Description: "Purgatory holds a precarious position in the afterlife beliefs of most Christians. Often viewed as a doctrine that is held only by Roman Catholics, purgatory has historically been maligned by its detractors as unbiblical, theologically problematic, and a product (and source) of superstition. Moreover, it would appear that belief in purgatory has declined in the faith-lives of Catholics as well, many of whom now seem keen to forget the fears and anxieties that its existence might have raised for them about the afterlife. In response to such criticisms and concerns, this book argues that purgatory can indeed be a constructive and hope-filled component of any Christian understanding of the afterlife. In examining the history of the doctrine, it seeks answers that explain purgatory's recent descent into obscurity. However, it also pursues present insights that can shed new light onto how purgatory might find renewed relevancy."--
Brief description: Matthew Hendzel, S.J., (PhD) has worked as a spiritual director at the Ignatius Jesuit Centre in Guelph, Ontario, and now serves as a secondary school campus minister in Montreal.
Review Quotes: "What happens in the afterlife? Is purgatory a place of punishment and purification after death, or can it be thought of as a place of soul-making where an individual progresses towards a perfect relationship with God and creation? This book takes you on a journey through history as it explores changing views of purgatory. It is a journey worth taking."
--Marion Ann Taylor, professor of Old Testament, Wycliffe College, University of Toronto
"Matthew Hendzel joins the ranks of the many systematic theologians who are taking the turn to Christian spiritual experience as a theological locum to be taken seriously. The result is a faithful, creative, fruitful, and engaging reinterpretation of the doctrine of purgatory. Well worth the read."
--Gilles Mongeau, S.J., associate professor of systematic theology, Regis College, University of Toronto