EVANGULINE+SIMMONS

[|ANALYSIS TWO FOR THE WIKI PAGE.doc]

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[|ANALYSIS ONE FOR WIKI PAGE.doc] FIRST PICTURE OF PURGATORY BY CATHOLICSPOT.COM AND SECOND ONE Statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with souls in purgatory begging the intercession of Mary By en.wikipedia.org/wiki/**Purgatory**

The Theory about the Doctrine of Purgatory By Evanguline Simmons History 220 Dr. Andrea Winkler October 8, 2010

__ Argument: __ My argument is The Doctrine of Purgatory do not have any biblical evidence or background of its existence, even though some disagree. This doctrine should be classified as a occult belief and an imaginative mind soother for grief, and It was a money making scheme during the economical downfall and entice people to buy their way into heaven. __Supporting details to my arguement:__The doctrine of purgatory was the ultimate teaching introduced when sin, death, and the devil was the main focus during the late medieval life and way of thinking of that time. (Lindberg 2:23) People fear of death and judgment have given false prophets and teachers the power to deceive many. Catholism became one of the top leaders in introducing the doctrine of purgatory to prey on the weak and deceive many into believing that purgatory was the essential preparation for the journey through death to heaven, a ritual to establish powerful bonds between this world and the next that would be exploited by the doctrines of purgatory and indulgences. (Lindberg 30)  Essay: Evanguline Simmons Dr. Andrea Winkler History 220 October 10, 2010 ** The Theory about the Doctrine of Purgatory **

