looks like some serious discussion is going on, hope can be resolved peacefully and rationally.

nachtsider, I would like to ask some question, sorry if it might not be Sintua related,

1. I worship guanyin, tu di gong, and perhaps (not sure) tian gong? (a small lantern hanging outside with a slot for jossticks). my question would be, what language do I use to communicate with the gods? any gods to be precise. should i converse with the language I'm more comfortable with (english) or the language I feel that it's more right? (chinese, but so-so only)

2. those spirits whom wander around us, are they like, under some sort of proabation? like the 49 days thing you mention but under the surveillance of certain being. or to settle unfinished business? maybe waiting for the gods to guide them?

3. hell's scenery. is it like how it is depicted since the ancient times? a fire burning area? I read the so called "penang hell trip" article, the participant said it's random images of area on earth such as shopping malls and whatsoever,but those area are said to be empty (sounds kinda far fetch) also the colour red will always come across my mind when something related to the realm is being mention. or perhaps its some sort of cave like area? dark, but voices of the deity and the other souls around? butttttt it's probably a one-way-to-find-out question eh?

4. the story of the hell gate being open during the seventh month. Is it because of some mother's love story which I heard before? my mother's friend who posses the third eye said that the number of spirit wandering during that month is no different than the rest of the year, is it true? how is the hell gate being filtered?

Also, I guess the story my teacher told me, where she heard sounds of chain from her neighbor house and only to found out the next day the neighbor pass away would be the sound produce by the black deity?

Anyway, thanks for this insightful article, some clarity of the religion have been answered and also learned a thing or two. Keep up the work.