Ghosts

[LouisvilleFan]

However, apparitions have a purpose where ghosts just seem to "be there," plus they are always specifically witnessing to the faith in some way.

I've really never thought about the possibility of ghosts being souls in purgatory. Considering some of the stories you hear about how some people died whose ghost has been seen makes me think that's a reasonable possibility. Of course, this past Sunday's reading was about Jesus appearing on the Sea of Galilee and the disciples originally mistook him for a ghost. I think it's interesting Jesus never corrects them for believing such a thing as ghosts exist. In fact, if what Jimmy Akin says is true about the common reasoning, "There's no such things as ghosts," as coming from our skeptical scientific mindset, then the existence of ghosts must not have been doubted by many before the Renaissance.

Either way, I'd love to see a ghost someday.

[Selah]

The question is, if there are such things as ghosts, why are they still on earth and why did they not cross over to the after life? Could such a thing even happen anyway?

[LouisvilleFan]

Who says the afterlife can't cross over into our existence?

[Madame Vengier]

[quote name='Lil Red' post='1624440' date='Aug 11 2008, 04:34 PM']+J.M.J.+
I was recently told that there is no such thing as ghosts (from a Catholic perspective). I'm not sure what to believe, so what do you think? From a Catholic perspective, is there such a thing as ghosts?[/quote]


No. As far as the spirit world goes, I believe there are only angels and demons.

[Selah]

I respectfully disagree with you. I think there is a possibility of there being more spirits out there somewhere...like nature spirits, astral spirits, etc.

Edited August 12, 2008 by Selah

[StColette]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' post='1624743' date='Aug 11 2008, 09:13 PM']Third, there are even reports in Catholic history that spirits in purgatory have--by God's will--occasionally manifested themselves to those on earth. In these cases, those on earth may see the spirits experiencing their purgation in some way.[/quote]

I've always been taught this in regard to ghosts. That God allows certain souls in purgatory to appear to people in order that they may serve as a reminder about the souls that are in Purgatory so that we will not forget that they are there and are in need of our prayers.

[lilac_angel]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' post='1625211' date='Aug 12 2008, 09:38 AM']Who says the afterlife can't cross over into our existence?[/quote]

Maybe they're in hell and we are just allowed glimpses of them every so often... Satan can "work wonders"; God allows all kinds of weird things. If not possessions and levitations, why not catching glimpses of damned souls? They might not *really* be on earth, but we might be able to see them anyway, for some unknown reason...

Edited August 12, 2008 by lilac_angel

[LouisvilleFan]

So in purgatory you get to go around scaring people at night? Hmm... that could be kinda fun

Actually, I don't intend to dismiss that possibility. I think it makes sense, but it's one of those things that's obviously not for us to know.

[Deb]

I don't know. I have had some very strange experiences in my life that I cannot explain. I have a photo I took about 20 years ago on the North Shore. We stayed where we always do, but we were in a small cabin I had never stayed in before. We were going to go into Grand Marais one day and I snapped a photo of the cabin before I got into the car.

I got my photos developed and very clearly in one window are two children. Very cherubic looking. The window was the bathroom window and there were no children with us nor anyone in the cabin at the time. I have puzzled over that for so long. I even had it blown up into different sizes but, the larger they got, the less you could see them. It was like they were only appearing clearly in the original print. I have the photo on my desk right now.

[LouisvilleFan]

Wild... are you able to scan it? Would be awesome for show-and-tell

[Selah]

Interesting...If you can Deb, could you go ahead and show us? I'd love to see it.

[Ash Wednesday]

A co-worker and I did have some very strange events take place associated with a photo shoot in a haunted building.

I will say that I do think that ghosts exist or, perhaps the most accurate term would be that I believe that paranormal unexplained activity can occur in some places. But I can't claim to know what they are, though some do turn out to be demonic forces expelled with a priest's blessing or exorcism. Some are spiritual occurences but some I think might have a natural explanation we haven't grasped yet. We may have theories, there's a lot of things out there that we just don't have explanations or answers to. I think the best way to approach it is to leave them alone, and not dabble with affiliated occult practices, i.e. don't try to initiate contact in an effort to communicate with whatever is manifesting itself. Pray for the dead instead.

[johnnydigit]

[quote name='Selah' post='1625225' date='Aug 12 2008, 09:05 AM']I respectfully disagree with you. I think there is a possibility of there being more spirits out there somewhere...like nature spirits, astral spirits, etc.[/quote]

uh.. is that like new age stuff? don't think that is in line with Catholic teaching..

[Selah]

^ Why would it out of line to believe that? The universe is a vast place, there could be things out there we know nothing about. I don't go out of my way to contact them, if that is what you are thinking. I don't use them to cast spells, etc. I simply believe that different spirits could exist, spirits God has chosen not to reveal to us. I am sure some would say believing in ghosts or aliens is also out of line with Catholic teaching...though i don't understand how it could be.

Edited August 12, 2008 by Selah

[Not A Mallard]

I believe in ghosts. I believe in Bigfoot too.

[Selah]

^ I think he could exist, though that video of him is sooo fake...including the one of the Loch Ness monster...they may exist, though...you never know

[jeffpugh]

I'm quite dissapointed with the poll. Only two (including me) said No to ghosts...
[quote name='TeresaBenedicta' post='1624592' date='Aug 11 2008, 07:29 PM']I don't know. I'm tempted to say (beyond the exception of the Holy Ghost) that 'no', there's not ghosts in the typical sense. I don't think there are souls that hang around earth like that.

I think that demons can appear as ghosts.

But, this is all just speculation on my behalf.[/quote]
I would agree.

[quote name='aalpha1989' post='1624608' date='Aug 11 2008, 07:47 PM']Agreed. I have always thought that the "supernatural activity" which honest people claim to have experienced, and attribute to ghosts, was angels or demons. I don't really see how one could say that souls "hang around on earth" (as TB said).[/quote]
Indeed. This whole business of souls being oblivious to the fact they're dead, unfinished business and vengeful spirits is just another ploy of the devil to draw people to with their spiritual longing, which is truly fullfilled in being in union with Christ. For now, I say "tread lightly" to all you who believe in ghosts. If you want to believe in such silly things, then don't lose sight of God.
As for the souls of purgatory being allowed to appear on earth, I personally wouldn't lump em in as ghosts or whatever. More like under the "Church suffering manifested on the physical plane" phenominon

[quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1625221' date='Aug 12 2008, 11:00 AM']No. As far as the spirit world goes, I believe there are only angels and demons.[/quote]

I should have guessed you were the other one

[aalpha1989]

[quote name='Sacred Music Man' post='1625513' date='Aug 12 2008, 05:40 PM']I'm quite dissapointed with the poll. Only two (including me) said No to ghosts...[/quote]

I agree with you, I have been disappointed as well... for the record I voted "other" just because my belief does not discount supernatural activity on the earth, it only attributes it to spirits we know exist (angels & demons)...

[pan!c139]

I think they do exist, because I believe that they are souls from Purgatory. So in that sense, they are not "ghosts" but rather "souls".

[Selah]

Isn't that what a ghost is, though? That has always been my understanding...