The Catholic Book Club discussion

6. What is the meaning of the story The Purging? Did you enjoy the story? Why or why not?

The meaning of this story is rather clear from its title.

It was difficult for me to notice, at first, that there were two main characters, not just one with two names. The problem is, I think, the layout of the digital edition. The different sections of the story are separated by a long line spacing. If one is reading the book in an electronic book reader, the line spacing is sometimes lost. Everything seems to be continuous. My advise (for subsequent editions) is to separate the sections of the story by a centered line with three stars, just like this:
* * *

Manuel wrote: "The meaning of this story is rather clear from its title.

It was difficult for me to notice, at first, that there were two main characters, not just one with two names. The problem is, I think, th..."

Even with the spacing, I thought for the first few segments that it was perhaps the same person being pulled back and forth.

Was the meaning clear? What do you think?

CBC wrote: "Was the meaning clear? What do you think?"

(view spoiler)[As the title implies, the cliffs are Purgatory. The King of the country is God. The cliffs become hell, if a person decides to remain there forever.

However, I can't see why people in Heaven would be naked. When the Virgin Mary appeared before Bernadette Soubirous or the children in Fatima, she was always clothed.
(hide spoiler)]

Manuel wrote: (view spoiler)[As the title implies, the cliffs are Purgatory. The King of the country is God. The cliffs become hell, if a person decides to remain there f..." (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[That is what I was thinking as well, until Martin was given the task to go find Jack and drag him out by force if necessary. I don't understand the theology behind that, and my understanding of Purgatory is that the people who go there have already chosen God, and have only to work out their remaining impurities. (hide spoiler)]

John wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I think the situation is somewhat similar to what happens in The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis, where people are given the option to go back to hell or go on to Heaven.

But you are right, "dragging them by force" is not the way to bring people to Heaven. The decision should be free and individual. God never forces people. He even asked Mary's permission to be born on Earth. (hide spoiler)]

I think the interpretation is different. (view spoiler)[Jack is not "dragged by force" to Heaven, but to God's judgment. Everybody must pass through God's judgment. Those who reject God to the end, are consumed to cinders by God's love and what is left is "a small grey shadow that goes flitting in the direction of the dark cliffs," which for them are hell. Those who accept God are cleansed by God's love in their judgment.

With this interpretation, Purgatory for Martin would start at the beginning of the story, up to God's judgment, that is, up to the ending of the story. (hide spoiler)]

Manuel wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Fair point on judgment vs Heaven. But I don't think it changes the bottom line critique: Our acceptance/rejection of God happens in this life. Two alternative thoughts:

1) A la Lewis's The Great Divorce, this is not purgatory, but a second chance in God's mercy. In this the cliffs are hell and Martin and Jack have already rejected God in this life, but have a final opportunity to repent by heeding the call to the way station, but you can't avoid the final judgment.

2) The cliffs are an allegory of the unavoidable suffering in this life, the way station is the Church and Martin's task is a reflection of following Christ's command in Matt 28:19, though the use of force and violence gives me pause. (hide spoiler)]

In any case, I am thoroughly enjoying this conversation.

(view spoiler)[John wrote: "A la Lewis's The Great Divorce, this is not purgatory, but a second chance in God's mercy."

I know that Lewis said that The Great Divorce was based on the Medieval idea of the Refrigerium. But I interpret what happens there to mean that, for those who decide to get back to hell, hell would be hell, but for those who decide to remain and follow their mentors, hell had actually been Purgatorium.

This is the reason I said that the cliffs are Purgatory for Martin and hell for Jack.
(hide spoiler)]

Of course, this is a fictional story, and not everything has to be theologically perfect.

John wrote: "Manuel wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

Fair point on judgment vs Heaven. But I don't think it changes the bottom line critique: Our acceptance/rejection of God happens in this life. Two alternative th..."

CBC wrote: "Manuel wrote: "The meaning of this story is rather clear from its title.

It was difficult for me to notice, at first, that there were two main characters, not just one with two names. The problem ..."

CBC wrote: "Manuel wrote: "The meaning of this story is rather clear from its title.

It was difficult for me to notice, at first, that there were two main characters, not just one with two names. The problem ..."

I sure like to hope and pray that even those who reject God in this life have a final chance to see Him as He really is and make an informed decision.
Mary being clothed for apparitions says nothing about how she is in heaven.
I thought Martin had chosen Christ during his earthly life but needed to pass through Purgatory. I find it fascinating that both characters continue to experience ambivalence, pulls in both directions, until their final choice is made.
I was disappointed that the "voice" switched exclusively to Martin after a while so we only get his observations and speculations about what Jack is feeling/thinking/experiencing.
It's fascinating that two characters can experience the same realities entirely differently depending on their basic orientation (Is the water inviting or terrifying?) C.S. Lewis also illustrates that in The Last Battle.

Martin keeps an active hope for his companion, a complete stranger, hoping that his companion was merely lost, and then hoping with each new joyful experience that his companion will find peace in it, and finally hoping that the sight of the king will free him. It reminds me of how much we can be there for each other in this life and the next to get each other to Heaven.

Does everyone have an “Uncle Leon” companion in the afterlife?

What was the strange language that the people spoke?

If this story was on its own I would have given it a one or two star. I didn't like it in the beginning and because I liked the first two stories so much I had hopes it would improve. It just got more confusing and harder for me to get through. After a couple pages I got what it was about but I think maybe the author and I have different views of what purgatory and heaven may look like.