This latest blog will continue with the spiritual and esoteric theme of the last blog. I will put forward the case for the existence of purgatory as an in between place between the stated after death realms of heaven and hell. Purgatory being a place where souls go to be purified before entering heaven.
Incidentally according to the 18th century Protestant theologian George De Benneville who had a near death experience, hell is only a temporary place which souls can escape from. A universalist view which I totally agree with.
Nowadays most new age types keep on putting forward the idea of reincarnation. In other words when we die we come back to this earth as either another human or animal based on our karmic actions in our present life. However, I personally find the evidence for reincarnation quite unconvincing. Also why would anybody want to come back for a second time to this flawed planet.
Myself I find the evidence of near death experiences much more convincing. In that when we die we move onto the next world,s existence.
Many Christians put forward a choice of either heaven or hell when we die. However, Catholics put forward a third place called purgatory. This is where souls that are in ‘grace and friendship’ with the divine need to go to to be purified before entering heaven.
Protestants and orthodox Christians say that there is no evidence for purgatory in the New Testament. So belief in purgatory is a false doctrine. However, in the Old Testament Maccabees 12,42-45 the idea of purgatory is mentioned.
The Catholic Church at the Second Council of Lyon in 1274 accepted the doctrine of purgatory as an official Catholic doctrine. However, as I have already stated this idea is rejected by other Christian denominations particularly Martin Luther after the Protestant reformation in the 16th century.
Myself I strongly feel that the idea of purgatory makes common sense. Also I have a deep inner feeling that this theory is correct.
Most people are not really evil. But on the other hand 99% of us are flawed individuals. So the idea of most people going to a place of existence of purgatory for their souls to be purified makes common sense to me.
So in conclusion to this latest blog. I personally find it very hard living in this world. I am sure many other people will agree with my point of view. Planet earth is a very flawed place.
So try and meditate and do good deeds. So that we can all work towards eternal happiness despite our individual drawbacks.
Best wishes to all for the future.
kevinclarion 