RELIGION

[mariejopink25]

Do any of you guys who believe in ghosts follow any religion?
What does your religion says about ghosts and stuff?


Well, for a start, I say I'm not into any religion, I do believe in ghosts and appreciate what spiritism say about them, about life and afterlife and stuff.
I agree with most things spiritism say but not everything.
I read an Alan Kardec book and found a lot of wisdom on it, althoug some things that were in the book seem to be nuts.


I guess none of us and also most religions will never have a full comprehension on what is a spirit, a soul, a ghost, or what is God.


But I surely appreciate the phenomena and also believe that there is a God that watches us having trouble with the ghosts we do not understand!


But although I recognize that there must be something like God, I decided to not follow any religion to be free to study and know all the misteries around us with a "clear" mind. You know, without all the rules, etc.


Regards,
Marie


PS: I'm asking it after receiving an e-mail from someone telling me not to deal with ghosts cause the Bible says so. With due respect, I do not want to make my ghost experiences into a religion matter.
So, if anyone feels offended by my questions and all subsequent posts on it, as I know religion talking can end as a religion fighting, I'll ask mslemon since now to delete the topic if anyone starts a war in here.

[mslemon]

I'll not delete this. It's a worthy topic. 


There are several discussions, very long threads about similar topics, (religion vs science and a couple others I can't recall - check the Other Paranormal category) and this particular subject has been touched upon - what a religion says about ghosts.


I'm a non-practicing Catholic. They pray to "the Father, Son and Holy Ghost/Spirit" in that case, it would be hypocritical for the Catholic Church to say "ghosts" don't exist or to deny their possibility. However, I've done no research into just what the Catholic Church's stance is on ghosts or the paranormal. All I know is that they have done exorcisms - so they obviously believe in demons and possession.

[Crin]

I am a Christian and believe in ghosts/spirits. my father, who is a preacher, does not. I don't know if his belief on it is from the Bible or not, as mine comes from personal experience. I think protestants (generally) believe that "human" spirits/ghosts/presences do not exist, that once a person is dead, and their soul goes to whichever afterworld, they are gone and do not watch over relatives that are still alive. but, like I said, I believe differently about it than most protestants, specifically southern baptists.

[all_outta_angst]

as a  quick note since i'm typing from my small phone.

though the bible doesn't say much about ghosts much, there are two that come to mind.
when God lets a guy summon the spirit of the dead.  he apparently lets a seance happen!  from a christian perspective, not mine,
either the ghost was a demon in disguise or bible implies it is actual former dead guy

so eithet God broke his rule once and was a hippocrite, or it was a demon.

look no futher than the new testament in which jesus walks on water and frightens the shit out of them.

notice the disciples reaction AND Jesus' reaction.
1.  Disciples are given the power to drive demons away and have, yet they are frightened.
2. Jesus never implies demon or melevolent spirit or devil, but implies Do not be afraid, I'm not a ghost.  why would he say that?

also, yes.  some dead probably hold the same convictions they had in life.  i would imagine they would ration their predicament by what they know.
  "God isn't here because this is hell"

i think some spirits who were religious prob become atheist in death too.

now, it  would be interesting if there are after death religions in spirit worlds to try to explain the afterlife.

food for thought

[Advent]

I have found this section in the NIV Bible, that talks about spirits. I have my own interpretation of this chapter that is not shared with members of the church I attended.

1 John chapter 4, talks about testing the spirits

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God”.

And who is from God?

1 John chapter 4, verse 4

“You, dear friends are from God”.

I think of the words spirit and ghosts are the same thing. And the Bible does permit us to talk to spirits or ghosts, so long as they are from God, and that includes anybody that has lived who believes in Christ.

The interpretation of my church house group was; the chapter was only referring to the spirit of a living person.

This is my own interpretation, I am not an expert.

[Staci4]

Wiccan Yes I believe in them and the religion does as well.  AS we never die and are reincarnated it is very common.  We also have spirit guides, etc so they come through and help.

All that being said.  I was raised Methodist, and while I am not 100% sure what they would say, My parents both are practicing Methodists and both very much believe in ghosts.

[InhabitedFossil]

If I called myself anything, it would be recon Asatruar, which is a belief in the old Norse religion...no spells, just getting through life as honorably as possible.  Some Asatru practice seithr, which is a kind of magic using runes, some practice it, some don't.  No demons in Asatru, but we do believe in elves, ghosts, wights (....you could call them ghosts, but they're not quite that), and giants (both good and evil).  Wights can be protective, but they can also be tricksters and hide things (like the missing shoe you can't seem to find...then find it in a random place...).  There is also the disir, which are female ancestors that aid and protect you.

We also believe in 'Luck', which is passed down through the family, and is the ability to prosper from your efforts/endeavors, basically that things in general go well for you.