Non-Catholics after death

[ThatOneDudeAlex]

I’m not certain if pergatory is a Catholic-exclusive thing, but even if it’s not, I know there are some Christian denominations who do not believe in it. Saying that all Christians, not just Catholics, eventually go to heaven, where do those not believing in pergatory go first? Due to their personal beliefs, do they just go to heaven? Do they die, find out about pergatory, and think, “Huh, I suppose they were right.”?

Obviously, due to lack of experience, no one knows for sure, but what do we say happens to them?

 

[hudson]

I’m not certain if pergatory is a Catholic-exclusive thing, but even if it’s not, I know there are some Christian denominations who do not believe in it. Saying that all Christians, not just Catholics, eventually go to heaven, where do those not believing in pergatory go first? Due to their personal beliefs, do they just go to heaven? Do they die, find out about pergatory, and think, “Huh, I suppose they were right.”?

Obviously, due to lack of experience, no one knows for sure, but what do we say happens to them?

Purgatory is not necessarily a place. It could be just a process of cleansing. Every soul that experiences Purgatory is on its way to heaven. You are judged at the moment of death. You can no longer change your mind after death and repent. You are judged on things you did throughout your life at that moment. Everyone(maybe not the Saints) that is on the way to heaven will experience the cleansing flames of Purgatory whether they believe in it or not. The most sure way to get to heaven is to be a Catholic in a state of sanctifying grace. It can be argued that some people in this world can have ignorance as a path to heaven, but I would not rest on ignorance. My thought is there are very few that will be in heaven with the excuse of ignorance in this day and age. All the information in the world is at the tip of your fingers.

 

[JRKH]

I’m not certain if purgatory is a Catholic-exclusive thing, but even if it’s not, I know there are some Christian denominations who do not believe in it. Saying that all Christians, not just Catholics, eventually go to heaven, where do those not believing in purgatory go first? Due to their personal beliefs, do they just go to heaven? Do they die, find out about purgatory, and think, “Huh, I suppose they were right.”?

Obviously, due to lack of experience, no one knows for sure, but what do we say happens to them?

Lets see…If someone doesn’t believe n god, does it make a difference on whether they meet him at death? Nope…
So by that logic, it doesn’t matter if someone does not believe in Purgatory. If they need to be purged, they will go to purgatory and then on to heaven.

Peace
James

 

[philial]

I’m not certain if pergatory is a Catholic-exclusive thing, but even if it’s not, I know there are some Christian denominations who do not believe in it. Saying that all Christians, not just Catholics, eventually go to heaven, where do those not believing in pergatory go first? Due to their personal beliefs, do they just go to heaven? Do they die, find out about pergatory, and think, “Huh, I suppose they were right.”?

Obviously, due to lack of experience, no one knows for sure, but what do we say happens to them?

Jesus Christ is the Way, the truth, and the Light. Anything else pales compared with this one, central truth!

 

[Anathama_Sit]

I’m not certain if pergatory is a Catholic-exclusive thing, but even if it’s not, I know there are some Christian denominations who do not believe in it. Saying that all Christians, not just Catholics, eventually go to heaven, where do those not believing in pergatory go first? Due to their personal beliefs, do they just go to heaven? Do they die, find out about pergatory, and think, “Huh, I suppose they were right.”?

Obviously, due to lack of experience, no one knows for sure, but what do we say happens to them?

Greetings ThatOneDudeAlex,

What one believes or chooses not to believe does not change the ontological reality of something. If I choose to not believe that there is a person who choses to log into Catholic Answers forums under the name ThatOneDudeAlex, does not change the fact that there is a person who does log into Catholic Answers Forum who chooses to do so under the user name of ThatOneDudeAlex. If I do not believe in this, than my judgement is in error, it does not agree with ontological truth.

We know about Purgatory because the Church teaches the Truth. Purgatory is a De Fide doctrine. Purgatory exists whether we choose to believe in it or not. Purgatory is not a Catholic-exclusive thing. It is an all humanity inclusive reality.

