The Grave Danger of the Catholic-Based "Purgatory" Theory!

[apocolypticremedy999]

I intend this to be the last of some of the things pertaining to God that I'll post, write, and maybe even speak of in general, but anyways;

I had an epiphony of the commonly taught theory of Purgatory amongst Catholics in particular. For thsoe of you who don't know, Catholics teach that there is a place called Puragtaory where everyone gopes after they die, which is basically like a dark room where you kinda sit and wait, during which you have the option to repent and me sanctified in God.

The grave danger in this theory is that people will take advnatage of this, go on sinning all their lives, and think to wait to repent from sin and follow Christ until and when they reach purgatory, which is so wrong because God only gives these opportunitites to repent and follow him while we live on the earth at this present time. After we're dead and gone, we no longer have these opportunities, it'll be too late! So these people who think they can repent in purgatory are just jumping the gun so that they can live however they want all their lives, but when they're dead, they'll be disappointed to find that there is no purgatory, but they will wake on judgement day to be damned to hell. This false theory is blinding and decieving people to think that they're ok for now, and they can go on living their lives as they see fit and they can always wait to repent until later when they reach "purgatory" where they can then be purged of sin and saved then and there.

 

[St_Worm2]

I intend this to be the last of some of the things pertaining to God that I'll post, write, and maybe even speak of in general, but anyways;

I had an epiphony of the commonly taught theory of Purgatory amongst Catholics in particular. For thsoe of you who don't know, Catholics teach that there is a place called Puragtaory where everyone gopes after they die, which is basically like a dark room where you kinda sit and wait, during which you have the option to repent and me sanctified in God.

The grave danger in this theory is that people will take advnatage of this, go on sinning all their lives, and think to wait to repent from sin and follow Christ until and when they reach purgatory, which is so wrong because God only gives these opportunitites to repent and follow him while we live on the earth at this present time. After we're dead and gone, we no longer have these opportunities, it'll be too late! So these people who think they can repent in purgatory are just jumping the gun so that they can live however they want all their lives, but when they're dead, they'll be disappointed to find that there is no purgatory, but they will wake on judgement day to be damned to hell. This false theory is blinding and decieving people to think that they're ok for now, and they can go on living their lives as they see fit and they can always wait to repent until later when they reach "purgatory" where they can then be purged of sin and saved then and there.

Not a RC and I do not believe in the doctrine of Purgatory, but I do know that the RCC does not teach that ALL go to Purgatory. Rather they say, only those who die in Christ (but are still somehow in need of additional purification) can go to Purgatory, not the reprobate. Here, from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

III. The Final Purification, or Purgatory​

1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.​

1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.604​

 

[Incariol]

I intend this to be the last of some of the things pertaining to God that I'll post, write, and maybe even speak of in general, but anyways;

I had an epiphony of the commonly taught theory of Purgatory amongst Catholics in particular. For thsoe of you who don't know, Catholics teach that there is a place called Puragtaory where everyone gopes after they die, which is basically like a dark room where you kinda sit and wait, during which you have the option to repent and me sanctified in God.

The grave danger in this theory is that people will take advnatage of this, go on sinning all their lives, and think to wait to repent from sin and follow Christ until and when they reach purgatory, which is so wrong because God only gives these opportunitites to repent and follow him while we live on the earth at this present time. After we're dead and gone, we no longer have these opportunities, it'll be too late! So these people who think they can repent in purgatory are just jumping the gun so that they can live however they want all their lives, but when they're dead, they'll be disappointed to find that there is no purgatory, but they will wake on judgement day to be damned to hell. This false theory is blinding and decieving people to think that they're ok for now, and they can go on living their lives as they see fit and they can always wait to repent until later when they reach "purgatory" where they can then be purged of sin and saved then and there.

That isn't what Purgatory is about at all. So lol.

 

[Humble Pie]

I don't know if catholics take it for granted that they'll go to purgatory if they fall short of glory. I've spoken to one who believed you could go straight to hell and bypass purgatory if you stuffed around.

