Seeking Those Who Died
Written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. ”
A New Yorker article caught my eye entitled, "Why Did So Many Victorians Try To Speak With the Dead?" In Casey Cep's report, she announces, "Almost a third of Americans say they have communicated with someone who has died, and they collectively spend more than two billion dollars a year for psychic services on platforms old and new." Cep points out that we are in a spiritualist renaissance similar to what the Victorians' experienced in the 19th century. Queen Victoria herself regularly attended seances to speak with dead relatives.
Queen Victoria was not alone. Famous people throughout the Victorian world explored communicating with the dead. Mark Twain, Frederick Douglass and Arthur Conan Doyle were participants in this type of Spiritualism quest. Even after Houdini went around the country debunking famous mediums, the desire for communication beyond the grave remained a desperate desire.
Spiritualism remained enticing partly because it was anti-orthodox and made few demands upon adherents other than a small amount of time and a good chunk of money. Spiritualists were famous in Victorian times because people were sick of manipulative religiosity due to so many people dying young. The Church in the Victorian era often provided a Christianity where many were denied eternal life. Then, add to the number of loved ones who died too early, and you have a recipe for a Spiritualism that promises communication with the dead.
It is sad, the promises made and the manipulation that took place in the 19th century. It is even more unfortunate that this desperation is taking place in our contemporary society. Pandemic losses and technological dehumanization leave human beings longing to reach out to those beyond. Speaking to the deceased promised comfort, and delving into the mystical shadows implies a sense of control over the afterlife. Sadly, it is all a false promise.
Today, pray for those who are desperate. Pray the pain of the desperate no longer leaves them vulnerable to the charlatans and the misguided. While God cannot be manipulated and false promises are not made, we have real Good News to share. Encourage those spending billions of dollars to seek the true and only hope through our Triune God. Even amidst pandemics, God is our way. Our task is to affirm God and not try to manipulate the afterlife.
