I just wanted to share an email I got today, and my response to it. I think it’s a great area of discussion. Here is the letter, followed by my response.

I was in church yesterday about to take communion and heard a voice talking to me, I really felt it was God and telling me to not become a ghost hunter, that it was inappropriate and he would help find something else in homebased business to do more appropriate, and I want to do what is right as I am a Christian, but there is still a thought that I was needing to know, do you think that this is God talking to me? I really felt that it was, is it really wrong to be a Christian and be a ghost hunter?

Hi XXXXX. Thanks so much for emailing me. I think it’s a very good topic and also sounds like a very meaningful experience for you. As far as God talking to you, well that sounds like it’s between you and God to figure out if it was really him, a manifestation of your fears, or something else. Nobody else can or should make that call for you. It’s the kind of thing that when it happens and it’s real, you know it somewhere in your heart.

Can Christians be ghost hunters? I guess the real question I’d have for you is what is your intention with becoming a so-called “ghost hunter”? What is it that you are really looking for? Is it ghosts themselves, and if so, for what reason? Is it the experience of something mystical and beyond the ordinary? If it’s more in that direction, perhaps God is trying to show you that you’ve already got that in your relationship with him, and that you need to open yourself up to it even more.

Personally, I don’t see any technical conflict between Christianity and being interested in what happens to us when we die and after we die. Although I don’t think it’s anything to be taken lightly or dabbled in carelessly. But certainly, one of the most important aspects of Christ’s story is that he defeated death and showed us that we needn’t fear it. Beyond that, the Bible itself has many many instances of people relating to spirits. Jesus on several occasions casts out evil spirits and says that his disciples would be known by their ability to do the same. Also, if you’re not already familiar with the topic, you might want to look into the Charisms (gifts) of the Holy Spirit. One of them is “the discernment of spirits” and it is said to be one of the gifts God gives so that certain people may be of service to each other and to the Church. Here is a site about the Charisms (from a Catholic perspective), which might lead you to other information and resources that would be of help to you.

Beyond that, if you have any other questions or just want to tell me more about your story and situation, I’d be more than happy to lend an ear.