 

[SQLservant]

The Grave Danger of the Calvin-Based "Once Saved, Always Saved" Theory

I intend this to be an illustration of the problem with this argument, but anyways;

I had an epiphany of the commonly taught theory of "Once Saved, Always Saved" amongst Evangelicals in particular. For thsoe of you who don't know, most Baptists and some Churches of Christ teach that once one has been saved there is nothing they can do to change their saved status, which is basically like a one-way ticket to heaven where you go on in life fully assured of your mansion in the clouds regardless of how you live.

The grave danger in this theory is that people will take advnatage of this, go on sinning all their lives, and think to wait to repent from sin and follow Christ because they're already saved and forgiven, which is so wrong because God requires more than just acknowledgement of His existence and His work for them. If we don't repent, we are lying to God by saying we love Jesus! (Jn 14:15) So these people who think they're going to heaven anyway are just jumping the gun so that they can live however they want all their lives, but when they're dead, they'll be disappointed to hear "I never knew you," and they will wake on Judgement Day to be damned to hell. This false theory is blinding and decieving people to think that they're ok for now, and they can go on living their lives as they see fit and Jesus will just look the other way when the Grim Reaper comes a-knocking.

That's what this little essay does with Purgatory. I'm still on the fence about it, myself, but I know that what you've said isn't the most accurate portrayal of what Purgatory is supposed to be, and thus what it means for those who know about it. There are always some who are misinformed (I know someone who professes to be Catholic but doesn't say God's name unless it's followed by "damn it" or preceded by "Oh my," admits to never having confessed but receives Communion every week anyway, and supposes he'll be okay so long as he gets the Last Rites), but that doesn't mean that their misunderstanding supersedes than the real teaching.

 

[PaladinValer]

I had an epiphony of the commonly taught theory of Purgatory amongst Catholics in particular. For thsoe of you who don't know, Catholics teach that there is a place called Puragtaory where everyone gopes after they die, which is basically like a dark room where you kinda sit and wait, during which you have the option to repent and me sanctified in God.

<snips>

Can't be an epiphany since you got the theology wrong.

 

[apocolypticremedy999]

Not a RC and I do not believe in the doctrine of Purgatory, but I do know that the RCC does not teach that ALL go to Purgatory. Rather they say, only those who die in Christ (but are still somehow in need of additional purification) can go to Purgatory, not the reprobate. Here, from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

III. The Final Purification, or Purgatory​

1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.​

1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.604​

Ah, I see. It was to my understanding that any could go to purgatory to be cleansed and to be cleansed if they so chose to do so, however it still seems to sometimes support the idea of going on sinning in this life and procrastination until they go to purgatory in some Catholics, isn't that possible? But I see what you're saying.

 

[PaladinValer]

Ah, I see. It was to my understanding that any could go to purgatory to be cleansed and to be cleansed if they so chose to do so, however it still seems to sometimes support the idea of going on sinning in this life and procrastination until they go to purgatory in some Catholics, isn't that possible? But I see what you're saying.

This is STILL not supporting the actual theology of purgatory.

Purgatory has to do with vinal sins according to their theology, not moral sins. Souls go to purgatory only if they are among those who will go to heaven. Those who pass away with moral sins are another story...and since any willfill sinning unrepentently is mortal (as far as I know, but I'm reasonably sure...I will happily retract this if a Vatican Catholic were to correct me with an official Vatican source), then it is incorrect to suggest that purgatory encourages sinfulness.

 

[MrPolo]

To put it in lay terms (in addition to the pertinent Catechism citations DaLeKo gave (see also CCC#1472)), we are imperfect persons in this life with sinful tendencies, and various attachment to sinful behaviors. Purgatory is the purging of blemishes "after" death and "before" heaven. That's because heaven is perfect union with God and when the soul is fully united with Him, there can be no imperfections because no imperfection is compatible with the heavenly God (cf Rev. 21:27).

All Christians essentially believe this, they just don't call it "Purgatory." But most will acknowledge the sinfulness remaining in the souls of this world* and then a transition to the heavenly realm. The "transition" in Catholic theology is that process/act/condition/state of all blemishes being removed which is called Purgatory.

Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) described Purgatory this way in his 1987 book Eschatology:

[Purgatory] is the inwardly necessary process of transformation in which a person becomes capable of Christ, capable of God and thus capable of unity with the whole communion of saints. . . . Encounter with the Lord is this transformation.​

Catholics also believe there is a hell, so it's really to no advantage to go on sinning which will lead to damnation.


