First things first

[DeistPaladin]

But does she believes that the things referred to as Ghosts used to be living, breathing humans?

There's something going on with the ghost phenomena. But to jump to the conclusion that they are the spirits of formerly alive people is a jump in logic for me. And one not based on any evidence.

Yeah, but there are some odd things going on, on this planet.

Yes as in "used to be living, breathing humans". She thinks consciousness is some kind of energy that survives the death of the brain.

I'm skeptical of both her claims and yours but I don't completely rule them out. We don't know what consciousness is and I will wait for the verdict from neuroscience when it comes in. If there is such a thing as a "soul", it must have properties that can be discovered and studied. Same goes for "odd things going on". So I don't rule them out but I see no reason to believe and have prepared myself for what I see as "worst case scenario" that we are no worse off after we die then before we were born. Hence my self-classification.

I think the dichotomy between my wife and I underscores how the God and afterlife (or spirits) issue are not necessarily connected as a lot of people seem inclined to think. You might think that God created a strictly natural universe where we don't have to be scared of hauntings and we get one shot at the brass ring. Or you might not believe in any god but still believe there's some natural mechanic behind consciousness that survives the death of the brain.