Bishop Pike – Communication with the Dead

In the 1960’s James Pike, an Episcopal bishop in Hew York City, thought he could communicate with the dead. He could not reconcile himself to the suicide of his son Jimmy, and thought the dead boy might try to contact Him. Bishop Pike believed the Bible contained good moral principles, but he rejected its teaching authority.

He thought Christ was a good man but not the Son of God, and he rejected the Bible instruction about what happens after death. Bishop Pike moved to England to spend time at Oxford and Cambridge universities, where he studied biblical manuscripts. Upon returning to his room one day, he noticed a number of bizarre occurrences.

Cards containing Jimmy’s picture, which he’d placed on the nightstand, were opened. The clocks in the room had stopped at 8:20, precisely the time his son had committed suicide. Safety pins he’d left closed on his dresser were opened at odd angles. The mirror tilted at an angle.

Jimmy’s clothes were taken from a box and strewn around the room. Bishop Pike felt that Jimmy was trying to contact him, so he visited one of London’s spiritists. The medium brought up the form of the bishop’s son, with this message: “Yes Father, I am in heaven, an eternal place, but don’t talk to me about a Savior.

Jesus was a good man, but not the Savior. . . . This is a wonderful place of joy and love. Jesus was a wonderful and enlightened spiritual teacher. He’s here with the other cosmic masters.”

After a series of these visits Bishop Pike was instructed to go to Jerusalem to meet his son in the Judean desert. He and his wife entered the Judean desert, where they wandered in the hills, searching for Jimmy. The bishop became dehydrated. His wife ran for help, but it was too late.

Bishop Pike died in the desert, looking for his dead son. He should have known better. The biblical counsel on death was clear, but he ignored it.