Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Purgatory
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Purgatory
Is Purgatory a religious place or a psychological concept?
Even in this so-called secular age, people with little or no religious belief often revert to religious terminology to describe their experience. After a difficult time, someone will say, "I've been to Hell and back." And after a time of testing or of waiting, they might say they've been through Purgatory.
The word Purgatory comes from the Latin word meaning to "Purge," and refers in Catholic teaching to a place or state between heaven and hell. It has no place in Protestant or Orthodox teaching. How did the idea develop? What was its purpose? Does it have any contemporary meaning?
Joining Ernie Rea to discuss the concept of Purgatory are Miri Rubin, Professor of Medieval and Early Modern History at Queen Mary University, London: Father Paul Keane, Vice Rector of Oscott Catholic Seminary in Birmingham: and the historian of religions, Martin Palmer.
Producer: Rosie Dawson.
View all episodes
By BBC Radio 4
4.4
9797 ratings
Is Purgatory a religious place or a psychological concept?
Even in this so-called secular age, people with little or no religious belief often revert to religious terminology to describe their experience. After a difficult time, someone will say, "I've been to Hell and back." And after a time of testing or of waiting, they might say they've been through Purgatory.
The word Purgatory comes from the Latin word meaning to "Purge," and refers in Catholic teaching to a place or state between heaven and hell. It has no place in Protestant or Orthodox teaching. How did the idea develop? What was its purpose? Does it have any contemporary meaning?
Joining Ernie Rea to discuss the concept of Purgatory are Miri Rubin, Professor of Medieval and Early Modern History at Queen Mary University, London: Father Paul Keane, Vice Rector of Oscott Catholic Seminary in Birmingham: and the historian of religions, Martin Palmer.
Producer: Rosie Dawson.
More shows like Beyond Belief
View all
Global News Podcast
7,588 Listeners
From Our Own Correspondent
376 Listeners
Newshour
1,049 Listeners
In Our Time
5,470 Listeners
In Our Time: History
1,880 Listeners
In Our Time: Culture
614 Listeners
In Our Time: Science
730 Listeners
Arts & Ideas
304 Listeners
6 Minute English
1,758 Listeners
Learning English Conversations
1,043 Listeners
Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
2,118 Listeners
Great Lives
480 Listeners
Profile
106 Listeners
Thinking Allowed
297 Listeners
Moral Maze
72 Listeners
The Audio Long Read
852 Listeners
Front Row
135 Listeners
Start the Week
159 Listeners
The Briefing Room
81 Listeners
You're Dead to Me
3,180 Listeners
Cyber Hack
1,632 Listeners
This Cultural Life
80 Listeners