Having admitted that Purgatory isn’t a biblically based doctrine, athanasiusstates “After seeing the problem of sin versus holiness, and considering the various alternatives offered by Protestant traditions, I’m forced to conclude that Purgatory is the best theological solution that the Church has yet to come up with.”
In my view his posts are a classic example of why ‘theological’ thinking can often go wrong. We all too often attempt to reason our way around a problem rather than see what the scripture has to say on a subject and accept it without fully understanding it if necessary.
One verse is all that is needed to debunk this idea. Jesus, on the cross speaks to the thief on and states “TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE” (Luke 23:43). He had done nothing except believe and ask Jesus to remember him. There is no mention of a period in purgatory first, rather Jesus is quite clear and emphatic about what the end of the days events will be. (By the way this also gives the lie to the idea Jesus suffered in hell after his death!)
Thats good enough for me! What about you?
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