JimmyRopes wrote:

I realized that our belief systems are totally different (I knew that) and that she, and the other folks in the village, have a very different take on the supernatural.

Perception drives our reaction. Our belief, faith, experiences, knowledge, etc drive our perception. So, in your case, IMHO, is not a matter of believing in ghost or no, but it's your wife perception that a ghost can do harm to humna. Cheers, NH