what is it and do you believe in it?
2006-07-02 16:43:42 · 24 answers · asked by VAVAV 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I believe. I have read the Bible and I know the teachings of the Catholic Church. I know the views of most protestant Christians and that many do not believe anything not explicitly written in the Bible. I have become familiar with Phillip Gulley's contention that all people go to heaven (explained in the book "If Grace Is True.").
But I believe based on none of these things. You see I believe that my mother is in heaven. I believe that with all of my heart. She was a very good woman, but she had certain faults, prejudices and resentments. Somehow, these would have to be "purged" before she went to heaven.
You see, if we have a bunch of people in heaven with all of the prejudice, distrust, pride, competitiveness and all of the other crap we leave this world with, then heaven would be no different than earth. Then there would be no heaven at all.
I believe in Purgatory because i believe God's promise of a perfect reward and a place of love and acceptance. No matter how much I pray, or ask for God's forgiveness (repent) I will always have some of this sin left in me. I can not love perfectly here on earth. I believe that I can love perfectly in heaven.
If God is Love, then love is God.
I believe in purgatory because I believe in a perfect God--a perfect love which we will experience in heaven.
2006-07-02 17:28:52 · answer #1 · answered by RJI 1 · 2⤊ 3⤋
[CAVEAT: The following script is a fictitious adaptation based on factual observations by the writer-producer, and the names of the characters used have been changed in order to protect the innocent and other curious bystanders.]
It's another man-made fabrication and Maytag invention of the RCC for a continuing Revenue Stream [that is, members get charged 'from-birth-to-beyond-death'] even for the poor departed soul... one who is deemed to be "caught" between Heaven and Hell.
If you're no Mother Theresa or are not canonized as a 'Saint' within a couple of years of your death, then you go straight to Purgatory --hey, that's a BIG consolation prize compared to Door No. 3, lemme tellya! Huge!!
This is the place where such a person's spirit goes through the wringer of the Wash, Rinse and Spin cycles of the Afterlife Laundromat... And the dearly departed's stay 'over there' ALL DEPENDS on how many quarters the family members will be willing to put into the machine's slots during their entire lifetimes. There will always be the annual death anniversary to remember a loved one by...
And when these same family members also die, then their own children will do the same thing for them as well, ad infinitum, secula et seculorum... And on, and on, and on goes the Giant Washer in mid-sky, in the Afterlife Laundromat that stays open 24/7... In fact it holds the record for continuous non-stop operations for at least several centuries now. LOL.
Of course I'm being totally sarcastic but, hey... I can't put it any other way. Really! Sorry... but I do my own laundry, thanks.
Peace be with you!
2006-07-03 00:53:12 · answer #2 · answered by Arf Bee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, as a Catholic, I believe that we have to be purified of our earthly sins before we can enter into heaven. Nothing unpure can enter into heaven, because heaven - like God - is all love. Purgatory is the cleansing of the soul before it enters heaven. We do not know if it is a period of time, or a specific 'place' - we only know that it is the cleansing of all earthly sin before entry into heaven.
Why I believe in it is simple. I am a human being and as such I am not perfect. I believe that God makes us perfect before he brings us into Heaven. That 'process' - in whatever form He has created iut - is what we call purgatory.
2006-07-02 23:50:28 · answer #3 · answered by webjanet 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I believe in purgatory because there are biblical references to it (1 Corinthians 3:14–15, 2 Maccabees 12:40–45, Matthew 12:32,1 Peter 3:19–20).
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines purgatory as a "purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven," which is experienced by those "who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified" (CCC 1030). It notes that "this final purification of the elect . . . is entirely different from the punishment of the damned" (CCC 1031).
The purification is necessary because, as Scripture teaches, nothing unclean will enter the presence of God in heaven (Rev. 21:27) and, while we may die with our mortal sins forgiven, there can still be many impurities in us, specifically venial sins and the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven.
2006-07-02 23:50:28 · answer #4 · answered by Candice H 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Purgatory is a great ski resort in Southwest Colorado. It's just north of Durango Colorado on US Highway 550.
2006-07-02 23:49:38 · answer #5 · answered by manofadvntr 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a made up place where supposedly people get "purged" of their sins before being let into Heaven. It totally goes against what the Bible teaches about Jesus paying for all of our sins and this passage from the book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 9:24 For Christ did not enter into the holies made by hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters into the Holies every year with another's blood-- 26 since it would have been necessary for Him to suffer often from the foundation of the world; but now, once at the consummation of the ages, He has been revealed for the removal of sin through the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for men once to die, and after this judgment, 28 so also Christ having been offered once in order to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time apart from sin for salvation, to those eagerly waiting for Him.
2006-07-02 23:48:56 · answer #6 · answered by Martin S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you can think of the places you can go after death like a act at a circus there is fire underneath but be for that there is a safety net which is purgatory. purgatory is a place for those waiting to get into heaven
2006-07-03 00:31:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Purgatory is a place between heaven and hell where one's soul goes to sort of pay pennance for sins committed that they were not forgiven for(because they didn't ask for forgiveness or were not sorry) but they weren't severe enough to get them eternal damnation. I don't know if I believe in it or not.
2006-07-02 23:49:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Purgatory (Lat., "purgare", to make clean, to purify) in accordance with Catholic teaching is a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God's grace, are, not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions.
No
2006-07-02 23:46:20 · answer #9 · answered by tc_an_american 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The waiting room of the soul invented by Catholics.
No I don't but I do believe that you should be careful what you choose to believe in- because I think that your belief can make it so - for you that is.
The gods you choose the morality the outcomes the reactions all of it. You are creating your own afterlife by your choices now. If I were you i wouldn't create a Christian style heaven and hell for yourself but thats me
2006-07-02 23:48:57 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