Friday 24 April 2020

The existence (or not) of ghosts

Yesterday's humourous article about ghosts has raised a number of very serious comments on the subject. That's what I love about you, my readers. You are so unpredictable and often you make me think.

So I thought, let's look at this subject seriously.

Do ghosts exist?

Christians, (and other religions), believe that we have a soul which does not die when we do, but lives on into eternity in a spiritual world - in a spiritual form. Some people believe that we will be resurrected body AND soul. But let us not complicate matters further right now. Let us settle with the fact that we have a soul that lives on after our bodily death.

In fact, according to C S Lewis, "You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body".

So, we have a soul that lives on after our death and is either in Heaven or hell. Let us presume here that the decision is made immediately at our death. Hence the commonly held belief that our loved ones are in Heaven now, and not in some waiting-room somewhere reading out of date magazines that have been re-cycled from the dentist or doctor.

In fact, in the Bible, in Jesus' parable about the rich man and poor Lazarus at his gate, we learn that they are both in their final destination now; and not in a holding place somewhere.

So I thought I'd check what my (Catholic) church says on the matter. Surprisingly, they do not have an official policy or teaching on the existence, or otherwise of ghosts. But they do have a strict policy and ruling that thou shalt not communicate with the other side. So any séance, Luigi boards, or mediums trying to talk to the dead is strictly prohibited.

So the church believes, like all Christians do, that we have an ever living soul but you should not attempt to communicate with it.

Let us therefore look at evidence in the Bible. When Jesus was transfigured on the mountain, (Matthew 17:1-9), the disciples saw Moses and Elijah (who had not yet resurrected) with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. So, presumably they had seen the spirits/souls of Moses and Elijah. Can we call them their ghosts?

In Matthew 14:26, when the disciples saw Jesus walking on the lake towards their boat they thought Jesus himself was a ghost; indicating that they at least had an idea of ghosts. Jesus did not correct them by saying ghosts don't exist.

Appearing after His resurrection to the disciples, rather than correct the very idea of ghosts, Jesus simply says He isn’t one, "Look, I have a body. Ghosts don't. Look at my hands and side". (Luke 24:37-39).

Having said all this, the Catholic Church believes in apparitions of many Saints over the years. So presumably, these apparitions are the souls/spirits/ghosts of these people who at one time were alive and they are now dead. 

What the Catholic Church does affirm, however, is that God has from time to time permitted departed souls to commune with people on earth for their betterment — but the exact nature of that communication, (whether by an intellectual sharing or a physical manifestation), has not been defined theologically.

Some time ago I communicated by e-mail with one of my readers here on this blog. 

The reader asked: If God wanted to, can He allow a certain dead person to go back to earth to serve God's purpose? In my view, the answer is YES - God can do anything. 

The next question then is: Does God do that? Does He send people (souls) back to earth to serve His purpose? We don't know the answer, but I see no reason why He does not do so.

God sent Angels many times on earth to announce to Mary about Christ's birth, to announce to the shepherds the same thing, and to warn Joseph to go to Egypt. 

So why can He not send souls from Heaven to visit earth to serve His purpose - perhaps to protect us? 

In fact, this raises the question: Are Angels souls of those who have died and gone to Heaven? Do souls in Heaven somehow become Angels?

Whilst we have no answer to those questions, and they are not raised in the Bible, apart from the fact that Angels exist, we can assume that if God wanted to He could make souls in Heaven Angels, and He could send them to various missions on earth.

I once discussed this matter with a priest I know well. He said that every day he talks to his dead parents. He says, "Mum and dad, I love you. Please pray to God to look after me".

On a different, but related, matter. Catholics do NOT pray TO the dead or TO the Saints. They ask their dead relatives and the Saints to pray to God FOR them. To intercede on their behalf. To put in a good word for them. A bit like you giving me a good reference when I apply for a job, or writing a good review about my books.

This thing about praying to the dead and the Saints is often confused by many Catholics. But then, in my experience, a lot of Catholics are a confused lot.

So in summary, there you have it. Souls exist. They appear to (some) of us. They communicate with us when God allows them. We should not communicate with them.

Are they ghosts? Your guess is as good as mine.

34 comments:

  1. Very well thought out Victor. And thanks for clarifying that one question. Confusion among Catholics is also true here in the USA. Many would disagree with you on whom praying to whom.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Bill,

      As a Catholic, I find Catholics are a confused lot. Some actually believe that by lighting a candle in front of a statue they will get favours. For a start, we CANNOT buy any favours. Not with money, candles, flowers or whatever. Secondly, we should NOT pray to the statue made of stone, plaster or whatever. The statue is only a representation of the individual. Very much like a photo of a loved one in our wallet. We do NOT love the photo, but the person it represents. We do NOT place flowers and candles on graves FOR the dead person, but as a sign of love and devotion. The same it should be for statues of saints and asking Saints to pray FOR us not us praying TO them.

      As I said, some Catholics are so confused they confuse every one else they try to explain Catholicism to.

      God bless.

      Delete
  2. All things are possible if there is a purpose for God. His purpose is not ours to decide.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you so much for these interpretations! I, too, have wondered, how does a soul qualify to become an angel? (And, in a wee bit of levity, are angels of a particular denomination?)