*It is possible, by God's grace, that a soul can reach a point where the stains of sins are entirely gone. This may be extremely rare. But there is no official doctrine on how many go to Purgatory.

 

[St_Worm2]

...it still seems to sometimes support the idea of going on sinning in this life and procrastination until they go to purgatory in some Catholics, isn't that possible? But I see what you're saying.

Hey AR, sure, the actual doctrine of Purgatory is clearly laid out by the RCC, but that doesn't mean that there aren't Catholics who a) don't really know what the RCC teaches about it and therefore believe something else or b) they know and understand, but put their own spin on it anyway.

The idea that our growth in Christ (or sanctification) somehow makes us more worthy of entering Heaven is at the root of the doctrine of Purgatory and results in all kinds of problems for people and churches who believe/teach such a doctrine, a doctrine of righteousness and salvation based upon our works as well as Christ's, rather than on Christ's alone. From what I have seen over the years, many (most) of those regular, everyday church goers, who say they hold to such a doctrine (Grace/Faith + Works = Salvation), often end up trusting in their works alone for salvation and not in Christ (if they were ever taught to trust in Christ to begin with).

This touches upon the Protestant doctrine of "imputation" and the RCC doctrine of "infusion", which is at the very core of what each of us believe concerning salvation, and is certainly the most important difference between our faiths. But that is for another thread, yes?

Yours and His,
David

 

[SQLservant]

[H]eaven is perfect union with God and when the soul is fully united with Him, there can be no imperfections because no imperfection is compatible with the heavenly God (cf Rev. 21:27).

All Christians essentially believe this, they just don't call it "Purgatory." But most will acknowledge the sinfulness remaining in the souls of this world and then a transition to the heavenly realm.

This is basically the conclusion I've come to. When we die we are forgiven but not perfect, and in heaven we are perfect. Somewhere along the line, God must perfect us--"take away our bent to sinning" as Charles Wesley said. Our RCC brothers and sisters know this as Purgatory.

This makes me wonder, though: to believers in imputed righteousness, does the perfection we get in heaven become a part of us, or are we still imperfect, fallen creatures right there in the full, glorious presence of the All-Holy Trinity? Is it a veneer or is it changing a part of ourselves?

 

[MrPolo]

This is basically the conclusion I've come to. When we die we are forgiven but not perfect, and in heaven we are perfect. Somewhere along the line, God must perfect us--"take away our bent to sinning" as Charles Wesley said. Our RCC brothers and sisters know this as Purgatory.

This makes me wonder, though: to believers in imputed righteousness, does the perfection we get in heaven become a part of us, or are we still imperfect, fallen creatures right there in the full, glorious presence of the All-Holy Trinity? Is it a veneer or is it changing a part of ourselves?

Thanks for your thoughts. I do not subscribe to imputed righteousness, so I don't know how such theologians reconcile the matter and do not believe the "veneer" idea is a reasonable answer.

 

[SQLservant]

As I don't believe in imputed righteousness either, it's more of just something I'd like to hear. Maybe I'm being proud and wanting to watch them get uncomfortable with the implications...

 

[ghym]

This is basically the conclusion I've come to. When we die we are forgiven but not perfect, and in heaven we are perfect. Somewhere along the line, God must perfect us--"take away our bent to sinning" as Charles Wesley said. Our RCC brothers and sisters know this as Purgatory.

Yep, you got it! That was my first step to becoming Catholic, when i grasped that point. Purgatory is not so much about us being "unworthy" to enter heaven, but rather unready.

I would post a link to the Catholic Encyclopedia on it, but this is my first post and i need 50 to do that. A simple Google search for purgatory lists it as the second option. Be-warned, I am a masters student in Theology at a Catholic University, I find this article to have big words.

This makes me wonder, though: to believers in imputed righteousness, does the perfection we get in heaven become a part of us, or are we still imperfect, fallen creatures right there in the full, glorious presence of the All-Holy Trinity? Is it a veneer or is it changing a part of ourselves?

