How Do You Account for People Seeing Ghosts?

i’ll go with other. seeing isn’t just an optical thing. some people see mary in every oddly burnt toast, water stain or wood grain. some people see ghosts. some people see ufos. some people look at the world very naturalistically and never see any of the above.

What’s a “ripple in time”?

[Jim Peet] What’s a “ripple in time”?

I think it was a religion in the 70s. Or, in quantum physics, what is also referred to as a “wrinkle in time.”

I actually have not given a lot of thought to this, but I view time as a measurement not an entity.

This sounds more like Star Trek or the Twilight Zone than Biblical theology:

Since creation is cursed and decay has set in, it is possible that the time continuum is less than perfect. A ripple in time could, in theory, result in seeing something from the past in the present.

[Ed Vasicek]

[Jim Peet] What’s a “ripple in time”?

Time is a created entity, according to Romans 8:37-39. Since creation is cursed and decay has set in, it is possible that the time continuum is less than perfect.

A ripple in time could, in theory, result in seeing something from the past in the present. There is no proof that such ripples exist.

As a fictional Spanish pirate once said (something close to this), “Do you know what that text means? Because I do not think that text means what you think it means.”

Notice that “any other created thing” does not refer to time, but to “things present” and “things to come.” Even though the word “things” may not be present in the Greek, the idea certainly is, since participles used substantivally do not refer to the idea in the abstract, but rather as adjectives to an unstated referent.

Jim is correct that time is not an entity but a measurement. The basic physics formula defines time as distance over rate. “Time” is how finite beings perceive relative motion.

This is actually Daniel’s wife; he told me I could join in the fun under his name. :) I definitely had to vote, due to personal experience, that ghosts are “almost always demons.”

Before any of you start thinking I’m a crazy nutcase since I’ve had “personal experiences” with so-called ghosts, let me clarify, I’m 100% certain in my salvation & that I’m a child of the King, yet I do believe that Satan can have/did have influence on even a Christian’s mind & body (but not the soul; that, I hope you’d agree with me, belongs only to God!). Yet, for as far back as I can remember, I’ve suffered with intense nightmares; the content of them included very graphic death scenes, disturbing images, Satan, & demons. Every time I fell asleep, I’d watch people die in the most grotesque ways you could ever (hopefully not) imagine. Before long, I was afraid to even go to sleep for fear of what disturbing displays I might witness that night. Long story shortened, I started hearing voices & different sounds which definitely were not physically present; and I eventually started to see “ghosts.” Satan had a foothold into my life through fear, which, according to 2 Tim. 1:7, is not of God.

Satan is actively prowling about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pt. 5:8) & purposes to redirect the attention of God’s deserving glory. Keep in mind that Peter’s epistle is written to believers, so we know this applies to Christians. We also know that Eph. 2:2 tells us that Satan is the “prince of the power of the air.” As demonstrated in the OT book of Job, Satan is not powerless in this physical world. He can use physical phenomena as means to distract our spiritual well-being.

Back to my personal experiences; I met with a Christian counselor as well as my church pastor & both agreed on separate occasions that my story matched with the description of demonic-oppression (different than demon-possession). The only “cure” for this trial was to call upon the name of the Jesus & the power of His blood to cast away the demons.

Now, having been through this trial, I most certainly have found a new air of discretion when met with ghostly situations. For example, a recovered druggie may walk into a social situation and hear key words/phrases that he automatically knows are referring to drugs while others around him may be completely unaware of the conversation topic. Or, perhaps, a quilter may walk into a social situation & hear key words/phrases that automatically might tell her that people in the room are also into quilting. So also I feel a sense about demonic encounters. I recognize the key words/phrases, feelings, sensations linked to the situation.

In relation to ghost hunters & other such media coverage of paranormal activity, I think its really obvious when the situations are really fake & which are questionably real (or super duper realistic). I recently watched a tv episode in which it was apparent, at least to me, that a “ghost” was present during the highlighted investigation. I saw the material presented as “proof” on the show, i felt the chills up my spine, and the need to start singing a hymn or pray like crazy.

