Are ghosts real?

With the time of year, increased activity in thoughts about ghosts is natural. Also feeding these feelings are several networks shows about ghosts and ghost hunting, along with feature films, such as “Paranormal Activity 3,” which all claim that ghosts are real.

Disembodied spirits of the dead who return to haunt the living do not exist. The classic case in the Bible is Saul and the witch at Endor. Needing encouragement about the confrontation with the Philistines, Saul went to the witch to “conjure” up Samuel. First Samuel 28:11-12 says, “Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.” The woman was clearly surprised, not anticipating one who clearly came back from the dead. This was a special circumstance which God used to communicate Saul’s impending death. In Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the Lord taught that spirits go to the Hadean realm, and do not come back to earth to “haunt” or “warn” others (Luke 16:27-31; cf. Hebrews 9:27).

Furthermore, as much as people may want it, the shows and movies which depict hauntings are clearly inconclusive at best and completely make believe at worst. Anecdotal evidence is not a real answer. The Bible declares that communication with the dead, either in a positive or negative way, is not possible.

Kyle Campbell