communicating with the dead?

Question

If you are a catholic, is it a sin to try and communicate with the dead?

Why is it a sin, according to the bible, to "conjur" up the dead?

Answer 1

The Bible condemns the practice of talking to the dead.The dead are incapable of talking, thinking or feeling. What does the Bible teach about what happens to us when we die?
Animals and people experience the same thing when they die as stated at Ecclesiates 3:19,20--"For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again."
Psalm 146:4--"His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish."
Eccl 9:5--"For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten." (This means that people still living cannot help those who die,they cannot reward them and eventually the memory of those who die are forgotten. They are not forgotten by God though for he holds all those who die in his memory and soon all will be resurrected back to life. The fact that we do not dwell on those who die is helpful so that death is not something thought about constantly, for if that were to happen, who could stand the pain of losing loved ones? God helps us to cope with our sadness this way. )
Eccl 9:10--"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest."(This also helps us to see that the dead feel neither pain nor pleasure)
Psalm 6:5--"For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?"
Death is likened to being asleep. Psalm 13:3--"Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death."
I hope this helps you to see what the Bible teaches regarding the dead.

Answer 2

The Bible says that the dead know nothing and cannot communicate with us. This obviously refers to the spirituallty dead, those who are lost. Scripture describeds the great chasm that separates these spiritually dead from the saved. As for the true believers however, Christ said that these would "never die". Therefore it is meaningless to speak of these people as "dead" - which is why the New Testament writers spoke of them as having "fallen asleep". The Apostles' Creed, which many Christian bodies besides the Catholic Church take as a statement of core beliefs, mentions "the comminion of saints" as one of those core beliefs. This doctrine refers to the interaction between the saints on earth and the saints in heaven. Apparently many Protestants say this prayer and don't even realize what it is they are claiming to believe.

Answer 3

Tricky question. Here's my answer:

"Yes". And "no".

St. Paul clearly says that death will not separate us from the love of Christ. Thereby, we believe, as the Apostle's Creed says, in the "Communion of Saints".

If you mean by "communicating" with the dead...our asking for them to intercede for us in prayer...then - no - there is no sin in that. It is proper to do that

But if you mean actually "conjuring" up the dead...or "necromancy" - then - that is certainly a sin...and forbidden by both Church and Scripture.

Answer 4

the comparable way you will possibly communicate with an empty can of applesauce, or a set of clothespins. without a functioning recommendations, none of those can communicate. Now in case you will hit upon a lifeless man or woman with a functioning recommendations, that's yet another tale. of course then it does not qualify as lifeless, yet that's not your problem.

Answer 5

Who cares?
The question isn't really whether or not it's a sin, but rather, is it beneficial.
As the very verbose answer above suggests, there is only one scriptural reference to an actual event, and as I recall, that didn't really help anybody..
If you believe in your redemption then sin should not worry you. You are free from that consideration - free from the bondage of sin, Jesus took it all!
But if, like me, you don't believe, then take your life in your hands. Be bold, go for what you want. I want a donut.

Answer 6

There is only one recorded incident in the Scriptures of the spirit of a dead human seeming to appear to someone, that of Samuel appearing to Saul. It's important to note that, if it was somehow actually the spirit of Samuel, as it seems to have been, the rare incident was to deliver a Godly message, not to scare or haunt anyone:

"The king said to her, "Have no fear; what do you see?"

"And the woman said to Saul, "I see a spirit coming up out of the earth."

"He said to her, "What is his appearance?"

"And she said, "An old man is coming up; and he is wrapped in a robe."

"And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance."

"Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?"

"Saul answered, "I am in great distress; for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams; therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do."

"And Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since The Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me; for The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, David. Because you did not obey the voice of The Lord, and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore The Lord has done this thing to you this day. Moreover The Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me; The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines."

"Then Saul fell at once full length upon the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel; and there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night." (1 Samuel 28:13-20 RSV)

It's also very important to note that Saul used a witch (1 Samuel 28:7) to consult that spirit, something that God commanded never to do:

"There shall not be found among you any one who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, any one who practices divination, a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a medium, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For whoever does these things is an abomination to The Lord; and because of these abominable practices The Lord your God is driving them out before you." (Deuteronomy 18:10-12 RSV)

Answer 7

because you are contacting them for fortune telling, advice etc.
and God is the source of all wisdom and to seek the dead for that
that God could answer with true wisdom. also you dont know who you are communicating with - could be a demon trying to control your choices for bad. becareful if you wish to go to the dead for something - remember God is alive.

Answer 8

Yes because they are dead and dead people do not like to be disturbed and if you were dead, would you like to be disturbed?

Answer 9

Yes.

Horoscope, Fortune tellers, Weegie Boards.

They are all consider "consorting with the devil"

Answer 10

Sin is a man made notion.