Which Christian denominations believe in praying for the dead?
Then I had to ask myself what other religions believe in purgatory. I went ask.com and found that Roman Catholics and Angelicans believe that prayers for the dead are helpful. For this reason, requiem Masses are offered for the repose of what they call the faithful departed. Eastern Orthadoxy rejects the notion of Purgatory, but offers prayers for the dead asking God to have mercy upon them; in particular, that tradition believes that Christians who have died remain part of the Church, and as such are both able to pray and to receive the benefits of prayer for them, whatever those may be. Protestants have historically rejected the notion of prayer for the dead, believing that such prayers are unbiblical and cannot affect the fate of departed souls. Lutherans do not believe prayers should be prayed for or to the departed, and that God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is only to be prayed to.
