Herkman, This is about as simple as I can explain it.Our belief(Catholic) is when a person dies one cannot enter the kingdom or heaven with a spot of sin on ones soul(God said that),so therefore one has to have his soul purged of any sin not mortal(that’s a direct path to hell). Purgetory is not a PLACE but seperation from God’s love and one would stay there for various links of time(according to your sins). I gather your not Catholic and do not beleive in are beliefs(which is ok) but that’s the way it is.

[quote:382kzgmx]It is a real place whether you believe it or not.[/quote:382kzgmx]
Place or state of being? IIRC even the Catechism describes heaven and hell as states of being of complete unification with or the complete abesence of God respectively.

Well, on earth we have physical bodies that reside somewhere but souls aren’t physical, tangible objects.

Hell is the state where the soul is completely devoid of God and heaven is the complete unification with God. Earth is somewhere in between. That’s the best I can explain it.

Theosis is a heavy topic but if you want to learn more, this article[/url:2ea8j0yt] is by my friend Catholic-Cadet and it was my introduction.

Purgatory is a place where souls become perfected. Since God is perfect, souls should be in a clean state before being physically with God. Luckily, unlike Hell, purgatory is not eternal. The length of time spent in purgatory is individualized, but we will be with God when we’re finished.

Purgatory may be as long as centuries in the case of the more guilty souls, or of those who, being excluded from the Catholic communion, are deprived of the suffrages of the Church, although by the divine mercy they have escaped Hell. If you read about Mary in Fatima, she was asked if an 18 year old girl was in Heaven – Mary said she would be in purgatory until the end of time.

When we’re alive, we can change our fate. By prayers, especially the Rosary, being good, receiving the Eucharist, and helping others we can probably reduce our time in purgatory. It all comes down to how pure our soul is.

At the end of the world, purgatory also ends. God will reconcile His justice in the purification of the last members of humankind. Then God will make His final judgement of Heaven or Hell. This judgement will be permanent.