Awhile back, while doing my traditional end-of-day visit to MSNBC.com to check out the day's news headlines, I came across an article by Rabbi Marc Gellman entitled "Dialing for Dead People: Is talking to ghosts a good or bad idea?" Rabbi Gellman is known as "one half of the God Squad." The article is interesting, and the Rabbi's style is thoughtful, engaging, and humorous.

In discussing the issue of whether ghosts are real, and whether there are genuinely "plugged in" (e.g. accurate) psychics, Rabbi Gellman reviews several of the common arguments in favor of and against the issues.

In the "pro" column, he, like many people, references rather strong anecdotal (and increasingly scientific) evidence of things like encounters with ghosts and conversation with spirits; claims that used to be — in Western culture, anyway — considered "fanciful" or flat-out nutty. Here the Rabbi notes that there is considerable therapeutic value, for example, in a psychic's messages from "the dead" to grieving relatives. He also points out that there is an abundance of examples in the Judeo-Christian scriptures of people talking to the dead, having visions, and getting messages from spirits and God.

In the "con" column, Rabbi Gellman raises the oft-heard biblical admonishments relative to consulting "witches" or other mediums or practitioners of "sorcery" or astrology. He references verses from the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy, for example, which explicitly forbid people to consult with oracles and the like, and in fact suggest rather violent actions against such practitioners.

The problem with the biblical references is the established historical fact that such statements were made during times, thousands of years ago, when very worldly men were seeking to consolidate their own power over (an often newly conquered) people, and actively and often very violently attempting to squelch the religious, spiritual, philosophical, and wisdom traditions that had long been in existence — traditions that included astrology, mathematics, philosophy, inclusion of the Divine Feminine as well as the Divine Masculine, of Goddess as well as God.

The unfortunate effects of these types of admonishments have been murder, violence, intolerance, and the heart-wrenching loss of major contributions to history and even more major voices of Wisdom and Spirit.

Indeed, the very inspiration for Christianity — Jesus — was accused of being an Egyptian sorcerer by men who cited scriptures. Because he was a healer, a prophet, and an emissary for Spirit (hence called the Son of God, and the Christ), he was accused of blasphemy, sorcery, and worse by both traditionalist religious and government leaders whose power he threatened. And in the manner of the day, he was executed for being a dangerous revolutionary.

In addition to the accusations against Jesus, many others were persecuted or murdered over the course of Church history, including the philosopher and teacher Hypatia. She was hacked to death by a band of Christian monks — in a chapel, no less — because she was learned and a teacher of philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, and other wisdom commonly taught in academies of that day — teachings that were reviled and thought to be threatening, however, in some Christian circles (but accepted and supported by other Christian "Church Fathers" in that time). As history has unfortunately shown, this was just the beginning.

Perhaps the overarching thing to remember is that greed and corruption have existed throughout history, and have entered into even the most sacred halls. Such is the effect of ego and want on men. Yet despite these efforts, the deep wisdom and true teachings persist, even within "authorized" circles.

Those who seek from their heart, with pure intention, can still find (and those who seek from a questionable ethic will also find, but perhaps not what they expected to find). And over this same "Church history," it is important to note that there have been inspired and integrity centered men and women in and of the Church who have protected and lived heartfully according to Jesus' teachings, Wisdom, and life-example.

In any of these matters, then and now, it's imperative that persons mediating a connection with Spirit, God, and the Unseen have the highest levels of integrity, so that the negative effects of worldly power-grabs don't have the same horrible legacy of violence, intolerance, cruelty and forgetfulness.

And it's also important for each person to accept responsibility for his or her intention in seeking guidance or Wisdom through any medium or conduit of Spirit, whether that medium be a priest or minister, or a psychic, astrologer or otherwise. Ask yourself: what is my intention in going to this person? What do I expect or hope to find? Have I ensured that my intentions are pure and heart-centered? Whom am I really asking, and for what? Am I expecting someone else to tell me what to do, rather than do the hard work of seeking and discernment myself?

Ultimately, we can ask ourselves: Are psychics real? Are there ghosts? Does Spirit speak to and through some people? Can prayer yield guidance from God? Is it right to seek contact with "the dead" or Unseen?

Is it right for men to alter sacred scripture and teachings of The Way or other paths to spiritual liberation because it consolidates their own worldly power and wealth? Is it right for men to use dubiously edited versions of scripture and wisdom teachings to power-monger, manipulate, steal, oppress, torture, and murder? Is it right for them to hide behind "The Church" or any other powerful institution to perpetuate and justify ego-centered and harmful acts?

What is the truth? Looking at it with blinders because we can't bear the truth is not helpful, and never has been. For many people, it's frightening to look at these issues, because it challenges mindlessly held beliefs, requiring thoughtfulness and true prayer and connection to spirit to discern. But how deep is one's faith if it can't survive the most simple challenge or question, let along a more profound one? A faith that can be so easily shaken is no faith at all. The path from shallow belief to heart-centered faith is narrow and hard, as Jesus said, which is why most people take the broad road.

These are all deep, serious, and worthwhile questions, to be approached mindfully, humbly, and with the highest of intentions. They are not to be dabbled with or taken lightly or used irresponsibly for personal greed or lust for power over others — just as sacred scripture should never have been tampered with for the advantage of a few. As history notes, the results of ill-use are tragic, and the ripple effect travels outward through well over seven generations.