The Church teaches that if one dies in a state of friendship with God but has temporal punihsment that needs to be satisfied, they go to purgatory. Guess what the Protestants if they die in a state of friendship with God will go to purgatory if they require any purifying. They will know that Purgatory exists. See what the Catechism has to say about what happens when one dies, when talking of the particular judgement.

Catechism of the Cathlolic Church

#1021 Death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in Christ. The New Testament speaks of judgment primarily in its aspect of the final encounter with Christ in his second coming, but also repeatedly affirms that each will be rewarded immediately after death in accordance with his works and faith. The parable of the poor man Lazarus and the words of Christ on the cross to the good thief, as well as other New Testament texts speak of a final destiny of the soul-a destiny which can be different for some and for others.

#1022 Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven-through a purification or immediately, -or immediate and everlasting damnation.

At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love.

Paragraphs 1030-1032 say talk of Purgatory.

God bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[Swiss_Guy]

They wake up and realize they are in “purgatory” (although I thought purgatory was a process, not necessarily a place ). Whether they like it or not, it’s real and it happens. If I don’t believe in the Easter Bunny and it turns out he was real, just cause I don’t believe in him doesn’t mean he doesn’t exist. (Because he’s obviously real. Who else gives us all the chocolate? ).

 

[Anathama_Sit]

They wake up and realize they are in “purgatory” (although I thought purgatory was a process, not necessarily a place ). Whether they like it or not, it’s real and it happens. If I don’t believe in the Easter Bunny and it turns out he was real, just cause I don’t believe in him doesn’t mean he doesn’t exist. (Because he’s obviously real. Who else gives us all the chocolate? ).

Greetings Swiss Guy,

Yes where do all those Cadbury Eggs come from, if not from the Cadbury Easter Bunny? How dare you mention Easter, chocholate, and bunny in one sentence. I like to eat the Caburry Eggs and the peeps for Easter. My friends ship me quite a generous quanitity every Easter.

You don’t happen to be fond of Swiss Chocholate do you?

Okay back to the topic on hand, I doubt there will be chocholate or bunnies in Purgatory.

God bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[manualman]

Why did I never think of that objection?

“But Dad, I don’t BELIEVE in being grounded…”

 

[Swiss_Guy]

Greetings Swiss Guy,

Yes where do all those Cadbury Eggs come from, if not from the Cadbury Easter Bunny? How dare you mention Easter, chocholate, and bunny in one sentence. I like to eat the Caburry Eggs and the peeps for Easter. My friends ship me quite a generous quanitity every Easter.

You don’t happen to be fond of Swiss Chocholate do you?

Okay back to the topic on hand, I doubt there will be chocholate or bunnies in Purgatory.

God bless.
Anathama Sit

Of course I like Swiss Chocolate. Who doesn’t?

 

[BigFellaMick]

Puragtory is a process. You go to hell plain and simple. The only difference being your days in hell are numbered as you are cleansed for heaven. We should all pray that the cleansing is a wee bit less painful than the damnation of hell or we’ll all be in for a real treat u_u

 

[JRKH]

Puragtory is a process. You go to hell plain and simple. The only difference being your days in hell are numbered as you are cleansed for heaven. We should all pray that the cleansing is a wee bit less painful than the damnation of hell or we’ll all be in for a real treat u_u

Don’t you mean your days in purgatory are numbered?

Peace
James

 

[Anathama_Sit]

Why did I never think of that objection?

“But Dad, I don’t BELIEVE in being grounded…”

Greetings Manualman,

Perhaps it was because at that tender age you exhibited the sense of knowing that no matter what you thought or believed, your were still grounded.

God bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[puzzleannie]

I’m not certain if pergatory is a Catholic-exclusive thing, but even if it’s not, I know there are some Christian denominations who do not believe in it. ?

what individual Catholics or non-Catholics believe or don’t believe is irrelevant, the means by which God has granted salvation to his children is the only issue. If he decides a person although still in his good graces requires purification before entrance into heaven, he will purify that soul.

 

[HelenRose]

These conversations about what happens after death are endlessly fasinating and I guess important because Christ made it very clear that we are to turn to him for mercy.

However, when we begin to argue about what is going to happen, I think we all need to sit back and think about what we are doing.