** Have you ever thought what would happen to you after you died? Would you go to Heaven, Hell or Purgatory? Purgatory seems to have been the main focus of the Catholic Church during the aftermath of the Black Death and plagues during the European Reformation. The doctrine of purgatory has no biblical confirmation and should be classified as an occult belief and is not a biblical teaching. The doctrine of purgatory began to take form when sin, death and the devil became the main focus of people mentality during the late medieval times. (Lindberg 2:23) People feared death and judgment have given false prophets and teachers the power to deceive many. Lindberg said, “Catholism as one of the top leaders in introducing the doctrine of purgatory to prey on the weak and deceive many into believing that purgatory was the essential preparation for the journey through death to heaven, a ritual to establish powerful bonds between this world and the next that would be exploited by the doctrines of purgatory and indulgences”. (Lindberg 30) My purpose is to enlighten and reveal the true identity on the description, beginning, and the reason for the doctrine of purgatory in the Catholic tradition. ** ** First, Purgatory was characterized as the third place between Heaven and Hell believed by the Catholics. The Catholics define purgatory: “(Latin, "purgare", to make clean, to purify) ...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.”(http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12575a.htm) The Roman Catholics believes purgatory to be a condition or place in which the souls of those dying penitent are purified from venial sins, or undergo the temporal punishment that, after the guilt of mortal sin has been remitted, still remains to be endured by the sinner. (The Random House Dictionary)This definition of purgatory is irrelevant to the biblical scriptures. The King James Version Bible teaches that Jesus provides redemption for sinners and if they chose to live for Him there would not be any destruction. John 3:16 says, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son and whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (KJV I John 1:9) These scriptures rules out the need for purgatory. The Bible teaches that there are two choices in life and you have only these two alternatives. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. (KJV Matthew 7:13) Here we can see that there are two paths in life, one path leads to life and the other is destruction. There is not any other choice you can make after you die. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. (NIV)Revelation 21:27) If your name is not written in the lamb book of life you cannot go to any other place to get into heaven. “Purgatory is a lie that was invented by the Catholic Church in 593 A.D. along with many other heresies such as :Praying to Saints (started:365 A.D.) & Worshipping & Praying to Mary (Started in 365 A.D.)”, says Dr. John Barnett-formerly and Associate Pastor at Grace Community Church in CA. ** ** Secondly, the doctrine of Purgatory originated in the late Middle Ages. Le Goff stated, “Purgatory not only achieved specificity as a "third place" but also took shape in a detailed theology of retribution, sacrifice, penalties, pardons, and spiritual exchange among the dead and the living”. Le Goff argues, “That purgatory came into full bloom as a Catholic belief and doctrine rather late, in the twelfth century. Established at that time as a "third place" in the afterlife along with heaven and hell, purgatory became "an intermediary other world in which some of the dead were subjected to a trial that could be shortened by the prayers, by the spiritual aid of the living. Hints of such beliefs abound in the earlier tradition, whether in affirmations of otherworldly purgation or in ancient accounts of near-death experiences in which the believer is conducted on a journey through hell so that, chastened by the terrible sight, he or she can regard earthly life as an opportunity for repentance”. (Jacques Le Goff's 1981:742-743) Purgatory does not exist. It is another doctrine created by man to give false hope to people that there is another way to make things right with God after death. This is not true. There is no scriptural basis for the existence of purgatory in the King James Bible even though some people make claim that it does. The Bible only illustrates the meaning of Heaven and Hell. Is there really such a place that would be a mediator between Heaven and Hell? A place where you could enjoy sinning in the present life and make amends after you die? The Catholic doctrine of purgatory is not based upon the Bible, but upon the teachings of the Apocrypha. (The Apocrypha is defined as, “writings or statements of dubious authenticity; books included in the Septuagint and Vulgate but excluded from the Jewish and Protestant canons of the Old Testament” (Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary). So the Apocrypha is made up of religious writings that are not Scripture, but are included in the Catholic bible. As is noted in Webster’s Dictionary, the Jews and the Christians have rejected those books and have not included them in the canon of Scripture. Many people seek to Enter Eternal Life & won't be able to— Luke 13:23-30; they try to enter Eternal Life another way other than Jesus, but won't be able to: John 10:1-19, John 14:6.Many people will seek to obtain eternal life or enter into heaven and will not be able to. The only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ. Martha Macs believes Purgatory is not a realistic place. She explains that Hades is the Greek Word most commonly used for the Hebrew Word Sheol. Sheol, for the record, is typically known in various translations as "Grave," "Hell," "Pit." Hades is the Place where Unsaved people go immediately after they Die (Lk 16:19-31). Hades, is like being sent to Jail (so to speak, and in elementary terms) where Unsaved People are in Torment, awaiting to be summoned to appear before Jesus is the final judge, (Matt 13:41-43, Matt 7:21-23), at the Final Judgment: The Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15), and are found GUILTY. They will then be sentenced and then sent to the Final Prison which is: Hell / The Lake of Fire. There are NO Exits out of Hades. Jesus tells a story of a Rich Man who died in Luke 16:19-31 and was sent to Hades. Earlier Translations of "Hades" (King James Version) most often translate Hades as "Hell". (Mac, 2003-2010) ** ** Third, the Doctrine of purgatory was taught as a mean to security from condemnation to hell. What if you only had a choice of heaven or hell? Fear would cause you to believe that there was another alternative. Human instinct is always looking for an easy answer or solution to an ongoing problem. “Purgatory was that solution to the Catholic during a time of the Black Death. It was taught to offer mitigation of the fear of damnation by its opportunity to purge the offenses that occurred during life, and the possibility to benefit from the prayers and intercession of masses and indulgences bought by the living”. (Lindberg 30) “Catholicism at the end of the Middle Ages was in large part a cult of the living in the service of the dead” (Galpern 1974:149) And so, in spite of much opposition from the bishops-for it threatened their revenue from mortuary masses-the popes began to grant indulgences on behalf of the dead, plenary indulgence remitting all the purgatorial penalties and other indulgences being limited to a certain definite amount of time. They were able to do this by the application of the supererogatory merits that Christ and the saints had laid up and that were at the sole disposal of the popes. There was an attempt to guard the practice by the intimation that it was only in reference to purgatory that indulgences were available and that only per sufragium (that is, the pope did not claim absolute power to release souls, but only interceded with God for them), but the people easily supposed that the popes had full power over purgatory and even, perhaps, over hell. (I Harnack, History of Dogma, V, 262 ff. 196) The Catholic doctrine of purgatory supposes the fact that some die with smaller faults for which there was no true repentance, and also the fact that the temporal penalty due to sin is it times not wholly paid in this life. (The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12) The Catholic believed in three phases of salvation. I will elaborate on the second phase that talks about how they view sin. The second phase of salvation explains the different stages of sin. There are two kinds of sin: The mortal sin, as illustrated by a deliberate act of murder or adultery, and the venial sin, as illustrated by a sudden out-burst of temper due to a nervous strain. Thus, if an individual dies in venial sin his soul goes to purgatory where it is purged of sin, after which it reaches heaven. (Journal of Bible and Religion, page 38) Scriptures teaches that there is no little or big sin. Sin is sin and there is repentance from it. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. (Ephesians 1:7) Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (Acts 5:31)These scriptures let us know Jesus provided forgiveness and repentance from all sins through His blood that was shed on the cross. An optimist like me believes in universal salvation because Jesus Christ has won a complete victory and nothing can separate a human being from the breadth and depth of Christ's love. But optimists do have a problem that hard-line pessimists are all too eager to point out. How can a sinful cruel person who does not repent be ready and willing to live and rejoice in the company of God and the saints? As one uncompromising priest I know puts it, "If in this life a sinner has never responded to Jesus Christ in his neighbor, he will not even recognize the Lord on encountering him after death." Could not a confirmed sinner continue to choose blindness, gloom, and darkness? (Sidney Cornelia: Vol. 129, Issue 8) ** ** In conclusion, we have seen that Scriptures does not support the doctrine of purgatory. Despite, this doctrine originated and brought a false sense of relief too many people during and after the Black Death does not guarantee it as a place of reality. It was used as a teaching to the Catholic believers as a third place where sin can be forgiven and a cleanser from guilt to have entrance into heaven. It was an escape route from damnation and hell. It also was a mean to support the social and money problem. The Scriptures was one source that so many reformers believed in and was a vital importance to their passion. The Bible scriptures give evidence and an understanding that all sins can only be forgiven and cleansed through Jesus Christ. Sidney Callahan alleged, “An optimist like him believes in universal salvation because Jesus Christ has won a complete victory and nothing can separate a human being from the breadth and depth of Christ's love. But optimists do have a problem that hard-line pessimists are all too eager to point out. How can a sinful cruel person who does not repent be ready and willing to live and rejoice in the company of God and the saints? As one stern priest I know puts it, "If in this life a sinner has never responded to Jesus Christ in his neighbor, he will not even recognize the Lord on encountering him after death. Could not a confirmed sinner continue to choose blindness, gloom, and darkness?” (Sidney Callahan, Vol. 129, Issue 8) Finally, the doctrine of purgatory is a man-made tradition and is not a necessity that the Scriptural truths lead us to. **