When its comes to these kinds of topics & situations, I think we’re only asking for trouble & practically begging Satan to put a stumbling block between us & God if we entertain any of our curiosity. The deeper we search into a spooky situation—even if we are unconvinced if its a demon vs. walking dead—the more we’ll be dragged deeper and deeper into the darkness….unless viewed from God’s perspective. It takes quite a bit of humility & honesty with ourselves to admit our intentions & responses to the dark topics. If we have any inkling of fear, STOP—fear is not from God!!! If we have any bit of an uneasy/unsound mind—STOP! Whatever is not of God is sin. The Bible has a very clear response for all of this: “Flee from evil.”

If an individual can honestly look into the dark matters without feeling an ounce of negative effect, venture on. But, I’ve personally learned to stay far away & to keep God at the heart of it all.

How do I account for people claiming to see Ghosts? Same way that I account for people seeing Big Foot, or speaking in tongues, or being healed at a Benny Hinn meeting, or attending a KJVO Baptist church. The world is full of gullible, emotionally confused, and self centered exaggerators and liars, and those who listen to them.

Demons don’t have time for such nonsense. They are too busy not being noticed at the the Seminaries, Bible schools, and churches.

[Bob T.] How do I account for people claiming to see Ghosts? Same way that I account for people seeing Big Foot, or speaking in tongues, or being healed at a Benny Hinn meeting, or attending a KJVO Baptist church. The world is full of gullible, emotionally confused, and self centered exaggerators and liars, and those who listen to them.

Demons don’t have time for such nonsense. They are too busy not being noticed at the the Seminaries, Bible schools, and churches.

Why don’t demons have time ‘for such nonsense’? If there truly are ‘ghost sightings’, and those ghost sightings are actually demons, then they seem to be doing a pretty good job at captivating America at least in turning attention from God to the supernatural. Seems like a good plan if I were the one waging the war. Not sure why they wouldn’t.

I guess the questions might be “Do we believe in the supernatural?” Do we believe there are angels protecting us? If so, we couldn’t we believe there are demons around us as well?

I voted almost always nutty. I believe they are either imagining things or seing demons, but there was no combination of the two. I decided I think they are more often imagining than seeing demons, hence the vote.

[Jim Peet] I actually have not given a lot of thought to this, but I view time as a measurement not an entity.

This sounds more like Star Trek or the Twilight Zone than Biblical theology:

Since creation is cursed and decay has set in, it is possible that the time continuum is less than perfect. A ripple in time could, in theory, result in seeing something from the past in the present.

Jim, I would like to point you to the following couple of verses. Feel free to read them for context as you will.

Isa 34:4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling [fig] from the fig tree.

Rev 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

If you take a blanket spread smooth and even on a bed and pull large wrinkles in it, then places that were once 6 inches apart are now only an inch or two. If you take a carpet that is 10 feet long and roll it up then one end that was 10 feet from the other is now only a foot or so.

Bob, People sometimes have a cancer grow in the brain that can causes them to see what isn’t there. Or hear etc. I myself saw a light follow a country road maybe 10 feet in the air. It was a shimmer and it came up the road from the river and followed the road like on a rail. I was playing poker at age 14 maybe with a group ranging in age from myself to 33. All saw me looking and looked and saw it them selves. THe light moved in our direction getting faster and faster till it got to the stop sign beside us. THere was not the slightest sound but when it reached the stop sign it went up into the air in a great arch and landed in the grave yard across the road from the store my family owned. Everyone got into cars and left without a word leaving me standing there.

I have no clue what this was. I only know I SAW IT. And I was not alone in seeing it.

Ed,

Ecc 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.

Knowing that the Bible says the above but also knowing Saul spoke to Samuel,( 1 Sam 28:15 ) What do you make of it ?

This is a threadjacking - everyone put your hands up! ;)

[Bob T.] How do I account for people claiming to see Ghosts? Same way that I account for people seeing Big Foot, or speaking in tongues, or being healed at a Benny Hinn meeting, or attending a KJVO Baptist church. The world is full of gullible, emotionally confused, and self centered exaggerators and liars, and those who listen to them.

Bob, there are quite a few KJVO people who are content with that position because that’s what they’ve grown up with or whatever reason. Not everyone who is KJVO/KJVP is gullible, confused, or easily mislead…take a look in the ETV Debate forum.

Jay,

Are you proposing then that “contentment” is the basis for determining whether or not a person is gullible, confused or easily misled because if so, I can happily introduce you to some contented cult members :).