From Catholic Answers

[FONT=arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif]Nothing Unclean[/FONT]

Purgatory makes sense because there is a requirement that a soul not just be declared to be clean, but actually be clean, before a man may enter into eternal life. After all, if a guilty soul is merely "covered," if its sinful state still exists but is officially ignored, then it is still a guilty soul. It is still unclean.
Catholic theology takes seriously the notion that "nothing unclean shall enter heaven." From this it is inferred that a less than cleansed soul, even if "covered," remains a dirty soul and isn’t fit for heaven. It needs to be cleansed or "purged" of its remaining imperfections. The cleansing occurs in purgatory. Indeed, the necessity of the purging is taught in other passages of Scripture, such as 2 Thessalonians 2:13, which declares that God chose us "to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit." Sanctification is thus not an option, something that may or may not happen before one gets into heaven. It is an absolute requirement, as Hebrews 12:14 states that we must strive "for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord."

I can't give you the link for this on account of the no-links rule for people with less than 50 posts. It is the third option on a Google search for purgatory. catholic /tracts/purgatory

 

[Eternally Optimistic]

I had an epiphony of the commonly taught theory of Purgatory amongst Catholics in particular. For thsoe of you who don't know, Catholics teach that there is a place called Puragtaory where everyone gopes after they die, which is basically like a dark room where you kinda sit and wait, during which you have the option to repent and me sanctified in God.

no...just no.

 

[bbbbbbb]

Catholics, please clarify for this benighted Protestant the doctrine of Purgatory. I have encountered a wide range of opinions from Catholic sources on the issue. The understanding of Purgatory seems to range from the traditional Catholic understanding that Purgatory is a definite place where Catholics go following death (unless they are sinless Saints in which case they go directly to Heaven) and where they undergo corporeal punishment to pay for their temporal sins until full payment is exacted by a just and holy God - to the view that the process of purgation is neither a place nor is it related to time in any sense, but is hardly anything more than a refreshing spiritual shower to wash off the debris of a Catholic's temporal sins.

As I read the Cathechism of the Catholic Church the former view seems to be supported. Otherwise, why are indulgences of any value at all?

 

[St_Worm2]

As I don't believe in imputed righteousness either, it's more of just something I'd like to hear. Maybe I'm being proud and wanting to watch them get uncomfortable with the implications...

Hi SQL, I too, as brother "bbbbbbb" above, need to be enlightened about "Purgatory" (in my case however, with respect to why one must go there at all). I cannot recall a place in the Bible that speaks of a person being "partially" or "mostly" forgiven of their sins, can you? IOW, where does God speak of the need for additional forgiveness and purification for the 'stain that remains' (if you will) once a sin has been forgiven? If you have Chapter and Verse, please let me know.

I do recall the Bible saying much the opposite however. For instance, St John tells us:

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness" 1 John 1:9
​

Here St. John tells us that God not only forgives us, He also thoroughly "cleanses" us at the same time. How can the teaching about Purgatory (and its claim that additional cleansing from sin is going to be necessary to enter Heaven) be reconciled with a verse like this one?

--David

 

[ghym]

7b and DaLeko, thank you for your curiosity. I believe i can answer both your questions.
To do this i would like to consider purgatory on three different levels. The first is what might be called the substantive level. This is the level which makes something purgatory and not heaven, nor hell, nor limbo, nor Pittsburgh. The defining characteristics of it. The second level is the dogmatic level. These are things we as Catholics believe about purgatory but which a Protestant might deny while still acknowledging purgatory's existence. The third level is common belief. These are things many Catholics believe about purgatory but which are not a requirement of Catholic theology.

The substantive level has already been discussed to quite a degree on this thread. We might define it as the means by which we become perfect prior to entering heaven; or the means by which we are conformed perfectly to Christ and brought to share in the Triune Life of God. As 1 John 1:19 points out, God will cleanse us of all unrighteousness. However, if this had already been accomplished we would stop committing unrighteous thoughts and deeds. I cannot speak for you, but i know i am far from being perfectly righteous despite having already passed through the moment of salvation. It must be concluded that this is not instantaneously accomplished at the moment of salvation, but rather a process reaching fulfillment at the gates of heaven. Purgatory is not in contradiction to 1 John 1:19, but rather a requirement of it, the completion of it.

