Toll-House Doctrine?

[JW55]

This was a very long thread and had a lot of interesting discussion that unfortunately got diverted onto several different side topics and I got lost along the way. For the sake of my simple mind could I get a few summarized responses from this thread that might help briefly address the original post and a few concerns of my own? .

I am presently reading, The Soul After Death and was really hoping to get some solid information from this thread in regard to the churches (both Catholic and Orthodox) view on these subjects. I have read enough to know that there is a strong division even among the Orthodox on the teachings of Father Seraphim Rose and some go far as to regard his teachings as both gnostic and heretical. However, obviously many of his wrtings are still taken very seriously due to the interest in them that is still present nearly 30 yrs after his death. Whatever the consensus of Father Seraphim, I have to conclude he was sincere in his beliefs, be they right or wrong.

My questions are:

Are toll houses accepted by a portion of the Orthodox or
Catholic church or are should they be rejected as totally invalid
and heretical or gnostic?

Are we even close in agreement with the Catholic concept of
purgatory and the Orthodox stage between Heaven and Hell?

How seriously should the teachings of Father Seraphim Rose be
regarded on this subject and his other teachings? Is he a valid
reference for spiritual growth?

Thank you much.

 

[Aramis]

My questions are:

Are toll houses accepted by a portion of the Orthodox or Catholic church or are should they be rejected as totally invalid
and heretical or gnostic?

They are not, in and of themselves, heretical belief, but they are far from mainstream anywhere now. Rev. Fr. Schmemman mentions them as the basis for the practices of commemorations of the dead.

I know a few RO who believe the Toll-House theologumenon.

Are we even close in agreement with the Catholic concept of purgatory and the Orthodox stage between Heaven and Hell?

Both sides agree that not everyone bound for heaven goes to heaven immediately. The traditional Eastern answer is that they go to a part of hell, but one from which they may escape through prayers and works done in their name.

Rome calls that place or state Purgatory, and doesn’t formally define it as being outside hell. (Many Roman theologians, however, do define that it is outside hell and heaven.)

How seriously should the teachings of Father Seraphim Rose be regarded on this subject and his other teachings? Is he a valid reference for spiritual growth?

He’s well respected, and I am aware that at least some of his writings are used in the Ruthenian church’s Deacon formation. (So are Rev. Fr. Schmemman’s.)

Just because he was an Orthodox cleric doesn’t mean everything he says is orthodox.

Thank you much.

You’re welcome.