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Okay! Thanks for clarifying.no, no soul sleep.
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Okay! Thanks for clarifying.no, no soul sleep.
Anyone else care to share their view ?
Like many of this doctrine’s critics I do believe there is some Gnostic contamination in it. The Gnostic “Apocalypse of Paul” clearly defines “toll houses” more clearly than what is often amplified from Ephesians 6:12.(see: The Apocalypse of Paul -- The Nag Hammadi Library ).
I read that book.I really wanted to explore this in the thread I made about Fr Seraphim Rose's book - The Soul After Death. I think he did an excellent and very straightforward job of explaining it.
Isn't this scenario quite similar to the ancient Egyptian Book of the dead?Demons tempt us, try to deceive us, and do whatever they can to damage our souls or pull us away from God through our entire lives. When the soul departs the body and the eyes are more in the spiritual realm, we are able to see such things. And the demons don't give up trying at the moment of death. If anything, they may intensify because they are in a unique situation to frighten (or maybe tempt?) us because now we can see them.
Do you believe in near-death experiences where people see Christ, rather than demons?Bottom line to me - don't be surprised by a last-ditch and maybe very strong attempt by the demons to capture our souls. I would hope I can also remember they are liars - whatever happens they can't be trusted to tell the truth.
Are there different views about Toll Houses between different Orthodox denominations, for example Russia vs Constantinople? I know Fr Seraphim belonged to the Russian tradition.As far as particular temptations, booths, "tolls" and all the rest - I think that's taking things too literally. I suspect what happens is tailored to each person's weaknesses, since that's how demons operate. But they have no authority and they certainly aren't our judges.
There are serious consequences to this belief. What happens if someone succumbs to demonic temptation at that point?I think it's true that this is potentially a spiritually perilous transition though. It only makes sense when we consider that we don't canonize every pious person who lives, partly because we don't know what happens to anyone's soul as they go through this.
There are serious consequences to this belief. What happens if someone succumbs to demonic temptation at that point?
Sorry for your father, I reserve for myself my other comment.Thank you to the gentleman who shared the story and perspective in the now-closed thread.
To the young man who began that thread: no, the Toll Houses aren’t really that funny. Or maybe it’s just me, since my dad passed away recently.