Tetzel's Sermon on Indulgences
Scroll down until you see the text of Tetzel's sermon. I think this is a powerful document commenting on the role of religion at the time. Comment on it, and then take a look at Luther's 95 Theses.
Due: MIDNIGHT, Tuesday, Sept. 5
Due: MIDNIGHT, Tuesday, Sept. 5
posted by RJS at
7:06 AM
7 Comments:
Though Tetzel claims to have some sort of religious authority, to me, he seems much more like a door to door salesman than a preacher. He's using classic 'buy from me' language, such as look how cheap it is, look how much better your lives will be once you pay up, etc. He also essentially guilt trips people into buying indulgences. Nevermind the fact that people are buying indulgences on the principle that it will alter their own or another's soul. He even has his own salesman-esque jingle, 'everytime a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory does spring' or something that that effect.
By
laura, at Tuesday, September 05, 2006 4:22:00 PM
That's hardly fair, why does Tetzel get his name remembered by history for doing the easiest job in the world? Nobody can really tell him he's wrong as of yet, because everyone who can speak Latin has no problem with what he's doing, (for a little while). It's not like you have to really work to come up with this stuff, fear is the human condition, so fear of a horrible afterlife can evoke lots of emotion. All you have to do is bring up what a sinner everyone is, (for everyone has sinned, and they'll feel guilty for whatever the worst occurence was, no matter how bad it was relative to others) and they'll pay anything. All you have to do is watch out that you don't name specific sins or else you'll let some of the less sinful feel safe again. Of course, it's a horrible thing, I wouldn't support such a thing, but I'm still jealous of a guy who can be remembered for such an easy job (only the job of a modern king is much easier).
By
Unknown, at Tuesday, September 05, 2006 7:08:00 PM
Ooh, that was powerful! He almost got me to believe him, actually. The imagery he uses ("all man knows is hanging by a thread", etc.) is interestingly similar to Jonathan Edwards' "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" sermon, and he was an American Puritan trying to gain converts. Perhaps similar motives? I wonder if he believed any of it himself. Anyway, I agree with Laura about the "lengthy sales pitch" format of the sermon, but it is appropriate when you realize that at the time the church was sort of a buisness.
By
Victoria, at Tuesday, September 05, 2006 7:30:00 PM
One of the first comments that ran through my head after reading this was "I can't believe people actually bought that cock-and-bull woe-is-my-parents lecture." Oddly enough, Tetzel's sermon reminds me of a sermon I read last year in english by a puritan in early New England preaching on the lack of puirty and morality of the people. I have to agree with Nate that it isn't fair that Tetzel gets his name down in the text books for pushing confused, easily pursuaded conformists to feel guilty for their lack of moral fiber. And in any case, if anyone valued themselves and religion at all, they wouldn't strut about condeming their fellow brethren for their shamelessness, offer then to them a way to cleanse their conscience and buy a way into heaven, then use the money for their own whims, or the whims of others close to them. It's a hypocrit if I've ever heard of one.
By
TeganLove, at Tuesday, September 05, 2006 8:32:00 PM
I have frequently read books by the Christian author C. S. Lewis. In one of his more famous works, The Screwtape Letters (for some reason that won't underline)he speaks from the viewpoint of a devil offering advice on tempting humans. Let me give you a quote from Letter 25.
" What we want, if men become Christians at all, is to keep them in the state of mind I call "Christianity And." You know-Christianity and the Crisis, Christianity and the New Psychology, Christianity and the New Order, Christianity and Faith Healing, Christianity and Physical Research, Christianity and Vegetarianism, Christianity and Spelling Reform. If they must be Christians let them at least be Christians with a difference. Substitute for the faith itself some Fashion with a Christain coloring."
In the case of Tetzel, this Fashion is the generation of revenue. Tetzel has become focused on Christianity only as much as it can provide ammunition for his sale of indulgences- instead of vice versa. He has done more than mistaken the means for the end, he has set up the means as the only worthy part of the end. He disguises his total lack of Christian (and indeed Catholic) morals in a haze of clever metaphors and biblical references. I go into Luther's 95 Theses with sympathy for his attack on indulgences- though not for any attacks on church structure or practices that I may find.
By
ThomasBatson, at Tuesday, September 05, 2006 8:56:00 PM
It seems to me that Tetzel is coning people into giving money to the church. Oh yeah, that is what he's doing. He is playing off people's natural fear of the unknown (i.e. death, purgatory) inorder to get them to pay their way out of things they don't know about. By throwing in family members, his job becomes that much easier. Obviously you would want to help your family or friends so you give money to the man with the pretty words.
By
manxomefoe, at Tuesday, September 05, 2006 9:04:00 PM
i disagree with what Tetzel is trying to do. It seems as though he is covering up his real idea of selling indulgences by preaching (that's an understatement) to the people that they should convert to Christianity. Tetzel practically demands everyone to convert and "run for salvation". I agree with Victoria about how this sermon is similar to the "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" sermon. Tetzel almost scares his audience into converting to Christianity. He basically says the fate of mankind depends on whether people convert or not. I also agree with Laura on the fact that Tetzel seems more of salesman than a preacher. He tries to convince everyone to buy indulgences rather than preaching about the Protestant religion.
By
taylor, at Wednesday, September 06, 2006 8:21:00 PM
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