As to the dead being around us? I just don't know. It seems so real, and I also don't want to dismiss it because there are so many skeptics. What if it IS true? I sure don't want to be duped, but nothing ventured, nothing gained, as they say. I am not afraid to explore the possibilities. There was a time I would have run the other way, believe me!!
I have discovered, Marilyn, that in life nothing is black and white, but is an amalgamation of every shade from millions of colors in the spectrum.
It's not popular neither is it considered sane to believe that those who died become spirits, and some for various reasons remain in this world. I renounced that believe when becoming one of Jehovah's Witnesses, and when I actually saw the apparitions of spirits in a house, I prescribed to the belief these were demon spirits.
Over time I became convinced that the spirits of some who remained in this dimension after becoming deceased are as real as demon spirits cast down from heaven by God.
Although I cannot go into details about my experiences because sooner or later those I know personally who might one day visit this site, or who might be amongst ourselves now, would put 1 and 1 together and know who I am.
However, it might make a difference to some people to hear me come right out and say that, to paraphrase the famous line on the Bruce Willis flick about the dead, that "I have seen dead people."
Other than this belief, my Bible reading has lead me to believe in many of the teachings of JWs, still. I fear the teachings are not so much wrong as they are shallow in their depth.
Case in point, the Bible teaches that Christ is so much more divine in nature than a mere angel, and that the Holy Spirit is a higher spiritual being and not a mere form of energy or raw power. Nonetheless, the teaching that Jesus Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit are not a "Trinity" is technically correct. However, neither are they separate. It seems that both Christendom and the Watchtower Society are at opposite ends of a spectrum where the truth exists somewhere in the middle, on the issue of the Holy Trinity versus the separateness between God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Neither separate nor joined is where the truth is, I believe.
Nevertheless, their interpretation of the Bible based on spurious scriptures from Ecclesiastes and other books that indicate a state of unconsciousness seems to fly in the face of other scriptures.
The truth, however, becomes clear when you experience it firsthand, or touch it like Thomas touched Jesus's wounds!
I witnessed that truth when I saw the deceased and the display of poltergeist-like occurrences where they were present. What I have seen flies in the face of Watchtower teachings. I would probably be disfellowshipped if I insisted on recounting my experiences with members of the congregation.
Many JWs reading this will ask how I'm sure these are spirits of dead human beings that I have seen, and not the apparitions of demon angels cast down to earth by God? Unfortunately I cannot go into the details necessary to explain why, because it would literally give me away (since I have told non-JWs about these experiences in great lengths).
Again, I hope that this post weighs in with those who simply want to hear others say, either "I have never seen ghosts and I'm positive they don't exist," or as in my case, "I have seen dead people." Those who know me, know I would not lie about this. I think it's important to admit one has these experiences even if one doesn't wish to go into detail. Otherwise many will think that few have seen what I have seen, and from my talking to others "off the record" I think there are more people who have seen this phenomenon firsthand, than is generally thought.
Derrick
To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.
-- William Blake (Auguries of Innocence)
