Are Ghosts Real?
As a faith-based group we are often asked if ghosts are real. Our reply is an intellectually honest one “Some are.” Before you write me off, let me say that I neither subscribe to popular ghost theory nor do I believe that a certain of souls are trapped between two worlds. For many years I held the traditional evangelical answer that all ghosts are demonic impersonations (although many are), but this inference was based more on incredulity than theology as elegantly put by Cris Putnam in his book “The Supernatural Worldview: Examining Paranormal, Psi, and the Apocalyptic.” I cannot intelligently explain the fact of human apparitions or how that is even possible, but I know they exist.
Paranormal investigators, parapsychologists and demonologists have varying hypotheses on what these apparitions are. For the sake of brevity, I will not be explaining the majority of these hypotheses as they are self-explanatory. The one given a reasonable amount of treatment is the one we at CPR are open to as it is consistent with the evidence we have gathered over the years. The hypotheses are but not limited to:
Ghosts as Residual Human Auras. This one is new to me, but you can read about it in chapter 5 of John Warwick Montgomery’s “Principalities and Powers.”
Telepathic hallucinations arising from the minds/brains of the dead.
Telepathic hallucinations arising from the minds of the living.
The Damned Sent Back to Haunt the Living. I subscribed to this exclusively for quite some time and it is reasonable to assume that a certain of apparitions fall into this category.
Satanic Counterfeits of the Dead (Demons). Indeed, as many apparitions are and most always having a false pretense if appearing harmless. I held the “demon only” view for many years and went into the field holding the same, but experience has changed that. Having said that, I feel the next hypothesis may very well be the best explanation for many human apparitions and is presented here verbatim from Montgomery’s book.
Ghost as the Dead Themselves. “Ghosts as the dead themselves, on their way to the reward determined once for all by their relationship or lack of relationship to Christ on earth, but not yet entered fully into that reward. It should be emphasized that this is not the Roman Catholic purgatorial concept (there is no hint of expiating one’s own sins in a works-righteous fashion), nor is any necessary violation done to Heb. 9:27 (“it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”), since no postponement or possible reversal of the judgment at death is suggested. Only the time-lag between death and heaven, or death and hell, is extended to account for ghostly phenomena that show more self-direction than the “human aura” would allow for, and yet do not engage either in angelic or in demonic missions to the living.”
This last hypothesis is surely going to raise of eyebrows of evangelicals but understandably so, but remember this writing is not to convince anyone of anything. What you believe is always your decision. I never force my beliefs nor do I want anyone trying to force theirs on me. In truth, human apparitions aren’t proof of anything, but they are evidence that supports the idea of an afterlife and Scripture teaches us that there is indeed an afterlife. We at CPR are open to this hypothesis for the following reasons:
· We must separate the fact of human apparitions from the traditional evangelical interpretation of that fact.
· Not all environmental changes nor apparitions are demonic in nature as we have found out from our years in the field. Here, however, we exercise caution on a case by case basis as no one is above deception.
· Contrary arguments stemming from the silence of Scripture aren’t convincing as Scripture doesn’t mention a lot of things that we know to be in existence. Putnam writes, “… Scripture never teaches that demons pretend to be human spirits, either.”
· This one is messy. Hebrews 9:27 was referenced in the last hypothesis. In agreement with Montgomery, human apparitions do not violate this passage (“it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”), “since no postponement or possible reversal of the judgment at death is suggested.” In my research, I can find no evidence to refute what may very well be a time lag here. “After” is not very specific. Montgomery goes on to say, “Only the time-lag between death and heaven, or death and hell, is extended to account for ghostly phenomena that show more self-direction than the ‘human aura’ would allow for, and yet do not engage either in angelic or in demonic missions to the living.” I’m in agreement with Putnam that the Bible does indeed teach that those in Christ go to heaven but doesn’t reveal much about the immediate state of the unbeliever. I do not and will not deny that Scripture reveals the fact that man has one of two eternal destinies, but I, along with others, question those who claim definitive knowledge of the timing of this judgment other than the final verdict that will be taking place at the Great White Throne Judgment after Jesus’ return (Revelation 20: 11– 15).
· The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Putnam says that the inference from this parable suggests the quarantine of the unrighteous as also found in II Peter 2:9 (“… and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment”). “And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us” (Luke 16: 26). This chasm is in Hades is supported by Jewish literature concerning the divisions for the wicked and the righteous, not a chasm between the living and the dead as believed by many holding the “demon only” position.
Jesus' parables are short stories that teach a moral or spiritual lesson by analogy or similarity. In and of itself, the story is not important and also the story may or may not be literally true. It is the lesson (higher spiritual truth) of a parable that is important to us. Scholars emphasize, “The story parables function as a means of calling forth a response on the part of the hearer” (Fee and Stuart, 1993). What are some of the things we can learn from this Parable? Heaven and hell are real, no more chances when we cross the eternal horizon, conscious joys/bliss of believers and conscious suffering and torment of unbelievers and the forecasting of Jesus’ resurrection.