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**Author(s):Callahan, Sidney CorneliaSource:Commonweal, 129(8): 8-9(Apr 19 2002)ISSN:0010-3330Publication Year:2002Language:EnglishSubjects:PURGATORY; SINGeneral Note:Of Several MindsPublication Type:Journal ArticleIssued by ATLA:05/15/2010Accession Number:CPLI0000300958Database: Catholic Periodical and Literature Index** ======

A Catholic's Conception of Salvation Religion, Vol. 6, No. The Future of Medieval Church History, I __Harnack, History of Dogma, V, 262 ff. 198__   Author(s): John Van EngenSource: Church History, Vol. 71, No. 3 (Sep., 2002), pp. 492-522 Published by: Cambridge University Press on behalf of the American Society of Church History (Winter, 1938), pp. 35-38Published by: Oxford University Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1459018Accessed: 29/09/2010 17:53 [|Journal of Bible and Religion],Vol. 6, No. 1 (Winter, 1938), pp. 39-41 Published by: Oxford University Press, Stable URL: [] Lindberg, C. (1996). //The European Reformation 2nd edition//. Published by :Blackwell Publishing

Thiel, John E., "Time, Judgment, and Competitive Spirituality: A Reading of the Development of the Doctrine of Purgatory," Theological Studies 69 (2008): 741-785. __ A ____ dditional Sources: __

[|"purgatory."] Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 2009./Bible Mac, M. (Producer). (2003-2010). //The Scripture and Facts of Hell//. [Web]. Retrieved from www.so4j.com Hanna, E. (1911). Purgatory. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved October 6, 2010 from New Advent: []  Photos from: [] and Catholicspot.com Purgatory. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved October 02, 2010, from Dictionary.com website: @http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/purgatory

  
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