The doctrinal level is more complicated. Here we might examine two main points; purgatory is painful and it is a punishment. The first point is fairly easy to show through reason. We do not cast off our sin here, in this life, because it is painful to do so. We are weak and our sins are engrained deeply within us. If we are so reluctant to part with them in life, why would we do so more willingly in death? Growing in conformity to God is painful, but it is a joyful pain. It is not a pain to be feared, but rather a pain to be anticipated and sought out with great longing. The pain of Hell is a pain of despair and torture. The pain of Purgatory is the pain of hope and labor(as in birth).
Purgatory as a punishment is less evident, but becomes more so once it is understood. I find it is most easily understood in contrast to the punishment of hell. The punishment of hell is referred to as eternal punishment, it is a judicial consequence of our rejection of God. That is, it is what we deserve. However, Christ has paid that debt and merited for us salvation. We have been freed from what we deserve if we but accept the free-gift of God, Christ Jesus. The punishment of Purgatory, referred to as temporal(temporary) punishment, is a paternal discipline. As a father disciplines his children, so too does God discipline us. It is a loving kindness. It gives what we need rather than what we deserve. It perfects us, restores our relationship to God and draws us deeper into the divine life.

The level of common beliefs contains such ideas as purgatory being a place or taking time. Generally purgatory is only understood as a place by way of analogy. It would be more proper to refer to it as a state or condition. There are many Catholic who view purgatory as a place, and i do not believe they are in conflict with Church dogma; it is simply something the Church has not ruled on. The idea of purgatory taking 'time' and indulgences reducing it comes from an abuse of indulgences and was never official Catholic teaching. Although Catholics are free to believe purgatory take time, and there are various ways of understanding this, we are also free to believe in an instantaneous purgation.

7bs asked about indulgences as well and these are closely related to purgatory. I would explain them in this way: We must first recognize that out growth in Christ is not a result of our own work, but rather a result of God working in us. We can participate in this process, but the most important thing is to be open to it. Indulgences are based in the authority given to the apostles by Christ to forgive sins, both the eternal and temporal aspects of them. (Matt. 18:18 and John 20:23)
If a person is open to God's grace then upon the reception of an indulgence God works with that person to perfect them and restore their relationship to Him. In so doing the need for temporal punishment is negated and thus 'forgiven'.
Since purgatory has to do with temporal punishment, a reduction in the need for temporal punishment would equate to a reduction in the need for purgatory.

Does that answer your questions?

 

[bbbbbbb]

7b and DaLeko, thank you for your curiosity. I believe i can answer both your questions.
To do this i would like to consider purgatory on three different levels. The first is what might be called the substantive level. This is the level which makes something purgatory and not heaven, nor hell, nor limbo, nor Pittsburgh. The defining characteristics of it. The second level is the dogmatic level. These are things we as Catholics believe about purgatory but which a Protestant might deny while still acknowledging purgatory's existence. The third level is common belief. These are things many Catholics believe about purgatory but which are not a requirement of Catholic theology.

The substantive level has already been discussed to quite a degree on this thread. We might define it as the means by which we become perfect prior to entering heaven; or the means by which we are conformed perfectly to Christ and brought to share in the Triune Life of God. As 1 John 1:19 points out, God will cleanse us of all unrighteousness. However, if this had already been accomplished we would stop committing unrighteous thoughts and deeds. I cannot speak for you, but i know i am far from being perfectly righteous despite having already passed through the moment of salvation. It must be concluded that this is not instantaneously accomplished at the moment of salvation, but rather a process reaching fulfillment at the gates of heaven. Purgatory is not in contradiction to 1 John 1:19, but rather a requirement of it, the completion of it.

