Limbo mumbo jumbo

How exactly does the Church get away with junking limbo? By saying nothing new.

Limbo was not a doctrine, just the best idea people had. We still have no clearer idea, but have loosened the boundaries for disscussion.

link

In a long-awaited document, the Church's International Theological Commission said limbo reflected an "unduly restrictive view of salvation."

Yes it was, maybe.. we can only hope.

"The conclusion of this study is that there are theological and liturgical reasons to hope that infants who die without baptism may be saved and brought into eternal happiness even if there is not an explicit teaching on this question found in revelation," it said.

In writings before his election as Pope in 2005, the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger made it clear he believed the concept of limbo should be abandoned because it was "only a theological hypothesis" and "never a defined truth of faith."

Let me share with you some private thoughts I have had on the subject for some time now. Just private thoughts. not beliefs.

Second Chance:

It could be that God is not mocked. That all the abortion little souls get a 2nd chance, or any number of chances at a longer lived life. In fact, that idea could extend to all children's deaths.

How?

By reintroducing the little one's soul into another conception. I know the Church teaches that the soul is created at conception. This creation happened the 1st time. And for God's good Justice, a slight tweak on that teaching for abortion, and tragic young deaths, and that soul could finally find circumstances where a full life could be lived.

I have to wonder at all the spontaneous abortions the body naturally performs when the early child is not forming well enough to sustain life. Where do all these souls go?

Or...

Purgatory:

You know, this could be Purgatory.. another poorly understood concept. I for one have a deep feeling that I did not start at zero as a child, but carried something from before. Either the sins of the ancestors or, perhaps a previous not-so-good life.

Just a deep feeling, but imagine the communion of saints implication. To me, people seem a lot easier to love when I realize that we are all on our journey to heaven. More compassion comes if I think we may be on our 2nd or 3rd try. And it does tend to explain why 2,000 years have passed and we are still waiting for Christ's coming.

Those not judged unto hell given a chance to try again still under the jeopardy of heaven or hell. Very merciful of God don't you think?

Or...

Fallen Angels:

Maybe we're them given another chance at salvation. No wonder the Devil hates us so. It would sure explain his interest in our demise starting with Adam.

Without understanding the Devil and his role, not much of what goes on makes sense at all. Yet, it is still hard to find the reason for the Devils's work ethic. What drives him against us so?

If as long as we are alive we are in jeopardy of salvation, and we used to be wholly his, and there is still a chance to keep us, it makes some sense.

And..

Fairness:

Isn't there a feeling of most of us for the mystery of an all loving God allowing tragedy and suffering? What if just before conception, God were to lay the circumstances of our future life before us and ask us "Do you accept?"?

Since to be here now, under whatever "unfair" circumstances we find ourselves, is the result of our having said "I accept", all issues of unfairness disappear. We said OK, and so here we are.

Disclaimer:

I know these are ideas in the rough, and may be complete trash. But I ponder them, and find consolation.

Protestants:

Heh, they have no issues at all. Jesus did all the work, and their salvation is assured. Such a plain and uninteresting drama. Doesn't ring right I think. Quite a soothing balm, but in no way does it satisfy the deepest resonance to Truth. But hey, they said "I accept" too.