About purgatory?

Question

Many people here mention heaven and hell. Does anyone believe that there is a temporary transition state? ie. purgatory? Just wondering.

~PhoeniX~

Answer 1

According to the bible purgatory does not exist. It's heaven or hell you can't miss both.

Answer 2

I have a vision of Purgatory. It's all white with Ikea furniture. You drink weak tea and play golf and in the evenings there are Barry Manilow concerts. A lot of bridge is played and all the pictures are watercolor landscapes from hotels. They serve poached eggs and Soy sausage with whole wheat toast and butter three meals a day.

Even the Church has given up on Purgatory. It was all about indulgences, anyway, and since there isn't as much of a market, why take the critism?

Interestingly, though, In the Gospel of Mary Magdalan, She asks Christ how a merciful God could send people to eternal torment - why was there a hell? And He replied - Well, there is a Hell, but it isn't permanent- you can get out. If that's the case, we don't actually need a Purgatory - just a lot of sunscreen. :)

Answer 3

Purgatory is a state or condition of purification in which the souls of the faithful departed are purified of their sins and faults after death. For according to the Book of Revelation, "nothing impure can enter heaven" (Rev 21:27). In other words, we can say that the word "purgatory," properly speaking, stands for the "condition of souls which, at the moment of death, are in the state of grace, but which have not completely made reparation for their sins, nor attained the level of holiness necessary to enter heaven."

And so, when talking about purgatory, it is important to be aware that the Catholic Church has officially stated only two truths that must be believed as dogma. These are as follows: one, that there is a purgatory; and two, that the souls in purgatory can be helped by our prayers and sacrifices. All we know with certainty, then, is that purgatory, in fact, exists. For the "church has defined nothing about the nature, place, and duration of purgatory."

Now, there are several places in Scripture that indicate the existence of a place of purification after death. The most well-known passage in the Old Testament about this truth is found in the Second Book of Maccabees. The passage is a little long, but it is worth quoting at length because it is so important:

Judas Maccabees and his men went to gather up the bodies of the slain (after the battle) and bury them with their kinsmen in their ancestral tombs. But under the tunic of each of the dead they found amulets sacred to the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear. So it was clear to all that this was why these men had been slain… He then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to 2,000 silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way… It was a holy and pious thought. Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from sin." (2 Mac. 12:39-40, 43, 45-46)

In the New Testament Christ warns us that "we will not be released until we have paid the last penny" (Mt 5:26), and St. Paul states in his First Letter to the Corinthians that "if someone’s work is burned up… the person will be saved, but only by fire" (3:15). Now the doctrine of purgatory alone can explain this passage of St. Paul’s. Karl Keating, a well-respected apologist, explains, "this ‘loss’ that he speaks about cannot refer to hell, because no one is saved there; and it cannot refer to heaven, because there is no suffering by fire there."

Answer 4

~~~Phoenix,,,, In the Reincarnational Concept this "place" is akin to a Staging Area. This is where The Soul receives it's Life Review. As there is no Time/Space Element in this Dimension, the Soul experiences the effects of it's actions during the previous lifetime. The Soul "feels" both the hurt and pain(negative karma) it generated toward others, as well as the joy and comfort(positive karma). Upon this "session" the Soul garners much growth, then is re-united with The Group Whole or Collective Conciousness or Gestalt or whatever and then "awaits" it's next opportunity for Re-incarnation.

Answer 5

The biblical justification for Purgatory comes from books in the Apochrypha. The Apochrypha have been part of the Catholic Canon since the Bible was originally compiled. The Catholic Canon has been unchanged since it was set at the Council of Rome in the 4th century.

However, in the 15th century, Protestants decided that the Apochrypha is not the holy word of God and have excluded it from the Bible. This is why they believe that Purgatory does not exist and why they believe that there is no Biblical justification for it.

Answer 6

No. Purgatory does not exist. It's something that Catholics made up by false doctrine. If it's false in part, what must it be in all?

You will find no mention of purgatory in God's word, the Bible. That is because it is based on false doctrine (purgatory is). These ones will pay at Armageddon for misleading so many throughout the world, but then again, many just love tingling their ears with the lie; the lies allow them to lead an immoral lifestyle. Just who do they think they're fooling? God will not be mocked.

Answer 7

Phoenix, the Bible says, 'To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord'.. There is no temporary 'hanging out' place. I dont know how that originated but it is not what the Bible says.. When we take our last breath on earth, and are saved, we will immediately be in the presence of God.

Answer 8

No, no, NO. It is not in the bible anywhere. Either you go to heaven or hell. PERIOD. Purgatory was created by the Catholic Church to suit their own needs.

Answer 9

Jesus said nothing "unclean" shall enter heaven, I don't believe anyone who dies is "unclean" so therefore, yes there is a purgatory. Bible says so. :) I don't believe Catholics have "made-up" anything. If you are unclean, and you die, where do you go? You will have to have a place to become clean to enter heaven. Besides, the Catholics didn't remove any books from the Bible, that was the protestants.

Answer 10

Non-existent. Your choices are heaven or hell. And you determine which one by your relationship with Jesus Christ, The Way, The Truth, and The Life.