Let us imagine that we are all blind and have been blind since birth. A teacher comes to us and tries to explain what the color blue is. The only thing we can understand is that blue is a beautiful thing.

After our teacher leaves, it is rather foolish for us to argue about the color blue.

Christ has come to us and has taught us many things but we can not comprehend the deeper meaning and purpose he has for us.

We must put our faith, love and trust in Christ. We must show forth His wonderful love to all. We can not second guess His judgement. We can only fall on our knees before Him and ask Him for His Divine Mercy.

What is Purgatory? We know that it exists. That is it not pleasant. That is some mysterious way we are purified. That is about all we can know. To argue about it is foolish. To discuss. Okay that is fine.

 

[Evan]

After death…

you are either part of the body of Christ (that is… a Catholic)

or you are in Hell.

So all the poorly catechized Catholics will learn a lot more about their faith and God after death. And on that level of learning, I think we can all get in the boat of ‘poorly catechized Catholics’.

 

[HelenRose]

Evan, That is not what the Catechism says. If you are a Catholic you accept the teachings of the Pope and the Magisterium.

Do you accept the teachings of the Pope and the Magisterium ( i.e. the Catechism of the Catholic Church ) or not?

 

[Evan]

Evan, That is not what the Catechism says. If you are a Catholic you accept the teachings of the Pope and the Magisterium.

Do you accept the teachings of the Pope and the Magisterium ( i.e. the Catechism of the Catholic Church ) or not?

When I’m dead, I no longer need a vicar of Christ (the pope), I will have Christ.
I will not need the Magisterium (teachers of the faith), I will have Christ.

The Church teaches that those in heaven are the Church Triumphant. Those in purgatory, the Church Suffering. In any case, the Church.

While I am alive, I am not part of this discussion. It’s an after death discussion.

 

[Anathama_Sit]

After death…

you are either part of the body of Christ (that is… a Catholic)

or you are in Hell.

So all the poorly catechized Catholics will learn a lot more about their faith and God after death. And on that level of learning, I think we can all get in the boat of ‘poorly catechized Catholics’.

Greetings Evan,

The reason I am responding to your reply, I feel it is a half-truth at best. It’s pretty much equal to saying The Mass is a meal. Yes the Mass is a meal, but it is SO much more than a meal. A half-truth is a lie. [This is after I just read your other response as well]

Your position clearly does not agree with what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says. I again will quote this paragraph. What say you to this?

#1022 Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven-through a purification or immediately, -or immediate and everlasting damnation.

At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love.

God bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[Anathama_Sit]

When I’m dead, I no longer need a vicar of Christ (the pope), I will have Christ.
I will not need the Magisterium (teachers of the faith), I will have Christ.

The Church teaches that those in heaven are the Church Triumphant. Those in purgatory, the Church Suffering. In any case, the Church.

While I am alive, I am not part of this discussion. It’s an after death discussion.

Greetinsg Evan,

Are you saying that after you die the Magisterium is no longer needed and is done away with?

God bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[Evan]

Greetinsg Evan,

Are you saying that after you die the Magisterium is no longer needed and is done away with?

God bless.
Anathama Sit

Ana S

When I have died, Truth (ie Christ … I am they way, the truth, and the life) will be with me. The Magisterium, in this life, on Earth, teaches us what has been revealed through Scripture, Tradition with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The Magisterium speaks for Christ in this world and is limited to what Christ revealed in His earthly life and what the Holy Spirit continues to reveal. Somethings are unknown to us, they are true, but God has chosen to keep these truths to himself (eg what is the fate of unbaptized infants who die). If and when I have achieved heaven I will no longer need the Magisterium to speak for Christ, for Christ Himself will speak to me (and wipe away every tear).

When this world passes away and all are in Heaven or Hell, the Magisterium will pass away as will the visible Church, for all those in Heaven will be joined in the Body or Christ, the fulfillment of the Church here on Earth, the Church Triumphant.

It matters not whether they came to the Church via the visible Church Militant, a protestant reading of Scripture, a holy Buddhist or Moslem adherent, or a good athiest. If God has judged them worthy of the Body of Christ, they will become part of the Catholic Church and, if unbaptized, will received the baptism of desire.