Buy Your Way to Heaven
Authors Note: There is a question at the end... please bear with the necessary background info:
Long, Long ago (in days only a few of us have lived to remember), the Catholic Church used to sell a thing called a "plenary indulgence" - absolution from sin, and avoidance of nasty days in a mythical placed called Purgatory by paying certain amounts to the church, or performing certain acts.
Plenary indulgences were dumped in the 1960s by the Second Vatican Council, but Pope Benedict, in his infinite wisdom, has seen fit to resuscitate the long-dead practice.
According to an article in the New York Times this morning (Feb 10, 2009), sinners may once again buy their way out of punishment after death by making charitable contributions (to the church, of course), combined with other acts, but the offer is only good through the celebration of St. Paul (which ends in June of this year). Take note, though, that contributions to the church can be used retroactively, so if your late Uncle John or Grandma Jane left the planet with a few unresolved sins, your "donation" to the church will buy them out of Purgatory a day or two early...
But Beware! There is a limit of one plenary indulgence per sinner per day (so don't squander yours on something small or stupid).
read the full article here: Plenary Indulgence
NOW TO MY QUESTION:
We've had a lot of discussion here about Spiritual Laws and practices. What do you think about the Vatican reinstating the "get-out-of-Purgatory-free" card in exchange for donations?
How does this "fit" (or "misfit") your personal dogma?
Will you be putting pennies in the candle box anytime soon?
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If it were only that easy Linda.
You asked how it fits...
The good news for me is that I believe Heaven is all around us now. We don't have to wait for the afterlife to gain entrance.
If you would like to be a part of this heaven of which I speak please send money to, Just kidding.
Heaven is inside of you. Always has been, always will be. Stop looking to outside people, places or things to find it.
Good luck
I totally agree, Terry, and was actually amused by the article in the NYT, if tat wasn't obvious from my original post.
Thanks for responding -
Linda
I agree . Heaven is now and heaven is in all of us. Each glorious day that I wake up is a chance to correct anything in my life that I feel I may have done wrong or half-heartedly the day before, the month before, or the year before. I don't have to buy my way out of "sin" or mistakes, I simply have to know that heaven is now and now is the time to be the best person I can be. In the end if that doesn't count for something then I don't want to participate in that type of heaven anyway. I enjoy warm climates : )
What we "think" heaven is or is not is irrevelant. What matters is "truth" and the foundation of "truth".
Religion is "man's" idea of being "right" with God.
"Heaven" is completely addressd in the bible. In my opinion, the bible is the only valid source to get an understanding of "heaven". Therefore, based on what it says in the bible, nobody can buy their way out of sin and in to heaven.
I don't believe there is any major religion - outside of the Catholic Church - that has a practice like this - - so I can't help but wonder, "What Were They Thinking?"
There was a really interesting series on PBS recently about religion. They pointed out that the images of "hell" as a fiery pit came into existence through Dante's Divine Comedy and Inferno, written between 1308 and Dante's death in 1321. It was never a part of Judaic or early christian lore.