Is it possible for a dead person to posses someone?

NOT A SOUL

Human souls do not possess that kind of power. Demons are able to do that because they have a certain supernatural power and are able to perform out of the ordinary and subdue the laws of nature. However, from our human experience, human beings do not have that kind of power and so their souls too cannot do that.

VISIONS OF THE DEAD

There have been cases where people apparently record sightings of dead loved ones. However, this might simply be caused by emotional or psychological stress resulting from the pain of loss. People could start hallucinating after they have lost someone and so might start to think that they’re seeing the ghosts of these people.

Furthermore, and more pertinent to the question. There are stories in my country about ‘evil’ people who see the ghosts of those they killed at some point. It is rumored that these spirits often torture them or even try to take over aspects of their lives. But the question is: How do you know that these spirits are real? And if they’re real how do you know they’re the spirits of those whose faces and features they present?

Angels have been known to have the ability to change into anyone they wish. The bible is rife with examples of Angels taking on human form and interacting with people. Demons are fallen angels and can do this too. To my mind, if one sees something like that, it could be an illusion or a demon appearing to torture a person.

DEMONS, NOT FRIENDS

You hear stories of demons moving people to do stuff or even promising them all sorts of things right? But what you do not understand is these demons are no one’s friends. All they want is your soul and nothing more; they’re not out for friendships or empty chitchats, they want to ‘grab’ your soul and leave. Therefore they fight dirty, there are no rules. If they bring you down by making you lie in bed with them, they’d quickly beat you to death as soon as you close your eyes.

So in the case above, barring any psychological explanation for the hallucination on the part of the ‘evil’ man, it could be a demon that wants to break him as much as possible to take over his life. Demons are devils not friends.

THE FATHER OF LIES

Did you know that exorcists know the name and identity of demons? During exorcisms, they inquire the name of the demon possessing an individual to give them more power over the spirit. But the demons do not want to give their names obviously, so they do anything they can to hide under the mask of nature. They want you to believe they’re someone you knew or are the spirit of someone who was once alive. But it is a lie.

No demon likes to say the truth. Their stock and trade is lies for which the Devil himself has been dubbed “father of lies”:

“He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”  – John 8:44

A CONTRADICTION

Another thing to consider is the teaching of the Church; the Bible and the Catechism. The Church believes, as is taught by the bible, that after death comes judgement:

“Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment” – Hebrews 9:27

Furthermore the Church teaches there are two kinds of judgement:

Particular: which a soul faces immediately after death and is thereafter sentenced to either heaven (either directly or through purgatory) or hell.

General: which will happen at the end of the world when Christ will come again. He will call forth all who have died and everyone will repossess their bodies.

The Church does not teach there’s such a thing as metempsychosis (the transfer of consciousness or soul), or reincarnation or anything that resembles the soul of one entering another. This is contrary to the bible and even to common sense.

SOUL AND FREEDOM

When one dies and goes to hell, he loses his freedom. He can no longer have things his way and this is what hell means. If he wants to be at peace, he will meet turmoil, if he wants some warmth he will meet bone melting cold etc. He cannot go here or there at will for he is a prisoner for all eternity. He therefore does not have the power of will to appear in the world when he so pleases and take over a soul. Remember the Rich man and Lazarus? He pleads with Abraham to send someone to his family to warn them, he does not leave at will. He pleads because he is incapable of leaving.

“Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family,28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.” – Luke 16:27-28

CONCLUSION

Demons can possess souls, albeit with serious difficulty and most often with the overt or covert consent of the person. Human souls on the other hand cannot possess since they’re not pure spirits and have no such power.

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