The controversial history of purgatory
What is purgatory: Purgatory is the place where the souls of the dead wait to get into heaven.
What is purgatory: The souls of people “who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified.
What is purgatory: The text further defines purgatory as a “purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.
Roots: For about a millennium, Christians were not quite sure what would happen to their souls when they died.
Enter purgatory: It was not until the 12th century that the medieval Latin Church came up with the concept of purgatory.
In writing: The first written record can be found in the book ‘Sentences,’ written by French theologist.
Is it in the Bible: There is no reference to purgatory in the Bible, but those who believe in it.
Is it in the Bible: While a direct reference to purgatory is not made, it can be argued that some passages.
Prayers for the dead: The theory is that prayers for the dead only make sense if those souls needed to be saved.
The Church Fathers: The Fathers of the Church are often mentioned when the roots of purgatory are challenged.