is there a such thing as purgatory?
918401
No, when Jesus died, he went into the pits of Hell, an took all the believers home with him, so the man on the Cross was the first one to walk into heaven, you know then one Jesus forgave next to him.\nNow where the saints was, is still jail. But now that place is where Satan's followers go. \nTo be absent in body is to present with God, or Satan, and once your last breath is taken, your first breath is given somewhere else, and guess what, no one can pray you out of it.\nSo what praying you need to do, it needs to be done now here on Earth, cause, two books are of the soul, Satan has a book, and so does God, and where your name is, that is where you got to go.
620123
In Catholic theology, purgatory is a spiritual state of being for those who are in need of spiritual purification before entering Heaven, which Revelation tells us allows nothing unclean.\n\nNobody who goes to purgatory goes to hell.  Those who go to purgatory have had their sins forgiven, but have not done penance for them.  \n\nIt is, in other words, a spiritual state where love of self is transformed into perfect love of God.\n\nPurgatory, contrary to what some anti-Catholic "Bible Christians" say, squares with the Bible.  \n\nJesus speaks of the sinner who cannot be forgiven, either in this life or the next.  In the next life, forgiveness cannot happen in hell, and it is not needed in heaven.  So, a third place must exist, or else Jesus would not have spoken about sins being forgiven in the next life.\n\nJesus speaks of those who "must remain in prison, till you pay the last penny."  This "paying the last penny" cannot occur in hell, which is permanent; nor does it happen in heaven, since heaven is no "prison" and there's no need to "pay" anything there.   So, again, a third place must be the topic of Jesus' words here.\n\n2 Maccabees speaks of praying for the dead being a "holy and wholesome thought ... that they may be loosed from their sins."  These prayers cannot help those in hell, and they are not needed for those in heaven.  Again, a third place must be the reference here.\n\nProtestant versions of the Bible don't contain 2 Macabees, which was removed from the Bible by the "reformers" -- probably because of its clear reference (mentioned above) to purgatory.
871167
The Catholic Church teaches that there are three states of being after death.  The first is known as heaven, which is a state of union with God.  This is merited for us by Jesus and offered to us through Baptism, but we still must make amends for the wrongs we have done, which leads to the second state.  Purgatory is a state of purification where those who have died with minor sins on their soul atone for these sins and become purified before entering heaven.  They are destined for heaven and will enter at some point known only to the soul and God.  The third state is an eternal separation from God, which is known as hell.  The Church teaches that those people who willingly disobey God and choose not to repent of their sins are the ones who enter that state.  They are lost forever and do not have another chance to repent.
1069243
hmmm:) yes...\nand there is "before life", too...!!!\nwhy do you ask?\nall of us who may be Afraid to DIE...are certainly afraid of LIVING!!!!\nThere really is Only ONE thing that Really matters---in my opinion---Is NOW!!!\nForgive yourself for yesterday---Look Forward to Tomorrow...and!!!\nENjoy  TODAY...NOW:)
353108
Your not getting many unbiased answers here so I'll expand mine.\n\nIt is essentially defined as: "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."\n\nReferences to a place of purgation (place where your purged of your sins) are made as far back as the beginning of the third century (by Clement of Alexandria) and are frequently referenced up to and beyond the bible's canonization (where they decided what books should go into the bible) in 390CE.  While no direct references to purgatory were chosen in 390CE, it was acknowledged that the concept was worthy of incorporation into other church publications.\n\nWhen the Reformation came in northern europe, the concept of purgatory was something chosen to be dropped to help distinguish the reformers from the old Church.  At the time the idea was being abused in some regions to encourage wealthy church patrons to help "buy" their way out of their sins.  This is why many of the Protestant groups today are still contemptuous of the concept, despite it's importance to earlier Christian groups. \n\nThe second act of Dante’s Inferno deals with the concept of purgatory, but if you really wish to learn more you’ll need to read translations of the works of St. Augustine and other early Christian leaders. Dan 12:10; Zech 13:9; Mal 3:2-3; 2 Mac 12:42-45; Matthew 5:26; Lk 12:47-48; Lk 12:58-59; 1 Cor 3:13-15; Apoc 21:27: are some of the biblical passages which were included in 390 that many site provide for the existence of a state of purgatory.\n\nPersonally I think it’s a concept that has an impressive historical record that I acknowledge as one of many possibilities.  In the end you’re going to need to die to really know for sure. Also contrary to what many people here are telling you, Roman Catholics aren't the only Christians to hold on to the concept of purgatory as a teaching. \n\nGood luck with your research!\nArmus
728997
yes there is.. as there is death after life.... life and death should be viewed as passing from one state to another....\n\nlike before you were born were you dead?? and if you came down frm heaven as an innocent child, did u die in heaven and take birth here??
701517
It sounds a lot like Limbo or Purgatory (neither of which I am convinced exist, but perhaps they do).
766663
Eternal life is a synonym for heaven, which means a state of union with God.  Yes, I believe there is eternal death as well, known as hell or an eternal separation from God.
