HKB
5 passages · search this phrase →
Often appears with: equity, mercy, and pardon · money, coin, and credit · crime and punishment · war crimes without restitution · the problem of evil and theodicy · tariff of sins · sin, guilt, and repentance · sacrifice and ritual · religious persecution and toleration · religious hypocrisy · relics · purgatory
Usually: argument (4) · censure (4) · indignation (4) · crisis of belief (2) · skepticism (2) · speech or oration (1) · injustice endured (1)
“But all this, too, was of no avail. For although the Pope taught men to depend upon, and trust in, these indulgences for salvation, yet he rendered the whole matter again uncertain.” Martin Luther, The Smalcald Articles · insight
“The invocation of saints is also one of the abuses of Antichrist conflicting with the chief article, and destroys the knowledge of Christ.” Martin Luther, The Smalcald Articles · insight
“At length, since the world has permitted itself to recover a little the exercise of reason, indulgences become more and more discredited, till they altogether disappear.” Jean Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion (Vol. 1 of 2) · observation
“What is quite certain is that these imposts were never authorized by any council; that it was an enormous abuse invented by avarice” Voltaire, Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary · insight
He continues listing Mass-related abuses—pilgrimages, fraternities that sell masses, relics used for indulgence, and monetary indulgences—insisting all conflict with redemption through Christ alone.
live accordingly; and the Pope confirmed these things, as also the Mass and all other abominations. Here, too, there is no [cannot and must not be any] yielding or surrendering. Thirdly. [Hence arose] the pilgrimages. Here, too, masses, the remission of sins and the grace of God were sought, for the Mass controlled everything. Now it is indeed certain that such pilgrimages, without the Word of God, have not been com…
He denounces satisfaction and purgatory-based penances as endless and uncertain, then criticizes indulgences and the “golden jubilee year” from Rome that monetize remission of punishment and guilt.
small satisfaction, which could indeed be rendered, as five Paternosters, a day's fast, etc.; for the rest [that was lacking] of the [in their] repentance they were directed to purgatory. Here, too, there was nothing but anguish and [extreme] misery. [For] some thought that they would never get out of purgatory, because, according to the old canons seven years' repentance is required for a single mortal sin. Neverth…
Calvin describes how indulgences grew from satisfaction doctrine, claims they treat merit as a dispensable treasury controlled by the Pope, and depicts the system as monetized and morally corrupt, then declining as skepticism spreads.
Satisfactions. This doctrine of *satisfaction* has given rise to *indulgences*. For by indulgences they pretend, that the deficiency of our abilities to make satisfaction is supplied, and even proceed to the extravagance of defining them to be the dispensation of the merits of Christ and of the martyrs, which the Pope distributes in his bulls. Now, though such persons are fitter subjects for a mad‐house than for arg…
Voltaire attacks medieval and Catholic tariff systems for sins, describing compounding with money and indulgence pricing, arguing that abuses arose from avarice and were not authorized by councils.
two Egyptian words--"*Koth*, *ompheth*, watch, be pure"; which is a proof at once that the mysteries came originally from Egypt, and that they were invented only to make men better. The sages in all times did what they could, therefore, to inspire virtue, and not to reduce human frailty to despair; but also there are crimes so horrible that no mystery accorded expiation for them. Nero, for all that he was emperor, c…
The soldier argues that no restitution is owed for war crimes, claims “no sacred” exists in hostility, and describes seeking absolution through indulgences and pardons rather than repentance.
*Ha.* Like to like. And when that's over, you'll go strait away to the Communion, like a good Christian, will you not? *Thr.* Why should I not? For after I have once discharg'd the Jakes of my Sins into his Cowl, and unburden'd myself of my Luggage, let him look to it that absolv'd me. *Ha.* But how can you be sure that he does absolve you? *Thr.* I know that well enough. *Ha.* How do you know it? *Thr.* Because…