    Like the CS Lewis quote, I like the one about we're all spiritual beings, going through a temporary human experience.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I doubt that Angels are a particular denomination; but I understand they should be able to fly. But flying lessons are free in Heaven.

      God bless, Mevely.

      Delete
  4. That quote from C. S. Lewis is one of my favorites, Victor. And I do love how you've laid out a beautiful case for the existence of ghosts/spirits, etc. Makes really sound sense to me! Think you've changed my mind regarding them. :)
    Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It could be that some people do in fact see spirits, or souls of dead people. Yet over the years we have feared them, interpreted them as ghosts meaning us harm, or plainly we have exaggerated their existence and behaviour through our own inherent ignorance. Humans have a tendency to fear what they do not understand and treat it as a threat. That's probably why ghost have had a bad press. Maybe they need better public relations advisers.

      God bless, Martha.

      Delete
  5. Good post, victor. Catholicism sure can be confusing, at least I find it so.
    Have a wonderful evening!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, a lot of Catholicism is not well explained to Catholics as well as other denominations or religions.

      God bless you, Bill.

      Delete
  6. A great post with many interesting things noted from the Bible.
    Love the quote from CS Lewis and one our Pastor has quoted from time to time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it is sad that in this materialistic world many people have forgotten that they are a soul. They spend their existence satisfying the body.

      God bless you, Happyone.

      Delete
  7. Thank you for the clarification regarding who Catholics pray to. I try to explain that when praying to God we sometimes use intermediaries on our behalf. You have a grand weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you once more for your visit here Cathy and your kind comment. Happy weekend to you and yours.

      God bless.

      Delete
  8. Very interesting. I have not seen or experienced a ghost. But I cannot attest that I have been visited by an angel on two occasions, but did not see them but felt the presence. Someone else may disagree...and that OK. I just know my own experience and wouldn't trade it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry for the mistake...should say I CAN attest. But I guess you figured that out...

      Delete
    2. Yes Wanda. It is possible that we have been visited by an Angel. Catholics believe that we have all been assigned a Guardian Angel to look after us. So I believe this could well have happened to you.

      God bless you.

      Delete
  9. It is part of what makes 'blogland' such an interesting place. You put one post up and it so often leads to another.

    I went back to yesterdays post and re-read it plus all the comments.

    Coming to todays post, I thought it excellent and many thanks for taking the time to write about the various interpretations.

    As I said yesterday, I'm not sure about ghosts but have definitely felt the presence of a loved one, which it seems other commenters have also.

    Wishing you a good weekend

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's the thing, Jan. You say you felt the presence of a loved one. I believe this could well be their soul/spirit sent by God to protect you. Whether we call them souls, spirits, angels or even ghosts is a question of interpretation; or semantics.

      God bless you my friend.

      Delete
  10. Very interesting topic Victor. My mother and I were just talking about this possibility of those being angels to us. My dad died over two years ago in a heartbreaking way to our family and now I miss him terribly sometimes, I asked God to send me a message from my dad somehow. A beautiful velvety red cardinal came to my window looking at me fluttering his little wings a day or say later, just the other day actually. This has happened before, red cardinal but with a bright yellow bird I think was my grandmother. Three days before my dad died when he was in the hospital, a bright red cardinal was in my path dancing around fluttering it's little wings as if trying to get my attention. I've seen lights go on in my screenporch in my morning prayer time. I've seen a rose grow and stay in bloom for months years ago, both my mom and I think it was from my stepdad for my birthday. I have a friend whose son, a soldier at war was rescued by his little sister who had died as a baby. So. ...I could go on. There are many scoffers and I don't understand it all but there is definitely what some would call a supernatural side from God. My youngest daughter also had my dad appear to her in a dream, he came to the screen porch glass door watching her in the kitchen. When I was a young newlywed a man came into my husband's office while I was typing to leave a coffee maker for us to try out, I thought maybe he was an angel because he sat and smiled so sweetly just sitting there. He never came back to pick up the coffeemaker. There is also that great cloud of witnesses mentioned in the Bible. I don't know or understand fully but I trust in God. I think this kind of thing happens much, but people have to have the eyes to see. : )

    Blessings to you Victory, hope all is well. My mother is doing better but we are having to do many tests with her for the nutritionist and as my daughter says, it's a sanctification process! Haha!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Amelia for sharing your experiences and for the many unexplained examples you mention. There is a lot we do not understand. But then, God never asked us to understand Him; only to trust Him.

      Praying for you and your family.

      God bless.

      Delete
  11. No guesses here. I'll just stick with what the Bible says:)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very interesting discussion.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I appreciated Amelia's comment.

    For decades, spirits have appeared to me. Not in any threatening way like in horror movies, but just appear. I say the Lord's prayer and for them to leave. There were odd experiences.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed Susan. Many people have had similar experiences.

      God bless.

      Delete
  14. Victor, you have a real gift for making complicated religious topics easy to understand.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a nice and kind thing to say, Kathy. Thank you so much.

      God bless.

      Delete
  15. Hi Paula Victor, I do believe that people from different time zones can appear together, just like when Jesus appeared on the mountain, but I would not call them ghosts.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sorry, predictive text put my Welsh friends name before yours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know, Brenda. Were Moses and Elijah ghosts, spirits, or themselves in the flesh brought back from the dead?

      God bless.

      Delete

I PRAY FOR ALL WHO COMMENT HERE.

God bless you.