So basically, do you believe that a person (or a soul) will either spend eternity suffering or spend eternity in bliss?
**So basically, do you believe that a person (or a soul) will either spend eternity suffering or spend eternity in bliss?**
I’m going to throw in my answer and Campion can answer later.
Eternity in heaven or eternity in hell? That is the question.
For Catholics (and perhaps for others), a period of suffering in purgatory (will) may be necessary, for no one who is impure in any way can NOT enter the kingdom of heaven. The suffering in Purgatory is a waiting time of purification. The people there know they are going to heaven and must first attone for some of the damages they did in their lives and to the lives of others.
Those who die in the state of mortal sin are choosing to live in an eternity of hell as this original post states.
Another thing that Catholics count as a great gift is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In confessing our sins, doing repentance and being absolved of the sin, we know that God forgives us and that HE also FORGETS those sins, because we are already doing the penance for them. It is truly a blessing and healing Sacrament.