual, however I do believe in life after death.
Please play this as you read. It adds to the atmosphere.
1) Dad's death
I know you said keep religion out of this but this relates to it. Dad passed away a few years ago, I went to a local religious institution at the time, went into the shop to get some beads and this is where something strange happened. There was a dude there, elderly man, helping me look for stuff. He was showing me how to write in a specific dialect, he spelled out a word, I could not make it out, he told me what it spelled out and it was the name of my father. I tripped out, he had no idea who I was, had no idea who my father was nor that he passed away. the chances of it happening? Slim. Never saw the old gift shop dude after that.
2) The half body man
I think my house is haunted. My house stands in a old military town. Close to the airport. Anyway, here is the strange story. Was late at night, was in high school at the time. I was in my basement working on my assignment. My family was upstairs and they were all sleeping. I finished up at around 1 am, was heading to the stairs when in the living room I thought I saw someone sitting. I thought it was my dad (before he passed away) and called out. No response. I said uh. . . I got closer and the light from the main hall shined into the living room a bit. I got closer and I could see only the half of the figures body, the other half was shrouded in the dark. It wasn't my father.
The figure was sitting crossed legged on the sofa, was wearing dress pants, grey, and from the waist up (from what was illuminated by the light) an old fashioned blazer which was buttoned up. Also was wearing black dress shoes. I didn't even bother going closer, why? I sissied out and ran up the stairs throwing my work on the floor! I ran to my father told him someone was in the house. He said what? He said thats impossible. . . We have an alarm system. . . He grabbed a steel bat I grabbed a knife and we went downstairs. Went to the living room, nothing was there, nadda. We looked everywhere in the house and obviously found nothing. . . He said I was loosing my mind, I wasn't.
Here's where it gets messed up. I know for a fact this house is haunted but the spirits aren't malicious. At night, from upstairs, I can hear voices in the basement but I can't make out the conversations. I can hear laughter and things going clunk as if someone is downstairs. I go down in the morning and sometimes the lights are on, the t.v in one room will be on etc, and I'm the first one to wake up in the morning and the last one to come upstairs. I know. . .
There is a house a few blocks away that is haunted. When the couple leaves for work, the bed will be undone, chairs moved around, tables shifted etc. They have an alarm system and it never goes off. Not malicious spirits just spirits having fun.
I have more stories, will share later on though.