6.6 purgatory and judgement

• what is purgatory?

  a process of cleaning which removes the effects of sin to help a person accept the full presence of God
• what do Catholics believe regarding judgement?

  judgement happens twice , once immediately after death ( particular judgement ) and once at the end of time ( final judgement )
• purgatory

  • presence and overwhelming love of God makes some people ashamed of the bad things they have done in their life
  • process of purgatory can be quickened with the help of prayers from those who are alive
• particular judgement

  • happens immediately after a person dies
  • God judges someone based on a personal individual basis
  • results in the person going to heaven, hell or purgatory
• final judgement

  • happens at the end of time
  • Christ will come at the end of time in glory and judge the whole of creation
  • the reign of God will be established and everything would be made perfect
  • judged favourably by God will stay with him forever in this perfect creation
• what are two other creation beliefs about the afterlife?

  • many Christians do not believe in purgatory : people will either totally accept God and go to heaven or totally reject God and go to hell
  • some Christians believe judgement does not happen immediately after death : instead all people wait in their graves for the second coming of Christ where they will be judged and then sent to either heaven or hell