[Mad Dawg]

Where did the idea of purgatory come from? It originated with Greek and pagan philosophy, in particular Plato, and was introduced into the church through Origen in the 3rd Century, who is considered a heretic by the Roman Catholic Church. In addition, the teaching of purgatory is contradictory to Scripture for it undermines its clear teaching of the sufficiency of Jesus Christ and is not taught in the Old and New Testaments.

Then it was not invented by a pope. I rest your case. :-)

Anyway: Nope. See Maccabees. Origen MAY have contributed to its formalization but the idea is far older than he.

And Origen was no Pope.

There's a good article in this month's "First Things". I don't think they put stuff on line until the next issue comes out,but keep an eye out for it.

BTW we consider that Tertullian was a heretic in later life, but that doesn't mean we do not read his Apology. Don't make more of heresy than there is to be made.

[Carl from Marietta]

OK Mad Dawg, (did you graduate from UGA as I did), I don’t know the Popes name, got me there. I’m sure within 15 minutes I could find out who it was.

The fact is, it was a latter construct of the RCC and for a purely for profit scheme. Not that there’s anything wrong with profit, but it looks a little non-Christian when your population is dying of starvation.