What are the Christian views on ghosts, generally?

Question

I have been wondering what the Church, individual preachers or ministers think of ghosts/hauntings with Christianity. I grew up in an Upstate New York house on a Native American burial ground (also next to a graveyard & old churchhouse) and experienced some very strange occurances. If there are any PREACHERS, CLERGY, or PASTORS that may like to shed their own views on this it would be much appreciated. (I am Nondenominational Christian and welcome to any other denominational answer.)

Answer 1

Well, I'm an ordained reverand in a non denominational church, but grew up as a baptist/christian. I personally feel that there are more than one type of "ghost", the majority of which are the trapped souls of people who somehow met an untimely and/or horrific death. These particular ghosts may or may not know they are dead, but cannot move on due to some sort of unfinished business or a lesson that they need to learn before doing so. Then you have your "demonic" presence, which in some case may actually be demons, but most likely are just mischievious ghosts, who in their mind are just having fun playing pranks on you and scaring you (much like friends play pranks on one another). Then there's the demonic presence that one must assume to either be an actual demons essence or one heck of an evil persons' ghost. These are the ones that people report having actually cut them, bruised them, choked them, knocked them down, etc. In these cases your best bet is to vacate the property, if that is not an option, contact the Catholic Church and see if you can get them to investigate. While they won't openly admit it, they do look into such things and in some cases will actually arrange an excorcism, either with an actual priest of the church or somone outside of the church whom they reccomend.

Answer 2

I am not a preacher or a priest. I was raised mostly Catholic. I have done a lot of seeking and studying of spirituality and religions. The answer to your question will be different depending on who you are talking to. Some people consider ghosts part of the occult (hidden) and therefore off limits to "true believers." However, I think most people believe in some kind of afterlife. Look how popular the movie Ghost was as evidenced by ticket sales (a ways back , a cheap rental now). My late wife was 1/2 Native American and she said she could see ghosts. I believe there are angels among us that look like regular people. I have met them and they have helped me. There is a TV show right now called Dead Like Me, where people in transition between our world and the afterlife help those who die to adjust. Christians, Jews, Muslims all believe in angels. Ghosts is a bit more complicated. Good luck in your quest.

Answer 3

I agree with what some of you say. These ghost are familiar spirits. Familiar spirits are demons who take on the trait and personality of someone who died to deceive one in thinking that the spirit of the dead still roam about and can get in contact with the living. This is not true because when you die you will not have any contact with the living. These are the same demonic spirits that psychics and the occult use to tell the future. You must understand that these familiar spirits know a lot about the person who pass away from observing them so they can appear as the person and pass on information that will make you think that it was your love one that died. Be warn that these evil spirits in the end are out to mislead and destroy mankind. Have nothing to do with them. If you come across these activities you need to pray and plea the blood of Jesus Christ in every area of your home. Or seek a servant of Christ who is gifted in such a thing.

If you read the parable of the rich man and the poor in the scripture you would see that the poor man was saved and was resting in Abraham's bossom while the rich man was not saved and was in hell. The rich man ask if he could go and warn his family about hell and the reply he got was that if your family do not belive those who preach them the truth who are alive, even if the dead came back to warn them they would not believe. God has no purpose in bringing back the dead to communicate with the living. God even warns us of communicating with the so called dead. Lastly, do not believe those who speculate on what they believe ghost to be if it goes against the word of God. If God himself tells us have nothing to do with these ghost and that they are demonic spirit, then it is wrong to speculate and say that these ghost are the spirit of the dead when it goes against the word of God. If that were the case God would tell us that some were spirit of the dead while others were not, but he didn't. He tells us not to consult familiar spirits and he left no room for exceptions. Therefore, we can conclude that base on the word of God these spirits are demons and not the spirit of those who died.

Answer 4

I believe that there are forces of the supernatural at work around us. The Holy Spirit of course is a Ghost. Angels are spirits as well. In retrospect...Satan has his helpers and those that are there to try and cause fear, doubt, suspision etc... I think it is foolish to think that these things don't exist. Be careful what you believe IN however. You will be much less likely to encounter problems with the demonic realm if your faith is rooted in the Holy Spirit.
In peace.

Answer 5

Christians do not really refer to them as ghosts but demons. The bible states in Revelation that Satan deceived a third of the angels and thyey were cast with him to the earth. After Samuel died, Saul went to the witch of Endor raise him up so that he could speak to him. It was a demon in the formation of Samuel that spoke to Saul. Jesus cast demons into swines. Therefore strange things are happening and will continue to happened. People will continually be possessed by demons until the return of Jesus. They are here to do a job on earth. all we have to do when we encounter them is to rebuke them in the name of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 6

This is an interesting question. I don't know how I feel b/c I have never experienced this myself. However, I think that spirits probably walk the Earth. If a spirit does not belong to God (they do not believe), then I think it's pretty much up for grabs. Since Judgment Day is not here yet, what are these spirits doing? Interesting...

Answer 7

Modern Spiritualism began in upstate New York and is based upon the proven instance of communication with the so called dead. (they are actually more alive than most on earth). While not completely Christian (our personal responsibility principle may disagree with vicarious atonement) it does accept Jesus as a wonderful medium.

Answer 8

I am not a pastor or priest but I think the general view is that these are demonic forces, because when people die, they should go to heaven or hell. These demons will imitate deceased people to fool people into thinking that they are communicating with them. That's just my personal interpretation.

Answer 9

interior the Qoran God refers to Christians as "human beings of the e book". Christians helpes Muhammas against pagans and a few Jews. additionally, Muslims have self belief Jesus will return as their saviour. there will be non-Muslims answering and telling you in any different case because of the fact the'yre anti-Semitic and/or anti-Muslim.

Answer 10

the church basically believes that their are two kinds of spirits good and evil so you got to think that the good kind are guardian angels and angels in heaven so the bad kind are evil demons sent to decieve and create fear.