Theological Point of the Day

This morning I asked my history prof (class on Middle Ages religion, magic, and science, spiffy!), "What would theoretically happen if you bought an indulgence for someone who was already dead and condemned to hell?"

Answer, paraphrased: "Well then you've probably just wasted your money, seeing as you're not able to get out of hell like you're able to get out of purgatory. Of course they promoted optimism and didn't mention this a lot, lest people rethink their purchase - 'Nah, Uncle Bill was such a jerk, don't think that would do anything for him where he's gone.'"

Then someone else in the class mentioned a chapel that someone built as part of getting an indulgence for his father. Her question: "If his sins were so big they were worth a whole chapel, would building that chapel really be able to help?"

Theologians/historians/Catholics happening by, feel free to correct.