|
|
Article: What to think of purgatory?
- Article from:
- Catholic Insight
- Article date:
- November 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Catholic Insight. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
James Boswell put a question to Dr. Samual Johnson." "What do you think, Sir, of purgatory as believed by the Roman Catholics?" Johnson, a devout Anglican and the embodiment of English common sense, replied: "Why, Sir, it is a very harmless doctrine. They are of opinion that the generality of mankind are neither so obstinately wicked as to deserve everlasting punishment, nor so good as to merit being admitted into the society of the blessed spirits; and therefore God is graciously pleased to allow of a middle state, where they may be purified by certain degrees of suffering. You see, Sir, there is nothing unreasonable in this." "But then, sir," Boswell asked, "their ...