As Jesus is the cornerstone upon which the Church is built, so are his teachings the unifying cornerstone of Christian doctrine.

Post-mortem evangelism

The Catholic theory of purgatory and the Orthodox theory of post-mortem evangelism have similarities and differences. Purgatory teaches that the fires of hell will purge people’s sins and give them a chance to eventually enter eternal bliss with God. The Eastern Orthodox view is less gruesome but provides a similar chance for re-education and subsequent repentance after death. Such theories appeal to a sense of fairness towards people who had little or no chance to accept or reject Christ in this life. They are an attempt to answer the question, “Is God fair?” Though they seem to contradict the insurmountable gulf in Luke 16:19-31, post mortem evangelism theories rely on a sense of justice and grace seen in God. Some Protestants have similar theories which are based almost entirely on hope in God’s mercy and little other scriptural evidence.

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