More People Believe in Ghosts Than in God

[Barb Bouldrey]

The 10:00 CBS local news last night had a report of some survey that discovered that more Americans believe in ghosts than believe in God. They attribute this to all the movies and TV shows that seem like reality shows and show a lot of ghosts and supernatural beings.

But what a sad, sad thought. How God's heart must grieve...and ours should, too.

Barb

[Barbara Moulton]

You are right. There are many TV shows that deal with ghosts and mediums and paranormal activiy. No wonder so many people accept it as reality.

[Dennis McClung]

Don't forget the Witch of Endor bringing up Samuel's ghost. That would appear to put both ghosts and witches in the scriptures.

[Michael R. Gentry]

I'm not sure more people believe in ghosts than God, but I know there is some strange activity as such. My grandmother lived in a house that was haunted by ghosts as such ... occasionally at night the silverware would rattle in the kitchen and when my grandmother got up in the morning to prepare my grandfathers breakfast there would be a plate, cup, and spoon on the kitchen counter ... always in the same place, same positions, etc.

I could go on with other things from other relatives, but will leave it at that.

My interest is how do ghosts and other paranormal activity fit in to the Bible teaching of our souls being dispatched to heaven or hell upon death.

[Barbara Moulton]

I am not doubting spiritual activity in this world. I don't believe that they are the spirits of the departed.

I have always been taught that it was likely that the Witch of Endor was accustomed to conjuring up all sorts of spirits. When God somehow brought the presence of Samuel, she realized that she was seeing something different. And she was afraid.

That's why she ran away in fear.

[Marsha Gupton]

Well, my pastor tells a story of a demonic spirit that will make you cringe.

[Ian Gentles]

I could tell you stories, once helped in an exorcism....some things are hard to explain!

[Barb Bouldrey]

Seems as if everyone here is relating evil spirits with ghosts. I am not refuting the possibility of evil spirits.....we have had experience with casting out demons in the past.
I was just quoting a survey about ghosts....the spirits of dead people.

Barb

[Barbara Moulton]

I agree Barb. I was trying to differentiate. The idea of the spirits of the departed floating around in this world does not fit my theology.

Evil spirits do fit into my theology.

But I usually prefer not to talk about them too much.

[Brad Mercer]

And it was an unscientific survey, so it really doesn't mean much at all.

Here's a link to the story:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051031/ap_on_fe_st/britain_ghosts;_ylt=At5kiymeGtHIJ6FWXgvxRZAsQE4F;_ ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

Still, it has a certain "always winter and never Christmas" feel to it.

C.S. Lewis had a book called "That Hideous Strength" in which the progressive, self-satisfied secular humanists wind up sliding into fearful paganism. This sounds like that.

Brad

[Ian Gentles]

I cant totaly understand it but exorcism I attended worked!

[Michael R. Gentry]

Just a note:

There is a big difference in ghosts and demonic spirits.

I have had numerous experiences dealing with demonic spirits. Even one that lived in a parsonage once. That a long story, won't post it here, but it was a frightening thing to my wife to go in the basement when she felt there were eyes watching her do the laundry, and my oldest daughter, who is thirty, still has some trauma related to that situation. She was so young at the time she could not explain what was happening in her bedroom, my wife and I though when she as yelling and screaming at night she was just being a pain at not going to sleep (she was 1-3 in age at the time). She was never "physically abused" but the "psychological" side was traumatic for a baby. She shared the whole story with me a few months ago.

I will say that in a men's prayer meeting one Saturday morning the demonic spirit left when we cast it out.

I know a lot of Nazarene ministers do not believe in demonic spirits, they think they were in Jesus day, but they no longer possess people like they did then. All I can say, is they need to thank God everyday they have not had to encounter such a spirit. Like the one in scripture who said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but you I do not know." Before you deal with demonic spirits you better make sure you are in a right relationship with God, the results could be disastrous.

[Billy Cox]

If we're talking about Endor, don't forget the lovable Ewoks. I know they exist because they were my least favorite part of the Episode 6, Return of the Jedi.

[Barb Bouldrey]

But isn't it sad that our world will believe in evil but do not want to recognize God?

[Dennis McClung]

If we're talking about Endor, don't forget the lovable Ewoks. I know they exist because they were my least favorite part of the Episode 6, Return of the Jedi.

Sadly, whenever I read that part of 2nd Samuel, I immediately have mental images of ewoks. Curse you George Lucas!

Any while we're on the subject, I recently acquired the unrevised copies of the original trilogy. Clearly, Hans shot first. Lucas can't hide the truth.

[Barbara Moulton]

Was Samantha's mother on Bewitched named after the Witch of Endor? I always wondered about that. (Her name is Endora)

[Billy Cox]

Yes, who is going to believe that Greedo could miss from such close range? That would be a disgrace to bounty hunters everywhere.

I thought that was a dumb revision. Han Solo was a scoundrel after all.

[Dennis McClung]

Was Samantha's mother on Bewitched named after the Witch of Endor? I always wondered about that. (Her name is Endora)

Interestingly, Wikipedia specifically mentions Endora in this fascinating artical on the Witch of Endor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch_of_Endor

What did we ever do without wikipedia?

[Hans Deventer]

But isn't it sad that our world will believe in evil but do not want to recognize God?

Perhaps because it sees more evil at work than God? (Which bounces back to us, of course).

[Michael R. Gentry]

Perhaps because it sees more evil at work than God? (Which bounces back to us, of course).

Totally true Hans. The "philosophical problem of evil" constantly comes up in our world. The big thing here in the states recently is "If there is a God why did he let New Orleans get flooded?" Bad, self-centered question seeing that an earthquake in Asia and the hurricane that went through Central America made more people homeless and isolated than the one in New Orleans did.

So, they relationalize ... there must not be a God, because he allows evil.

My feeling, there is so much good going around, how could anyone possibly doubt that there is a God?:)