In the previous verses presented, we have shown that the dead do fly and speak, in the cases of David's description and Saul's contact with Samuel's spirit in 1 Samuel 28:7-8. There is nothing in David's description of death that gives any indication of where we fly; only that we do. If we can speak after death, as the Bible describes, then we must have a level of consciousness. Death, therefore, is not the complete absence of reality, which is often considered what happens after we die. Unfortunately, there is nothing about what happens after we take flight. Of course, this leaves ghosts only restricted to the limits of the imagination. Thus, there is nothing biblical to discount anything considered as "ghostly" in the real world, nor is there anything biblical that associates "ghosts" with evil.

Ghosts are often associated with hauntings, which are defined by the Parapsychological Association as "the more or less regular occurrence of paranormal phenomena associated with a particular locality, (especially a building), and usually attributed to the activities of a discarnate entity; the phenomena may include apparitions, poltergeist disturbances, cold drafts, sounds of steps and voices, and various odours."

On a more personal note; I have never seen, nor have I had any contact with a ghost; as I'm sure many of the readers can say, as well. But, long ago, I lost count of the number of times a family member, friend, or the readers of my work, all quite sane and honest, have told me of their experiences with ghosts. This seems to be a common experience; if you haven't encountered a ghost, you have heard plenty of very believable stories about them, from very believable people. Just the volume of reports, the presence of "ghostly" subjects in our media and conversation, the high level of interest spanning all ranges of culture, religious belief, and human thought give it a high level of credibility as a valid "natural", not a “paranormal”, phenomenon.

Magic in the Bible

Magic is a staple of our world as an entertainment form that spans the ages, both in terms of human years and world history. It crosses all social lines, religious, political, or otherwise, and is enjoyed by kings and paupers alike. Everyone knows an amateur magician who can amaze the family and keep the kids in wonder with the simplest of tricks. If magic is such a popular social reality, why are the magicians and sorcerers of the Bible condemned by the church?

Of course, a Christian will tell you that God condemned it, so it must be evil. The focus of the Christian Church on evil is, perhaps, indicative of the lack of confidence it has in a God that it claims to be all-powerful. The danger of evil is not only found in beings like Satan and demons, but in every other religion, unorthodox concept, alternative thought, and anything not understood, within the limited view of a narrowly-focused dogma. Never considered is that in every case magicians confronted any biblical figure with God on their side, the magicians lost the contest.

An Incredible Magical Competition

Moses' encounter with the Pharaoh's magicians shows the incredible power involved, not just in the power of the God of Moses, but the magicians of Egypt, as well. When Moses first confronted Pharaoh and demanded that he free the Hebrews, he had his brother Aaron throw down his rod and it became a snake. Pharaoh "called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt", who all produced snakes with their rods and Aaron's snake immediately gobbled up the others. This entire event can be found in Exodus, from chapters 7 through 12.