Do You Believe It's Possible to Communicate with the Dead?

[Mike 03]

Poll question: Do You Believe It's Possible to Communicate with the Dead?

This past weekend I was skimming some books on this topic, including some items written by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. I guess (as a Buddhist) you could call me a hopeful skeptic, but I've never had a personal experience or known anyone who has experienced one (to my knowledge).

Before I waste money on a ton of books about "Proof of an afterlife," spirit guides, mediums, reincarnation, angels, psychics and so forth, I would like to know what others think.

I confess this post is a bit far out, even by my standards.

But I appreciate the opinions.

[trof]

1. No. Can you communicate with a burned out light bulb?

Nope.
sam ting

[gorfle]

7. Poor analogy.

I don't believe you can communicate with the dead, either, but you cannot communicate with a lightbulb whether it is burned out or not.

[trof]

11. The switch is your communicator.

As long as the bulb 'lives', you can communicate with it quite well.
;-)

[gorfle]

32. Oh!

I see, you are right. Binary communications! I should have seen that. :)

[philosophie_en_rose]

2. Nope.

Sorry.

[Lucian]

3. I don't know what to believe on the subject.

I know of some people who claim they have spoken to those who departed the physical life, but I just don't know. I guess I want to believe.

Don't base your opinions/beliefs on what people think on a message board. It doesn't hurt to buy books on the subject and form your own ideas. I confess, I own quite a few books on the unknown/unexplained.

[Arugula Latte]

4. Nope. It's wishful thinking.

[LeftyMom]

5. No.

Shit, it's hard enough communicating with the living sometimes.

[Kali]

8. You got that right.

:thumbsup:

[Xipe Totec]

18. You can only communicate with the loving n/t

[johnnie]

6. Yup

[GoneOffShore]

9. Not since they broke up - but you might be able to call Bob Weir.

[Bucky]

10. I think you can, but you have to scream really loud for them to hear you

Or maybe learn sign language. I think most of them know sign language.

[LeftyMom]

14. There's always texting.

Most of them have Sidekicks.

[Haole Girl]

12. No

Personally, I don't believe there is the kind of conventional communication with the dead some people claim. Though I try to keep an open mind about things. And I know there are many unexplained phenomena.

[oshyposhy]

13. I do

But not with seances and Fortune Teller type crap. I think you must be in tune to it. I've had some pretty far out inncidents happen where I know that my dad and grandparents have "communicated" with me. Kinda spooky/eerie when I have called my mom and she starts to tell me about a dream she just had that I was getting ready to tell her *I* just had the same dream.

It is something that I treasure, the little signs, that the people that I loved dearly are still around, but in different ways.

[Zavulon]

15. No.

I believe hustlers make a fortune on those who think it's possible, though.

[MorningGlow]

16. Absolutely yes

Personal experiences--family members but also entities I wasn't related to.

[kayakjohnny]

20. Thank you. I've come to understand some things that relate directly to what you just said.

[Guava Jelly]

17. Nope.

I believe we are biological machines and when we die we die.
I believe we are no better than insects.We weren't created by some divine being and we aren't special.
When death comes and our brain dies, we die.

[kayakjohnny]

19. I wouldn't make the claim, since I have no first hand experience personally.

But I've come to know of a way that seems quite plausible. And even probable. Not going to attempt discussing it on a board that seems about 99% certain about it's impossiblility. I can only say that it might be best to proceed with a very open mind. It's energy we're talking about. Not dead people, but the energy that their being might still have. Big dif. I believe energy changes forms and likely doesn't just 'vanish'.

Bombs away, if you must.

[MorningGlow]

22. I guess it all depends on whether people believe beings have souls (energy)

that continues after the shell/vehicle (body) dies. I must admit I'm rather surprised at how many folks here think we cease to exist when our bodies wear out.

So no bombs from me, Johnny. I believe in spirit and hold my head high when saying so.

[kayakjohnny]

26. Thank you. I appreciate your resolve and your view. I have a feeling you and I could

PM up a storm. You are welcome to do so any old time. I am with you, and believe very strongly in the spirit world. I've had so many instances that have opened my mind in a very big way. Thanks again.

[MorningGlow]

28. LOL I think you're right

Funny how there are so many stories and thoughts to share on the subject. You're welcome to drop me a PM as well! Have you visited the Astrology, Spirituality, and Alternative Healing group here? We're a jolly bunch that discounts NOTHING esoteric. You'd have a warm welcome!

[kayakjohnny]

29. Oh thanks for that. I just may pop over there. Keep forgetting about all the other

obscure sections of this site. Been over there once or twice, real quick, but need to look again. And I agree that we'd all have PLENTY to talk about. Thanks.

[bigwillq]

21. Anything is possible.

I haven't had any experiences but I cannot say for sure that it's not possible.

[trof]

25. I didn't believe that until George Bush 'took' office.

Now I know it's true.
'Anything' is now truly possible.
I expect airborne pigs at any moment.

[JitterbugPerfume]

23. nope

dead is dead

[Zomby Woof]

24. Communicating with the living is hard enough

So my answer is no.

[retread]

27. No. Not even when Pigpen was alive. n/t

[Deja Q]

30. I've been dead for years.

:spray:

[FarLeftRage]

31. Yes...

Based on my own personal experiences... which are quite periodical, I might add...

[InvisibleTouch]

33. I had to say "Other"...

...because, while I feel that I have had the experience, I can't say for sure whether it was a real experience, or just self-delusion. Like a number of other "paranormal" experiences I have had, they seemed subjectively real, but I can't make any claim beyond that. And I know how very easy it is for the mind to fool itself.

[Fire Walk With Me]

34. Moderators-

Please move this to the Necromancy forum. Thx.

[swishyfeet]

35. Only 54% say No so far...

Wow. I expected a few Yesses from the jokesters, but seriously, half the people here essentially believe in ghosts?!?!?!?

:wow:

[KamaAina]

36. Don't they have a website?

http://www.dead.net

:shrug:

[davsand]

37. I think that if you are in search of spirituality The Lounge is probably not the best place to look.

I'm not being critical at all when I say this, either. DU as a whole frequently does not embrace the spiritual life anyway, and The Lounge is the one place where silliness reigns supreme.

There are several different doctrines that put out the idea that there is some sort of life after the body ceases to function--including the more traditional US doctrines like Christianity. What you ask is not out of line nor is it anything that other people aren't thinking. It is, however, being asked in a place guaranteed to garner some pretty flip responses.

Me, personally, I don't think it all ends when the body dies. Can't prove it--nobody really can--but I know what I think it true. Without being silly, I will also say that I have seen "dead people." People might laugh at me, but I know what I have seen and what I believe.

Feel free to PM me if it will help you in any way.



Laura

[tigereye]

38. many people claim to have seen "spirits" of folks who have died or ghosts

:shrug: It's very hard to say. It doesn't make rational sense, but maybe life isn't always rational. Many cultures have those types of beliefs, and these beliefs have existed for many years.

[Chemical Bill]

39. Yes.

That should be enough to convince all the skeptics here. ;-)

[crimsonblue]

40. No.

People go into the ground or incineration chamber after death. Nowhere else.

[MrSlayer]

41. No, but it would be cool if you could.

I have not been able to anyway. I've not been able to communicate with any otherworldly or supernatural forces and I have tried. Dead is dead.