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.