how did the catholics come up with limbo and how does it differ from purgatory?

Answer 1

+ Limbo +

Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved." (Mark 16:15-16)

For centuries, people have wondered about children who died before they were baptized.

Limbo was suggested as the place where unbaptized babies went when they died. This idea was never official Church doctrine and has be rejected.

The Church now says that it is not sure what happens to unbaptized babies when they die but she entrusts them to the mercy of God.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2.htm#1261

+ Purgatory +

Are you perfect now? Most people would say no.

Will you be perfect in heaven? Most people believe yes.

Purgatory (or purgation) is the process of God's love changing our imperfect selves into perfect beings.

Depending on the amount of change needed by different people this can be an easy or slightly harder process.
Everyone in purgatory is on their way to heaven.

I don't think Mother Teresa of Calcutta had a very hard time of it.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art12.htm#1030

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Limbo has never been part of actual Church Doctrine. There were some very popular Catholic theologians who did advocate the possibility of limbo, and that is why it gained much notoriety.

It was believed that limbo was a place for unbaptized babies. Since an unbaptized soul doesn't go to heaven, but a baby is too young to be responsible for itself, neither heaven or hell seemed a fitting. So they came up with limbo.

A soul has to be pure before it can enter heaven. Even if a soul dies without unreprented mortal sin, there still can be impurities resulting from venial sins. The soul is purified in Purgatory. All souls that go to Purgatory will eventually enter heaven.

Answer 3

Limbo is not a catholic doctrine but it was believed erraenously by some early theologians because they understood that only one who has been baptize can go to heaven and also they didn't really understant that a baby recieves it's soul at the time of conception since it was believed a human is first a vegtable then and animal then a human. Purgatory can be logically interperted when looked in the bible one must be cleanse before he enters the house of God it was also a belief of early christians until it became a doctrine after the council of trent. Limbo is not a catholic doctrine.

Answer 4

According to catholics Limbo is where you go if you were good but were not baptised (hence you still have the original sin). Baptism cleanses you from Adam & Eve's original sin. People in Limbo are not subject to any particular punishment except the fact that will never be allowed to be close to God. Purgatory, on the other hand, is just a temporary stop-over where you pay for your sins before you can go to heaven. According to catholics, most people will spend some time in purgatory before going to heaven.

Answer 5

As far as differentiating between the two, there seems to be a duality depending on what Catholics you asks. As far as how, or why, they came up with them, history tells us the answer: The Catholic Church used both of them as a way to con more money out of their members. They would tell people their deceased loved ones wouldn't be allowed in heaven unless they paid their way in. Historically, purgatory was used for deceased adults, limbo for deceased un-baptized children. Surviving relatives were told they would have to drop a coin in a box, and they were told as soon as the coin hit the bottom of the box, their deceased loved one's would be allowed into heaven. There is no scripture of any kind to justify the existence of either purgatory or limbo, nor any scripture that can justify baptizing a child before they are old enough to understand what it means. Jesus was not baptized until he was an adult and ready to start his ministry. Additionally, there is no scripture that can justify sprinkling as opposed to submersion as baptism. (KJV Bible).

Answer 6

According to one of the newest proclamations of the RCC, Pope Benedict has decreed that there is no Limbo. Traditionally, limbo was a place that unbaptised babies, people born before Jesus, and good people who were not catholic went after dying. It was a place between Heaven and Purgatory were people were naturally happy, but did not have the prescence of God. Purgatory is a place of atonement and purification that baptized people go to to purifty and perfect themselves. The church has now decreed that good people of any religion can go to heaven.

Answer 7

Purgatory is a defined article of the Christian faith. It is a place or state wherein those who are saved, but who are not yet completely spiritually pure, are purified before they enter heaven, since Scripture tells us nothing unclean can come before the throne of God, and that many whose works do not measure up at judgement "may still be saved, but only as by passing through fire".

Limbo is not and never has been a defined article of the faith. It was more of a popular tradition that grew up in response to the biblical truth that "no-one can enter the kingdom without being born of water and the spirit", an obvious reference to the sacrament of baptism. If no-one can enter without baptism, then what is to become of small children who die before they are baptized? The God of love and mercy Whom we worship would surely not send them to hell. So the idea of Limbo gradually developed, a place where such unbaptized innocents can enjoy eternal happiness, but are not in the actual presence of the "beatific vision", that is, actually seeing God. Today the Church rightly downplays that idea since it was never really a doctrinal truth, and was never revealed by God. Today the Church simply states that "we entrust such children to the mercy of God".
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Answer 8

Limbo was forunborn babies or babies that died without getting baptised first. Also for people born before Christ. They went to limbo to await Christ. Now there is only purgatory. Limbo was not purging of sins, only a wating place, while purgatory is still around and purges sins before you go to heaven. One of the popes decided that limbo is done with since Christ came (I think). If not it is still for unborn/dead babies....but I think they go to heaven because there was the INTENT of baptizing them.

();-D
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Answer 9

Not being catholic I can't answer your first question. But basically, limbo is where everyone gets to walk under a horizontal bar. The bar gets progressively lower, so you have to walk under it leaning backwards. The winner is the one who doesn't touch the bar.
Purgatory is another name for laxative, I believe.

Answer 10

Limbo was a place that unbaptised babies and heathen went to. neither heard the word of God and cannot enter heaven, but there were circumstances beyond their control, so they should net be punished for that

Purgatory is for people whose souls are not pure, but do not deserve hell. it is a way to work off your sins before entering heaven