One of the more contentious topics in any deep discussion of Christianity is the concept of ghosts as the spirit manifestation of those who have died. It is safe to say that many, if not most, clergymen take a firm stand that ghosts are not benign traces of lost loved ones, but more likely a demonic spirit intent on deceiving the living.

In truth, there are passages in the Bible that caution against communication with ghosts.

With the possible exception of the Catholic church belief in purgatory, the prevailing belief is that death is a one-way journey with no stops along the way. This would seem to eliminate the possibility of ghosts being the spiritual residue of departed souls who have unfinished business or pressing concern for those left behind.

If we rely on tales of hauntings and stories of what is known as poltergeists, there is some credence to the idea that ghosts may be evil spirits. Yet, at the same time, some accounts appear to describe spirit beings who have just lost their way and have no malicious intent.

Many of us have personal or family experiences that not only seem contrary to the evil spirit concept, but serve to give us hope.

So, what is the reality, and how does that impact our belief system?

Many of the tales of haunted locations seem to involve distressed entities who passed as a result of violence. Those beings appear to be stuck in their own personal hell as they struggle to resolve the conflict that doomed them. Some even seem to be unaware that they have passed.

With a few notable exceptions, while they may unnerve the living, they seem to have no interest in causing harm or distress to the living.

On the other end of the spectrum are visitations that appear to be a manifestation of love. Stories abound of someone on their deathbed who seems to see a departed loved one that has appeared to offer hope and comfort in the final living hours.

Finally, we have the increasingly inspiring accounts of those who claim to have died, briefly visited the spirit realm, and returned to life, relating stories of peace and love.

So, how do we reconcile these positive experiences with the Biblical cautions about contact with occupants of the spirit world?

Once again, we must balance our logic with conflicting concepts or, in this case perhaps personal experiences. Once again, we must step back from the ancient written texts and recognize the impact of our own limitations and the limitations of our ancestors.

A closer examination of the culture of the writers of those ancient texts would likely reveal that superstition was a real element of their lives. Combined with the distortions and confusion of multiple layers of translation and it is possible to imagine that even the Bible could present a one-sided view with no incentive to acknowledge alternative views.

We also need to acknowledge that we have limited understanding or experience with the spiritual realm. We have a pretty good record of incidents that reveal the reality of the spirit world, even if we can’t directly see or experience that world.

Perhaps that realm of existence contains both loving and malevolent entities.

Perhaps if we concentrate on the core values that define Christianity, the answers to many of those questions is of no consequence.