The doctrinal level is more complicated. Here we might examine two main points; purgatory is painful and it is a punishment. The first point is fairly easy to show through reason. We do not cast off our sin here, in this life, because it is painful to do so. We are weak and our sins are engrained deeply within us. If we are so reluctant to part with them in life, why would we do so more willingly in death? Growing in conformity to God is painful, but it is a joyful pain. It is not a pain to be feared, but rather a pain to be anticipated and sought out with great longing. The pain of Hell is a pain of despair and torture. The pain of Purgatory is the pain of hope and labor(as in birth).
Purgatory as a punishment is less evident, but becomes more so once it is understood. I find it is most easily understood in contrast to the punishment of hell. The punishment of hell is referred to as eternal punishment, it is a judicial consequence of our rejection of God. That is, it is what we deserve. However, Christ has paid that debt and merited for us salvation. We have been freed from what we deserve if we but accept the free-gift of God, Christ Jesus. The punishment of Purgatory, referred to as temporal(temporary) punishment, is a paternal discipline. As a father disciplines his children, so too does God discipline us. It is a loving kindness. It gives what we need rather than what we deserve. It perfects us, restores our relationship to God and draws us deeper into the divine life.

The level of common beliefs contains such ideas as purgatory being a place or taking time. Generally purgatory is only understood as a place by way of analogy. It would be more proper to refer to it as a state or condition. There are many Catholic who view purgatory as a place, and i do not believe they are in conflict with Church dogma; it is simply something the Church has not ruled on. The idea of purgatory taking 'time' and indulgences reducing it comes from an abuse of indulgences and was never official Catholic teaching. Although Catholics are free to believe purgatory take time, and there are various ways of understanding this, we are also free to believe in an instantaneous purgation.

7bs asked about indulgences as well and these are closely related to purgatory. I would explain them in this way: We must first recognize that out growth in Christ is not a result of our own work, but rather a result of God working in us. We can participate in this process, but the most important thing is to be open to it. Indulgences are based in the authority given to the apostles by Christ to forgive sins, both the eternal and temporal aspects of them. (Matt. 18:18 and John 20:23)
If a person is open to God's grace then upon the reception of an indulgence God works with that person to perfect them and restore their relationship to Him. In so doing the need for temporal punishment is negated and thus 'forgiven'.
Since purgatory has to do with temporal punishment, a reduction in the need for temporal punishment would equate to a reduction in the need for purgatory.

Does that answer your questions?

Thank you for being the first Catholic here at CF to answer my questions so thoroughly. I greatly appreciate that!

First, I note that you rely upon reason and logic for your explanation. Your only reference to the Bible was I John 1:9 and you did not refer to the Catechism of the Catholic Church at all. I fully understand that the Catholic Church does not rely solely upon scripture for its doctrine, but also depends upon Tradition as defined by the Magisterium. It would have helped me if you had provided more authoritative sources than an appeal to reason and logic.

Your argument from logic seems to have some flaws to me. If the pain of Purgatory is something Catholics earnestly desire, why is it that you are the first Catholic in my life that has told me this? All the other Catholics I have known have either dreaded the thought of Purgatory or have redefined it as a pleasant experience like taking a shower to rinse oneself of sin. You, however, seem to relish the idea of pain. It sounds a bit masochistic to me. BTW I have yet to meet a mother who has told me that she relished going into labor to give birth. At best, some women are blessed to give birth with minimal labor and pain and, at worst, some women die in childbirth.

If the suffering of purgatory is something to be relished, why would one want to reduce it either through saintliness or through indulgences? If one has a complete assurance of one's salvation, then this would be just a brief blip in eternal bliss for us. However, I have not yet met a Catholic who is certain of his salvation; rather most live in dread that they will, in the end, be cast into the lake of fire. Are you absolutely certain that you will be entering heaven via Purgatory?

Then there is the awkward situation concerning "deathbed" conversions. I was living in Boston at the time that John Wayne died. He successfully timed his death so that the cardinal was at his bedside administering both baptism and the last rites. Afterward some sincere Catholics concluded that he had entered heaven directly because he could not have had any temporal sins to suffer for in Purgatory. It seems that the longer one waits to convert, the less time one will spend in Purgatory, although one can hardly predict one's death.

Finally, do Protestants go to heaven via Purgatory and, if so, are they there longer than Catholics? Or do Protestants just end up in the lake of fire?

Thanks again for your response.

 

[RadicalDissenter]

After we're dead and gone, we no longer have these opportunities, it'll be too late!

Would you provide any scriptural proof ?
I don't believe in Purgatory, but still I find that the standard Protestant view (which is identical with your position here) is not really satisfactory.