Facts On ---- Halloween -- Chapter Eight

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What are the theories advanced to explain ghosts?

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   The theories put forth to explain or identify ghosts or poltergeists are almost as diverse as the phenomenon itself. Among those advanced, poltergeists as (1) the spirits of human dead; (2) unknown spirits; (3) demonic spirits or biblical demons.; (4) spontaneous, uncontrollable outbursts of psychokinetic energy, usually associated with a young person emerging into adolescence; (5) various other manifestations of human "psychic" activity; (6) inexplicable phenomena resulting from unknown, strange geophysical conditions (although this view is held by some noted rationalistically inclined psychic investigators, it is perhaps the least credible theory to those who have personally experienced poltergeist events; (7) consequences of the human spirit being projected or forced outside the body as in uncontrollable out-of-body experiences or "astral" projection; and (8) a post-mortem "vestige" of human personality somehow imbued with powers to affect the physical realm.
   The three most common theories are: (1) the Christian view that poltergeists are biblical demons; (2) the mediumistic interpretation that poltergeists ate the roaming spirits of the human dead; and (3) the parapsychological view that poltergeists constitute an entirely human phenomenon and result from various manifestations of alleged psychic, i.e., psychokinetic, power.
   Note that the last two interpretations justify certain preexisting theories that are often passionately advocated by those who hold them. Thus, in the mediumistic view, poltergeists provide alleged "evidence" that all spirits of the human dead may run freely - and thus, are not immediately confined to heaven or hell as the Bible teaches (see Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:19-30; 2 Peter 2:9; Revelation 20:10-15).

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Matthew 25:46; "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

2 Peter 2:9; ...if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment.

Revelation 20:10-15; (10) And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (11) Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. (12) And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. (13) The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. (14) Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. (15) If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

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   This supports the occult belief that men and women never die spiritually in the biblical sense of eternal separation from God. Rather, it is believed that, in general, the spirits of the human dead merely experience a normal transition into the next life where they have the opportunity to continue their spiritual evolution based on individual merit earned in their pervious life (or lives). This interpretation of ghosts is often incorporated with belief in reincarnation.
   The parapsychological view interprets poltergeists in a different manner. Poltergeist phenomena are believed to result from alleged recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis (RSPK) of adolescents (usually females), that is, from the alleged psychic powers of the human mind. This idea lends support to the cherished theory of innate human psychic potential long advocated by the parapsychological and New age communities. For example, in ascribing poltergeist phenomena to human psychic power, the late noted psychical researcher D. Scott Rogo comments, "In thinking about man's unwelcome guests, the poltergeists, let us remember that our psychic abilities can plague as well as benefit us." However, some psychical researchers have also accepted the occult, mediumistic interpretation that these entities are "troubled or confused" ghosts or "earthbound spirits" who, because of their past life or lives on earth, have been hampered in their spiritual "evolution." Rather than progress into higher spirit realms or the "finer" dimensions of the spiritual world, they remain aggressively attached to the "earth plane."
   We find these last two theories unconvincing in light of both biblical revelation and the nature and actions of the poltergeist itself. We reject the mediumistic theory because the Bible teaches the human dead are either with Christ in heaven or confined to punishment in hell - and therefore unable to roam in the spirit world and/or haunt houses (see Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Luke 16:22-26; 2 Peter 2:9).

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Philippians 1:23; I an torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far...

2 Corinthians 5:6-7; (6) Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. (7) We live by faith, not by sight.

Luke 16:22-26; (22) "The time came when the begger died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. (23) In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. (24) So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' (25) "But Abraham replied, 'Son remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. (26) And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'..."

2 Peter 2:9; ...if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment.

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   We reject the parapsychological theory because we believe the idea that human beings have genuine psychic powers is largely a myth. We document this in our book Cult Watch (Harvest House Publishers, 1991, pp. 257-281).
   So how do we explain real ghosts?