Required reading
Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge (Vol 3) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Chapter 1 (State of the soul after death).
My summary
Hodge now outlines Roman Catholic teaching on the afterlife.
We hear about:
(i) limbus patrum;
(ii) limbus infantum;
(iii) hell;
(iv) heaven;
(v) purgatory.
Most of the reading is actually dedicated to a discussion of the arguments for and against purgatory.
What grabbed me
I liked Hodge's first argument against the doctrine of purgatory: 'The first, most obvious, and, for Protestants, the most decisive argument against the doctrine is, that it is not taught iii the Bible. This is virtually admitted by its advocates. The most that is pretended is, that having adopted the doctrine on other grounds, they can find in Scripture here and there a passage which can be explained in accordance with its teachings. There is no passage which asserts it. There is no evidence that it formed a part of the instructions of Christ or his Apostles.'
Enough said!
Next week's reading
Read Chapter 2 (The resurrection).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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