Death and the afterlife - Purgatory

Question 1

Evidence for purgatory

Answer 1

2 Maccabees 12 - says we should pray for the dead, implying we can help the dead
However, this book is not in the Protestant OT
References to cleansing by fire

Question 2

Origen

Answer 2

Argued the soul would have an opportunity to perfect itself

Question 3

Gregory of Nyssa

Answer 3

Argued purgatory made sense as God would want as many people as possible to go to Heaven
The Catholic view originates with Gregory of Nyssa

Question 4

Hick on purgatory

Answer 4

Hell is not compatible with an omnibenevolent God - so therefore He would give us purgatory so that we could go to Heaven
Ties in to his idea of soul-making: we continually grow and develop

Question 5

Purgatory as a spiritual state

Answer 5

Purgatory could be a spiritual state where people come to understand their sinfulness

Question 6

Purgatory as symbolic

Answer 6

Purgatory could be symbolic of the final moment of repentance when meeting God - beatific vision?

Question 7

Arguments for purgatory

Answer 7

Acknowledges that not everyone who sins is bad enough for eternal punishment - overcomes problem of evil
Biblical evidence

Question 8

Arguments against purgatory

Answer 8

Many argue that the crucifixion was all that is needed to allow people to go to Heaven
Belief in purgatory was abused by the Catholic church to sell indulgences
It is unclear how purgatory would work if Heaven and hell are spiritual