1168212
No i don't believe so. Judgment day is when Jesus will have a second coming and destroy the world. Then we will be judged on our behavior and then sent to Heaven, Purgatory, or Hell. True we could be living in Hell as i write this but i do not believe that this is so. What about the priests? If we are in Hell then we can't see the people in Heaven and surely a priest would be in Heaven? What about the Pope? See if we were in Hell do you really think Satin would allow religious people into Hell? With the fiery pits and pain and suffering? Also if the world was indeed already destroyed why create a kingdom that looks alike to both Hell and Heaven? Do you know of the Colosseum? or of the Sistine Chapel? why would those be in Heaven and Hell?
1083118
There is very reliable evidence to show there is something, commonly known as the "afterlife".  For example, there is a book by a doctor who started to investigate this when a patient he was attending had a heart attack at the hospital.  He started CPR immediately, but had to interrupt it to make phone calls for help.  Each time he stopped the patient would "die" and when he started CPR they would return to "life".  The patient eventually said "Please don't stop CPR because each time you do I go to hell".  The doctor saved the patient who became a Christian.  \n  This Doctor investigated many other near death or clinical death - revival experiences and found the patients all had the experience of being somewhere else.   \n  You could check out Elizabeth Kubler-Ross.\n  You can also read Luke chapter 16 verses 17 on in the Bible.  This has very important fact that many people forget:  the afterlife isn't always pleasant!!!
675923
@@ poohgirl - ever heard of Purgatory? Well, it's in the Bible. Bet they didn't teach you THAT one in Sunday School.\n\nBuddhist monks who have meditated many years will stay warm after death. Even their skin remains supple and rigor mortis will not set in. This has been witnessed and documented in non-Buddist hospitals in the west, even in the US. \n\nUnder Sources I have included a link to a very interesting interview that might interest you.
694592
I don't believe there is a hell.  Why would a supreme being have petty emmotions like venegence?  What use would there be?  He wants us to learn from mistakes, and he forgives...so why a hell?  It's a bit harsh.
876472
you could just relax and enjoy the" whatever you trade for your soul". from what i was told there is a religion it may be "latter day saints" not certain. that get lists of dead people and pray on their behalf for salvation. this could have amazing ramifications,if you haldn't made the necessary provisions for when you met your demize.
15531
I hope I go "somewhere".  For those that beleive you just "go away", doesn't it scare the hell out of you that you'll just stop existing and there will be nothing?  I mean, hell, heavean, pergatory, valhalla, avalon..the thought of going nowhere scares the hell out of me.
488287
There was a short story written in the 50s (sorry, can't remember the name of the author) where Hell was a place where you got to choose your very favourite thing that you couldn't do without, and the Devil always granted your wish.  Then you were made to gorge and gorge and gorge and gorge to the point of nausea and possible explosion - and were not allowed to stop.  Then the next day, same thing.  Next day, same thing.  This, we were told, was pure Hell. So be careful what you wish for!
795825
That would be a solid NO.\n\nJust the canonical scriptures like everyone else in Christendom...and the Catholic Apocrypha only for example of right living....NOT for setting doctrine.\n\nThus...I can agree about the existence of a place called Purgatory...I just can't condemn you to hell for not believing in it with me.  ;-)\n\nThat is the heart of Anglicanism.  You ain't gotta check your brain at the Narthex door.\n\nAs for the so-called Gospel of "Thomas" - no - that one is even too far "out there" for us.
617216
I think so.  I know of other Wiccans who don't believe in reincarnation.  I personally do, because it make sense to me that the soul would need more than one go around before it's considered good enough to stay somewhere so nice (think of Adolf Hitler's soul, for goodness sake, and how many times it would have to do the go around!).  I see reincarnation as the ultimate consequence for not accepting the consequences of our behavior in this life.\n\nThis is an answered question on about.com: http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/whatiswicca/f/afterlife.htm  I'm not sure if it is saying that you HAVE to believe in reincarnation or that it is strongly believed throughout most of the religious community.  I will seek further.\n\nHere is a site that give a pretty good overview of Wicca, and it briefly mentions the Summerland: http://www.souldevice.org/wicca.html\n\nThe only site I could find that even remotely supports the Summerland without reincarnation is this one: http://www.wicca.com/celtic/wicca/faq.htm  Even here, though, it's ambiguous.\n\nFinally, a site that seems to be more in tune with you, although a Wiccan probably didn't write it.  Still, it's usually not a bad site for information on religion: http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_beli.htm\n\nOkay, I have to revise what I was saying earlier, I suppose.  It seems that reincarnation is, according to most Wiccans, central to Wiccan beliefs because it is considered part of the cycle of life, death and rebirth that we believe, through obsveration, that all living things go through.  The Summerland is less of a "paradise" than a nice, comfy place to await the next life, maybe get a little rested and refreshed before starting it all over again.  I thought it was a little more open to interpretation, and maybe you could continue practicing that way if you want to without too much comment.\n\nPerhaps you could examine what it is about reincarnation that you are unable to believe in.  If you find that you can't reconcile your beliefs about reincarnation with Wiccan teachings, perhaps it would be better for your spiritual growth to follow another pagan path.  There are many, after all, although I think that reincarnation is a pretty big theme among alot of them.