A good question if you meet a medium...

[LeCynthia]

I was just wondering, if mediums (or psychics-but I think that's the wrong word) can speak with the dead, has anyone ever asked the dead which religion got them into heaven? Which doctrine is right? I mean, I hear mediums saying things like, "he wants you to know that he's in a better place and that he's watching over you." I may be wrong but I always assumed that this better place would be a heaven of some kind.

I just thought this would be a good question to spring during a John Edwards show or some other such thing. Has anyone ever seen or heard of this question being asked? If so, what did the medium say?

[Apathia]

I was just wondering, if mediums (or psychics-but I think that's the wrong word) can speak with the dead, has anyone ever asked the dead which religion got them into heaven? Which doctrine is right? I mean, I hear mediums saying things like, "he wants you to know that he's in a better place and that he's watching over you." I may be wrong but I always assumed that this better place would be a heaven of some kind.

I just thought this would be a good question to spring during a John Edwards show or some other such thing. Has anyone ever seen or heard of this question being asked? If so, what did the medium say?

The question has been asked many times of mediums since the 19th Century, the answer is customarily (When not customized for the cutomer) that teachings about the afterlife for the living are very simplistic. and that the realms beyond are difficult for the living to comprehend.

There is also the tailor made afterlife answer, that it depends on the religious beliefs of the deceased what kind of place he or she finds. The soul has an initial period of a religiously recognizable envioronnment till it learns of the greater, more, esoteric planes.

Expect no useful answer, just a bamboozle.

[Bronze Dog]

I believe that one of the mediums claiming to channel Houdini's mother tried to explain that she included a cross with her chalkboard message because all Jews are converted to Christianity in Heaven or something.

Oh, and that everyone speaks English in Heaven.

[Porterboy]

I usually ask: "Is Hell really such a bad place?" Most Christian preachers never answer that question!

I've often wondered how it is that religions don't want you to ask questions and don't provide answers. If you say: "I want to learn all my human brain can comprehend about the wonder and glory of the universe; what can you tell me?" They just hand you a little book and say "Read this." Nah!

Many mediums are also philosophical and you can have a good talk about many things which are taboo in church.

[Porterboy]

I think my favorite religious people are Jews. This is mostly because, unlike Christians, Buddhists, Muslims (not to mention skeptics!) and almost every other theistic doctrine, a Jew has never ever tried to persuade me to convert to his or her faith! Jews seem alone in accepting me as I am and not trying to change me into a carbon copy of themselves.

[bjb]

I wonder if any medium has made contact with someone who wound up going to hell. What would happen if someone with an infamous parent (Stalin's daughter?) went to a medium to make contact? Would the medium tell her that her father was having a great time in heaven?

[blutoski]

I just thought this would be a good question to spring during a John Edwards show or some other such thing. Has anyone ever seen or heard of this question being asked? If so, what did the medium say?

As it happens, mediums are not popular with many religions because of this very problem. The mechanics of the spiritual worldview are often very different than that of the Abrahamic faiths and more closely resemble pagan ancestor-worhsip.

As pointed out above, mediums have their own cottage-industry of incompatible cosmologies, and may even adapt to the customer, rather than espouse a consistent opinion.