Since the beginning of history, all civilizations have some form of belief in an afterlife.  And not surprisingly, attempts to communicate with spirits in the afterlife go back to earliest antiquity.

Today, even computers and electronic gadgets are used to facilitate "communication" with the ghosts of the dead.  Some of you may have actually experienced, though not electronically but with the aid of mediums and seances, these alleged conversation or encounters with apparitions and ghosts.

Communicating with the dead

Modern Spiritism

Is it possible to communicate with the dead?  Are those ghosts really the spirits of the dearly departed ones we wish to talk to?  According to researchers the belief that the spirits of those who have passed away can make contact with the living is known today as spiritism.  

On March 31, 1848, modern spiritism had its birth in Hydesville, New York, when the daughters of one John Fox allegedly made successful contact with a "spirit" which claimed to be that of a murdered peddler named Charles B. Rosma, murdered many years earlier on the basement of the cottage occupied by the Fox family.  In the Fox house news of the occurrences created considerable stir in the community.  People were invited to hear the "conversations."  Many were convinced that the Fox sisters indeed made a contact with the  spirit of the dead.  Modern spiritism was born and within a few decades, it gained millions of followers around the world.  

             Spirit of the glass

The spiritists claimed it is possible to communicate with those on the "other side."  Contact is usually made through the agency of a medium at a seance.  The medium which is usually a woman is the focal point of seances and acts as the organ of communicating with the "departed spirits."  The control or another spirits speaks directly through the medium.  In other instances the spirit creates a vague visible form, creating a ghostly apparition for everyone in the room to see.  Associated with these seances, knocking, rapping, eerie voices, swaying leaves, gushes of winds, chilly feelings and ghostly apparitions are certainly not by spirits from Heaven.

             Dearly departed

Where in the bible does it say

Amid all these, who or what are we going to believe?  Are these presence really the spirits of the departed ones we wish to communicate?  Let us consult the greatest of all written reference- the Bible.  The Holy Scriptures reveal that there are indeed a world of spirits.  But they are not the spirit of the dead.  The so-called spirit world is the world of angels and demons (fallen angels.)  Angels where created by God and Archangel Lucifer ultimately rebelled against God.  Lucifer became Satan and the angels who followed him became demons.

                       The Bible

The bible warns us the danger of human dabbling in the world of spirits.  Take note of these passages: "Do not go for advice to people who consult the spirits of the dead.  If you do, you will be ritually unclean, I am the Lord you God.'' (Leviticus 19:31)

The answer is all clearly written in the Holy Scriptures.  The dead cannot communicate with the living!  Anywhere in the Bible, no such survival is taught.  Practicing and dabbling to work in such occults are contrary to biblical teachings.  And certainly no human can recall the spirits that have already returned to God's eternity.

             The cemetery

The bible plainly tell us that:

"When they die, they return to dust; on that day all their plans came to an end." (Psalms 146:4)

"Yes, the living know they are going to die, but the dead knows nothing.  They have no further reward; they are completely forgotten.  Their loves, their hates, their passions, all died with them.  They will never again take part in anything that happens in this world." (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6)

Source: 

Lawagan, Ernee, "Communicating With the Dead:  Is it Possible?"  Mr & Ms 4Nov 97