Concerning Cases of Casuistry about Specters

Abstract

Article regarding casuistry originally written by Friedrich Balduin. Translated by Adam Bode in 2005.

This essay explores Friedrich Balduin’s casuistry on specters, apparitions, and ghostly phenomena, emphasizing their demonic origin. Drawing from Scripture, church history, and patristic writings, Balduin argues that supposed appearances of the dead—such as the “Samuel” summoned by Saul—are illusions crafted by Satan. He refutes Roman Catholic claims of purgatorial spirits and rejects the idea that the dead return to aid or communicate with the living. Balduin categorizes specters as deceptive manifestations meant to disturb, mislead, or frighten people, especially those in public office or spiritual vocations. He outlines causes of hauntings, including superstition, false religion, unburied corpses, and sinful behavior. Finally, he offers spiritual defenses against specters: faith in Christ, prayer, Scripture, angelic protection, and a clear conscience. Balduin warns against invoking saints or angels and urges reliance solely on God’s power. The essay reflects Lutheran theology’s rejection of superstition and its emphasis on divine sovereignty. — Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)