Interpreting facts can be difficult but being open to the idea of ghosts without compromise, given the all the foregoing, has not destroyed our faith in the least. Our faith remains rock steady. As always, this writing is provided for those interested in this subject matter. The reader is encouraged to make up their own mind about what they do or do not believe.
REB
Paranormal investigators, parapsychologists and demonologists have varying hypotheses on what these apparitions are. For the sake of brevity, I will not be explaining the majority of these hypotheses as they are self-explanatory. The one given a reasonable amount of treatment is the one we at CPR are open to as it is consistent with the evidence we have gathered over the years. The hypotheses are but not limited to:
Ghosts as Residual Human Auras. This one is new to me, but you can read about it in chapter 5 of John Warwick Montgomery’s “Principalities and Powers.”
Telepathic hallucinations arising from the minds/brains of the dead.
Telepathic hallucinations arising from the minds of the living.
The Damned Sent Back to Haunt the Living. I subscribed to this exclusively for quite some time and it is reasonable to assume that a certain of apparitions fall into this category.
Satanic Counterfeits of the Dead (Demons). Indeed, as many apparitions are and most always having a false pretense if appearing harmless. I held the “demon only” view for many years and went into the field holding the same, but experience has changed that. Having said that, I feel the next hypothesis may very well be the best explanation for many human apparitions and is presented here verbatim from Montgomery’s book.
Ghost as the Dead Themselves. “Ghosts as the dead themselves, on their way to the reward determined once for all by their relationship or lack of relationship to Christ on earth, but not yet entered fully into that reward. It should be emphasized that this is not the Roman Catholic purgatorial concept (there is no hint of expiating one’s own sins in a works-righteous fashion), nor is any necessary violation done to Heb. 9:27 (“it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”), since no postponement or possible reversal of the judgment at death is suggested. Only the time-lag between death and heaven, or death and hell, is extended to account for ghostly phenomena that show more self-direction than the “human aura” would allow for, and yet do not engage either in angelic or in demonic missions to the living.”
This last hypothesis is surely going to raise of eyebrows of evangelicals but understandably so, but remember this writing is not to convince anyone of anything. What you believe is always your decision. I never force my beliefs nor do I want anyone trying to force theirs on me. In truth, human apparitions aren’t proof of anything, but they are evidence that supports the idea of an afterlife and Scripture teaches us that there is indeed an afterlife. We at CPR are open to this hypothesis for the following reasons:
· We must separate the fact of human apparitions from the traditional evangelical interpretation of that fact.
· Not all environmental changes nor apparitions are demonic in nature as we have found out from our years in the field. Here, however, we exercise caution on a case by case basis as no one is above deception.
· Contrary arguments stemming from the silence of Scripture aren’t convincing as Scripture doesn’t mention a lot of things that we know to be in existence. Putnam writes, “… Scripture never teaches that demons pretend to be human spirits, either.”
· This one is messy. Hebrews 9:27 was referenced in the last hypothesis. In agreement with Montgomery, human apparitions do not violate this passage (“it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”), “since no postponement or possible reversal of the judgment at death is suggested.” In my research, I can find no evidence to refute what may very well be a time lag here. “After” is not very specific. Montgomery goes on to say, “Only the time-lag between death and heaven, or death and hell, is extended to account for ghostly phenomena that show more self-direction than the ‘human aura’ would allow for, and yet do not engage either in angelic or in demonic missions to the living.” I’m in agreement with Putnam that the Bible does indeed teach that those in Christ go to heaven but doesn’t reveal much about the immediate state of the unbeliever. I do not and will not deny that Scripture reveals the fact that man has one of two eternal destinies, but I, along with others, question those who claim definitive knowledge of the timing of this judgment other than the final verdict that will be taking place at the Great White Throne Judgment after Jesus’ return (Revelation 20: 11– 15).
· The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Putnam says that the inference from this parable suggests the quarantine of the unrighteous as also found in II Peter 2:9 (“… and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment”). “And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us” (Luke 16: 26). This chasm is in Hades is supported by Jewish literature concerning the divisions for the wicked and the righteous, not a chasm between the living and the dead as believed by many holding the “demon only” position.
Jesus' parables are short stories that teach a moral or spiritual lesson by analogy or similarity. In and of itself, the story is not important and also the story may or may not be literally true. It is the lesson (higher spiritual truth) of a parable that is important to us. Scholars emphasize, “The story parables function as a means of calling forth a response on the part of the hearer” (Fee and Stuart, 1993). What are some of the things we can learn from this Parable? Heaven and hell are real, no more chances when we cross the eternal horizon, conscious joys/bliss of believers and conscious suffering and torment of unbelievers and the forecasting of Jesus’ resurrection.
Interpreting facts can be difficult but being open to the idea of ghosts without compromise, given the all the foregoing, has not destroyed our faith in the least. Our faith remains rock steady. As always, this writing is provided for those interested in this subject matter. The reader is encouraged to make up their own mind about what they do or do not believe.
REB