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Aerial Toll-Houses

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{{cleanup|Needs a more balanced approach (much of the text assumes that this theory is universally held). Also needs a lot of style work.}} The theory of '''Aerial Toll-Houses''' regards the soul's journey after its departure from the body. It is a fringe teaching, not accepted by the mainstream [[theologian]]s and [[jurisdiction]]s.
Dn. Andrew Werbiansky summarizes the theory (described in Fr. [[Seraphim Rose]]'s book ''The Soul After Death'') as follows: "following a person's death the soul leaves the body and is escorted to God by [[angel]]s. During this journey the soul passes through an aerial realm which is ruled by demons. The soul encounters these demons at various points referred to as "toll-houses" where the demons then attempt to accuse it of sin and, if possible, drag the soul into hell."<ref>[http://www.stlukeorthodox.com/html/evangelist/2000/deathtoll.htm Death and the Toll House Contraversy] by Deacon Andrew Werbiansky</ref>
It is a According to teaching that owes much of its recent popularity to the teachings of Fr. Seraphim RoseChurch, every person has demons that attack him, and "shoot their arrows at them", a controversial figure in the modern as ChurchFathers say, that "arrows" being thoughts that suggest commiting sins. It is a belief These demons write down every sin that preys upon the simple-minded they persuaded people to do, and emphasizes guilt even thoughts that people accepted and punishment as complied with, but did not, for what ever reason, actually actualize them. When a person repents for a way to keep sin, and confesses it in the faithful "in line." The idea Holy Mystery (/Sacrament) of toll-houses ignore the ineffable loveConfession <ref>if there is an opportunity for that, compassion and forgiveness of the our Lord andif not, in spiritconfession without a priest is sufficient, has much as in common with other fundamentalist sects the case of religions around the worldGood Thief</ref>, it is by God's Grace and Power erased from the demon's papers.
According to this teachingWhen the soul dies, every person has demons on the third day it is carried by angels towards Heaven. On that attack himway, and "shoot their arrows at them"they must go past 20 aerial toll-houses, as Church Fathers say, that "arrows" being thoughts that suggest commiting sins. These which are huge groups of demons write down every sin that they persuaded people arranged according to do, and even thoughts that people accepted and complied with, but did not, for what ever reason, actually actualize themspecific kinds of sins. When a person repents for soul accompanied by angels gets to a sintoll-house, demons that tempted that soul during her life approach and confesses accuse it in the Holy Mystery (/Sacrament) for sins. The sins that are written on papers of [[Confession]] <ref>if there is an opportunity demons have to be "payed for that" by persons good deeds in life, such as prayer, if notfasting, confession without a priest is sufficientasceticism, as in the case doing works of the Good Thief</ref>mercy, it is by God's Grace and Power erased from the demon's papersetc.
When the soul diesAccording to Hagiografies, on and the third day it is carried by angels towards Heaven. On accounts of saints that way, they must go past 20 have passed the aerial toll-houses, which are huge groups of demons arranged according and talked about it in their appearances to specific kinds various holy man, the demon often accuse the soul of sins. When a soul accompanied by angels gets to a toll-house, demons that they tempted that soul during her life approach and accuse with, but it for sins. The didn't comply with, of sins that are written on papers of demons have to be "payed she repented for" by persons good deeds , and in lifethat cases one of the angels, such as prayerthe one which was the persons guardian angel, fastingspeaks for the person, asceticismsaying that those are lies, doing works of mercyand that payment is not necessary, etctaking the soul to the next toll-house.
Many believe If a persons has sins that this teaching is one that hearkens back it didn't repent for, and does not have enough good deeds to ancientpay them off, pagan Greek religion the demons of that toll-- when figures like Charon had to be paid house grab him, and take him to ferry souls across the River Styxhell.
* On the first aerial toll-house, the soul is questioned about the sins of the tongue, such as- empty words, dirty talk, insulting people, ridicule, singing worldly songs, too much or loud laughter, and similar sins
* The second is the toll-house of lies- besides plain lying also- braking oaths, braking vows given to God, taking God's name in vain, hiding sins during confession, and similar
* The third is the toll-house of slander- judging, humiliating, embarassing, mocking and laughing at people, and similar
* The fourth is the toll-house of gluttony- overeating, drunkenness, eating between meals, eating without prayer, not holding fasts, choosing tasty over plain food, eating when not hungry, and similar
* The fifth is the toll-house of laziness- where the soul is questioned about every day and hour spent in laziness, neglect of serving God, of prayer, and missing Church services, and also not earning money by honest and hard word, not working as much as you are paid, and all similar sins
* The sixth toll-house is the toll-house of theft- stealing, robbery, whether small, big, light, violent, public, hidden
* The seventh is the toll-house of covetousness- love of riches and goods, not giving to charity, and similar
* The eight is the toll-house of usury, and also loan-sharking, overpricing, and similar
* The ninth is the toll-house of injustice- being unjust, especially in judicial affairs, accepting or giving bribes, dishonest trading and business, using false measures, and similar
* The tenth is the toll-house of envy
* The eleventh is the toll-house of pride- vanity, self-will, boasting, not honoring parents and civil authorities, insubordination, disobedience, and similar
* The twelve is the toll-house of anger and rage
* The thirteenth is the toll-house of remembering evil- hatred, holding a grudge, and revenge
* The fourteenth is the toll-house of murder- not just plain murder, but also wounding, maiming, hitting, pushing- generally injuring people
* The fifteenth is the toll-house of magic- divination, conjuring demons, making poison, all superstitions, and similar
* The sixteenth is the toll-house of lust- fornication, unclean thoughts, lustful looks, unchaste touches
* The seventeenth is the toll-house of adultery
* The eighteenth is the toll-house of sodomy- bestiality, homosexuality, incest, masturbation, and all other unnatural sins
* The nineteenth is the toll-house of heresy- rejecting any part of Orthodox faith, wrongly interpreting it, apostasy, blasphemy, and all similar sins
* The last, twentieth toll-house is the toll-house of unmercyfulness, failing to show mercy and charity to people, and being cruel in any way
==A Fringe BeliefControversy==Toll-houses are a fringe, fundamentalist belief There is controversy regarding the validity of this theory within the Orthodox Church. Most mainstream church leadersSome, including [[Archbishop]] [[Lazar (Puhalo) of Ottawa]], consider this teaching controversial, even false (describing it as gnostic or of pagan origin). Proponents argue that the main source for it are the Hagiographies (Life of saint Anthony the Great, written by saint Athanasius the Great, life of saint Basil the New, saint Theodora, etc), Liturgical books of the Church, the Ladder of Divine Ascent, the Philokalia, Dogmatics of the Orthodox Church (by saint Justin of Celie), secondly, that not a single Church Father ever wrote even one sentence expressing doubt about this teaching (which is present in the Church sense at least fourth century), and thirdly, that the biggest modern authorities of the Orthodox Church like saint Ignatius Brianchaninov<ref>A Word on Death, chapter "Aerial toll-houses"</ref> and saint Theophan the Recluse<ref>What is spiritual life, and how to obtain it, chapter "Perfect preparation for the Mystery of Repentance"</ref> insisted not only on the truthfulness, but on the necessity of this teaching in the spiritual life of a Christian.
==Reference==
Frjohnwhiteford
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