Purgatory

Based on the "95 Theses" by Martin Luther, I think it is an accurate assessment to say that in the 16th century purgatory held a negative connotation. If it was positive, people would be content having their souls in purgatory versus the pains of hell. No one would have had the desire to buy indulgences if they hadn't truly thought purgatory was a terrible place to be "stuck".

The two theses that clearly state purgatory as being a negative place are as follows:
16. Hell, purgatory, and heaven seem to differ as do despair, almost-despair, and the assurance of safety.
17. With souls in purgatory it seems necessary that horror should grow less and love increase. [but since he wanted to argue this point, it means that horror grows greater and love decreases]

In the "95 Theses" there are other numerous statements that mention the "penalty of purgatory." In the translation I read, 13 of the 95 theses mention purgatory directly. Considering that Martin Luther started a revolution that would forever change the religious world and define future generations, it is obvious that many people agreed with his ideas. They thought that how the church treated purgatory was unjust. Being utterly consumed and concerned with the afterlife, put the living in a purgatory themselves; never living life to the fullest for fear of the church.

Could the connotation of purgatory really change that much over the past 5 centuries? I think not. I think it is against human nature to want to be stuck anywhere. It is certainly a punishment, because if one hadn't done something wrong they wouldn't be there in the first place, and that IS the irony of indulgences. Trying to pray or buy souls out of purgatory is against purgatory itself, and isn't that the case for Luther's entire Reformation?