Defense for Purgatory

[otjm]

Understood on both points. As to the first, words have meaning, and people tend towards a lackadaisical use of language because of a number of issues, among which is a lack of critical thinking. Being precise in speech takes a lot of work.

 

[CathBoy1]

As to the first, words have meaning, and people tend towards a lackadaisical use of language because of a number of issues, among which is a lack of critical thinking. Being precise in speech takes a lot of work.

I absolutely agree brother.

 

[CathBoy1]

I don’t always articulate my words the way that I wish to.

After further reflection perhaps the following does a better job of summarizing what I am trying to say.

When the soul passes, it arrives before the Divine Presence. Weather that soul is damned or saved it is before the Divine Presence and depending on that souls condition (damned or saved) the light that radiates from the Divine Presence is perceived differently:

If one is saved they feel nothing but warmth and joy and love everlasting or what is known as heaven, but perhaps when the saved soul appears before the Divine Presence it is purified (weather in an instant or over a long period is debatable) and the light radiating from the Divine Presence cleanses this saved soul, before this saved soul fully experiences the absolute joy of heaven, this cleansing process is known as purgatory.

As for the damned soul that appears before the Divine Presence, the light that shines forth, upon it (the damned soul) will feel like everlasting torment and terrible fire burning to the very core.

 

[Felicity]

I once heard Purgatory explained this way:

A few years ago, several miners in South America were trapped in the mines for several days. Without sunlight, their eyes adapted to the almost pitch black in which they found themselves.
Once rescued, they had to wear strongly protective eyewear to allow their eyes to gradually adapt to sunlight. Without this gradual adjusting to to sunlight, they would have gone blind.
In this way, we can understand part of the merciful purpose of Purgatory is to allow us to gradually adapt to the brilliant, pure presence of God after living our lives on earth surrounded by the darkness of sin.

 

[John_Martin]

He said “If there are flames or suffering, that isn’t paradise to me!”

You might have him consider the Seraphim, continually aflame because they constantly behold God - It is a delightful flame to enter the presence of God, but when we enter the flame it burns away any attached self satisfactions we retained from sin (Purgatory) and we are glad for the flames there.
In Hell, the perception is the flame means death, when it is actually the presence of God aflame, so Hell is an eternal avoidance of the Flame of the presence of God.