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I took Dave falling off the cliff (in 2x18) as showing that Hurley was finally freed of his mental illness - healed of his affliction in the same way that Locke was cured of his paralysis. In fact, the purging of Dave reminded me a great deal of the Biblical story of Christ driving out the demons from the mentally afflicted man, where they took up residence in the swine - who jumped off a cliff.
But look where Dave winds up - in the ocean. In a sense, the ocean has cleansed Hurley of Dave (water as an instrument of cleansing.)
* * * * * * * *
Purgatory in traditional Catholicism doesn't just mean an after-death situation. Purgatory is related to a bigger concept, the idea of the "treasury of merit." The *reason* Catholicism has a theology of purgatory is because of this idea that Christ has a "storehouse of merit" that everyone can draw from as a way to cleanse themselves not only from sin itself, but from the *consequence* of that sin in their lives.
This can happen either before or after death.
Here's a concrete example. Someone does something bad. They confess (as Charlie goes to confession) and are freed from the *consequence* of that sin by Christ's blood (i.e. by avoiding hell.) But the *punishment* for sin is still due. It's like stealing money - the person you stole it from may forgive you, but you still have to pay the money back. You may still have to do some jail time.
This removal of the *consequence* of sin doesn't happen just in the afterlife. In the Catholic tradition, living people make sacrifices - perform penances - give things up - give alms - do charitable work - all for the point of diminishing their own or others' time in Purgatory in the afterlife. The controversy over the Protestant reformation came about in part because people were buying indulgences - essentially "dispensations" from the Church that cut off years "owed" in Purgatory.
Offering up one's suffering (like the pain of being sick, the humiliation and pain of being a mental patient or seriously overweight) is also a purgatorial act that happens in this life.
One other point about the Catholic tradition of purgatory is that *those souls in purgatory cannot help themselves.* They are totally dependent on the prayers and vicarious acts of generosity of *the living.* The Losties by contrast are taking actions to either move towards purgation or away from it, depending on their personality and circumstances.
The Losties are being given some critical chances to purge their lives in a purgatorial sense - to gain access to the storehouse of merit - but NOT in the sense of an afterlife.
But look where Dave winds up - in the ocean. In a sense, the ocean has cleansed Hurley of Dave (water as an instrument of cleansing.)
* * * * * * * *
Purgatory in traditional Catholicism doesn't just mean an after-death situation. Purgatory is related to a bigger concept, the idea of the "treasury of merit." The *reason* Catholicism has a theology of purgatory is because of this idea that Christ has a "storehouse of merit" that everyone can draw from as a way to cleanse themselves not only from sin itself, but from the *consequence* of that sin in their lives.
This can happen either before or after death.
Here's a concrete example. Someone does something bad. They confess (as Charlie goes to confession) and are freed from the *consequence* of that sin by Christ's blood (i.e. by avoiding hell.) But the *punishment* for sin is still due. It's like stealing money - the person you stole it from may forgive you, but you still have to pay the money back. You may still have to do some jail time.
This removal of the *consequence* of sin doesn't happen just in the afterlife. In the Catholic tradition, living people make sacrifices - perform penances - give things up - give alms - do charitable work - all for the point of diminishing their own or others' time in Purgatory in the afterlife. The controversy over the Protestant reformation came about in part because people were buying indulgences - essentially "dispensations" from the Church that cut off years "owed" in Purgatory.
Offering up one's suffering (like the pain of being sick, the humiliation and pain of being a mental patient or seriously overweight) is also a purgatorial act that happens in this life.
One other point about the Catholic tradition of purgatory is that *those souls in purgatory cannot help themselves.* They are totally dependent on the prayers and vicarious acts of generosity of *the living.* The Losties by contrast are taking actions to either move towards purgation or away from it, depending on their personality and circumstances.
The Losties are being given some critical chances to purge their lives in a purgatorial sense - to gain access to the storehouse of merit - but NOT in the sense of an afterlife.
