Ghosts, Mediums, Psychics

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Hello +Bishop Sean. I would like to ask you, if I may, what your views are on ghosts? Also, what do you think of 'mediums' and psychics who attempt to contact spirits in haunted locations? Thank you and God bless, David Carter-Green.

What is a ghost? The disembodied soul of an otherwise dead person? The appearance of a deceased person or animal that manifests in either definable or blurry form? Apparitions that often appear suddenly and quickly, disappearing at a distance?

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Spectres have certainly been sighted moving through physical barriers such as walls and doors and are often accompanied by a noticeable drop in temperature. Poltergeists are thought to be a form of ghost which takes energy from people, most often children or teenagers, and convert it into the ability to move solid objects. Poltergeists will allegedly announce their presence with rapping, or other noises, and generally create disorder. They apparently like to generate acts of mischief such as throwing furniture about. A ghost, ultimately, is believed by some to be the energy or soul of a living person. When we die, it is supposed, this energy is released from its corporeal shell and is believed to do one of two things: move to a higher spiritual place according to the individual's religious beliefs, or stay behind and linger earthbound for an unspecified time. Why ghosts linger is never satisfactorily explained, but the most popular theories include unfinished business, the need for closure and to say farewell, a wrongful death, or perhaps to communicate a warning.

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Ghosts are allegedly photographed, videotaped and recorded on audio devices. It does seem, however, to be their choice and not ours. It has been claimed that ghosts can be detected with devices such as EMF detectors, thermal scanners, electrostatic detectors and tri-field meters. Ghosts may make themselves visible to the living from time to time, but I often wonder if what we are seeing is always the apparition of a dead person? Ghost lights have nevertheless been seen and recorded in every country and civilisation. These mysterious lights are usually seen as white or blue balls or yellow spheres (though occasionally as flickering candle flames) glowing in the darkness. Some scientists have suggested that the lights are caused by swamp gas, electricity, magnetism, or some phosphorescent material; yet so far no definitive natural source has ever been discovered for the sightings. There have been attempts to trap a ghost light for examination, but, pursued, they invariably always seem to be just out of reach. They acquired the name ignis fatuus, meaning "foolish fire," because it is thought foolish to try to follow or capture such a phantom light. According to certain legends, the light of an ignis fatuus is the ghost of a sinner who is condemned to wander the world for eternity. In parts of Britain, it is sometimes called the will-o'-the-wisp and is considered to be a death omen.

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I tend toward scepticism where the majority of recorded sightings of supposed discarnate spirits are concerned, but, as with all things thought to be supernatural, retain an open mind. Some apparitions, I suspect, might be the original scene occuring in its own time and, of course, the same space with the imprint somehow managing to be eerily glimpsed in our time due to circumstances that enable a "time window" into the past which we do not fully comprehend. This has nothing to do with the supernatural, as I would define it, and is preternatural, by which I mean it is most likely to be understood scientifically at some point in the future. Could the surviving emotional memory of someone who has died traumatically and tragically, but is unaware of having become deceased, be another explanation? They may appear confused or frightened. Not being ready or yet able to let go of the physical attachments, they remain in the old and familiar places, repeating the same acts indefinitely until something or someone breaks the cycle for them. The theories are seemingly endless and, needless to say, spectres attributed to the dead might actually be demonic entities masquerading as loved ones.

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My view on mediumship is the scriptural one; certainly mediums who prey upon the vulnerable and charge money for their "gift." A gift, by its nature, is something given and received freely.

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One needs to define "psychics" before I can opine because some are mistakenly confused with mediums. I am considered psychic, for example, as are a great many people. This is by no means a voluntary condition. I, therefore, define a psychic as having the ability to receive information in ways other then the normal five senses. This is something the psychic cannot control, but might be able to develop.

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Professional "psychics" who charge money for their supposed "gift" is a practice I would unreservedly condemn. Mediums and psychics who attempt to contact spirits at haunted locations are also to be discouraged and, to my mind, are playing a most dangerous game. Should anything supernatural manifest there is every possibility of it being demonic. Those who summon such entities would not necessarily be equipped to deal with what they unleash when unlocking doors best left closed.

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