I am encouraged to read of your desire to help your brother and his friend, for though the Ouija board is looked upon as “innocent” by many people, it is actually linked with the occult and using one could be opening the door to demonic influence and even possession. Though it was first introduced by a businessman as a harmless game board, it was quickly adopted by spiritualists as a means of communicating with the dead. A “spiritualist” is one who believes the spirit of a dead person is able to communicate with the living and thus the Ouija board, which they called the “talking board,” was used by spiritualists to contact and to receive messages from the spirits of deceased loved ones.

What does the Bible say about trying to communicate with the dead? Leviticus 19:31 states, “Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them” (NASB). Deuteronomy 18:10-12 is even more clear on this point, for it says, “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD” (NASB). All of the things mentioned here, including “one who calls up the dead,” are associated with the occult, which deals with supernatural phenomena. Behind these practices is Satan, who uses demons to impersonate the spirits of dead people. God clearly warns us in these passages to have nothing to do with the occult, and that if we do we will “be defiled by them.” They are an abomination to God and thus He tells us, in no uncertain terms, “whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD.”

Another passage that is very instructive is Isaiah 8:19-20 which reads, “And when they say unto you, ‘Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,’ should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” These verses clearly teach us that instead of “seeking the dead” for answers and guidance in life, we should “seek God” through His precious word. Those who would encourage us to turn to the occult instead of God’s word are void of light; they are in “spiritual darkness” and should be avoided at all costs. (165.1) (DO)