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Thanks for the elucidation. Classical Protestantism simply has too many holes in its logic, especially considering how the mindset is forced to make light of, or "answer away" the rather forceful statements in, for example, the books of James and Hebrews. So I can hardly call myself Protestant anymore. And of course it must be remembered that Luther was reacting, right or wrong, to what he saw as abuses. But that's another issue.
Also (I think this has already been said), Tolkien's version of purgatory is quite mild compared to such passages as can be found in Malachi, the gospels, and Revelation, where it is compared to purifying gold by means of heating, to threshing wheat, and to passing through fire.
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