In the 16th century, Martin Luther and John Calvin rejected Purgatory as an "unbiblical invention" used to exploit the poor through the sale of indulgences.
Are you curious about in other religions (like Judaism's Gehenna or Islam's Barzakh )? The Birth of Purgatory
Before it was a "place," purgation was often described as a state of existence or a series of "toll houses" (in Eastern traditions) where the soul was tested. 🌍 The "Birth" of a Third Place (1150–1200 AD) In the 16th century, Martin Luther and John
Today, the Catholic Church emphasizes Purgatory as a condition of existence rather than a "concentration camp" of fire, focusing on the soul's "willing purification" through God's love. If you'd like to explore this further, let me know: 🌍 The "Birth" of a Third Place (1150–1200
The concept eventually reached the highest levels of Church authority, though it remained a point of major conflict.
Early thinkers like St. Augustine (5th century) distinguished between eternal fire and a "purifying fire" for those with minor sins. Pope Gregory the Great (6th century) further linked this fire to the forgiveness of "lesser faults" after death.
A cave in Ireland became a major pilgrimage site, with legends claiming it was a direct physical entrance to the purgatorial realm.