Tuesday, May 29, 2007

And the alternative would be . . . ?

Over at The Boar's Head Tavern, moderator Michael Spencer (a.k.a. The Internet Monk) is horrified by the doctrine of Purgatory, the place where you go if you're not spotless enough for Heaven and not despicable enough for Hell.

No disrespect to CS Lewis and others who believe it, but purgatory must be the most obnoxious belief I can imagine. The idea of spending my life on the Gospel of Christ’s perfect mediation, atonement and justification….and then spending 10,000 years in flaming punishment (i.e. “purification.”) Christ’s holiness is insufficiently given to the Christian to avoid this? And once you’re in it, Christians can pray and that will help? Gee…what a God.

If it’s true, count me out. What an amazing doctrine. How can you possibly believe it and face death with anything but horror, knowing you are headed for conscious punishment and not the Father’s House?
FUNNY HOW PERSPECTIVES can differ so wildly, eh? Me, I find the whole idea of Purgatory a great comfort.

My guess -- and I'm not being snarky here -- is that preacher Spencer is a lot holier sort than your humble Favog. I know exactly what a no-count, hypocrite, piss-poor Christian (not to mention Catholic) SOB I happen to be, and I'm counting mightily on the merciful frying pan of Purgatory to keep me out of the fires of Hell.

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