Ninety-five Theses

[Sirius]

In the Theses, Luther claimed that the repentance required by Christ in order for sins to be forgiven involves inner spiritual repentance rather than merely external sacramental confession. He argued that indulgences led Christians to avoid true repentance and sorrow for sin, believing that they could forgo it by obtaining an indulgence. These indulgences, according to Luther, discouraged Christians from giving to the poor and performing other acts of mercy, which he attributed to a belief that indulgence certificates were more spiritually valuable. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninety-five_Theses

Having a really hard time working through this. Trying to find the source of the corruption that lead to many massacres and that continues in current times.

I wonder what Martin Luther would have written if he lived today and who he would send his letters to.

[Sirius]

Who
Who brought the horde to the land afar?

What am I supposed to do
If I want to talk about peace and understanding

But you only understand the language of the sword
What if I want to make you understand that the path you chose leads to downfall

But you only understand the language of the sword
What if I want to tell you to leave me and my beloved ones in peace

But you only understand the language of the sword
I let the blade do the talking

So my tongue shall become iron
And my words the mighty roar of war

[Maxmars]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninety-five_Theses

Having a really hard time working through this. Trying to find the source of the corruption that lead to many massacres and that continues in current times.

I wonder what Martin Luther would have written if he lived today and who he would send his letters to.

I'm no scholar, but when it comes to repentance, the lesson may be one thing and the imagery another.

To attribute such a purpose to the policy to which he objected required a narrative.  His narrative.

The fact that he found just cause and true reasons to object, I would have thought, should inspire an effort to 
remedy the church (as a supposition).  In his case, it did not.

I do not criticize, to live in such times, under such conditions both social and spiritual
- I can't imagine... so I don't judge.

As for the medicine of human self-acknowledgment, the resurgence of lost harmony, the "act,"
be it what it is, of owning your mistake in closure...
or that other word...
repentance...

it seems healthy... vital... necessary... and sacredly human.

[Sirius]

I'm no scholar, but when it comes to repentance, the lesson may be one thing and the imagery another.

To attribute such a purpose to the policy to which he objected required a narrative.  His narrative.

The fact that he found just cause and true reasons to object, I would have thought, should inspire an effort to 
remedy the church (as a supposition).  In his case, it did not.

I do not criticize, to live in such times, under such conditions both social and spiritual
- I can't imagine... so I don't judge.

As for the medicine of human self-acknowledgment, the resurgence of lost harmony, the "act,"
be it what it is, of owning your mistake in closure...
or that other word...
repentance...

it seems healthy... vital... necessary... and sacredly human.

I was researching a couple of hundred years of history here on mushrooms before the fairies came to fetch me. Had to post something.

[Sirius]

The torment, the rape, all makes more sense in the context.  I had vision from it. This is all part of shamanistic journey, contacting ancestors, speaking with the gods an so on...

A small bridge crossing a river, getting bathed in light, following the light over the river and down the path.  Met the chimera, it was really big, like a small mountain.  Morphed into Baphomet as I said and then I'm suddenly in the palace standing in front of the dragon.  I'm saying dragon because I don't have any other words for it. It was very very alien, long neck, snake like, dragon like.  It had a body. Typhon maybe? 

The small, bridge over water would be crossing the Mediterranean. I'll leave the rest to interpretation.

What i'm struggling with is the reactions from people in the 1500's, the mass deaths and persecution of people. Witch hunts, religious wars, sightings in the sky.  None if it seems rational and there was widespread insanity.

[covent]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninety-five_Theses

Having a really hard time working through this. Trying to find the source of the corruption that lead to many massacres and that continues in current times.

I wonder what Martin Luther would have written if he lived today and who he would send his letters to.

I think the source of the corruption and the inner struggle Luther refers to are the same and is not external to the life of the individual but exists, as a living or dead thing, in our, for want of a better word, hearts.

The massacres, wars, murders, rapes, destruction of the innocent, all spring from the ego fed well of darkness that exists in every flawed heart. It is this same darkness that convinces us away from true repentance. It is the quiet insidious voice that rages how we need not feel guilty or responsible for our own actions, that we mustn't blame ourselves, we need only love our own families, give money to charity and everything will be ok.

Interesting question about who Luther would write to if he lived today. Who, if anyone, would he consider having true moral authority? Looking around the world as it is, nobody fits that bill.

[Sirius]

I think the source of the corruption and the inner struggle Luther refers to are the same and is not external to the life of the individual but exists, as a living or dead thing, in our, for want of a better word, hearts.

The massacres, wars, murders, rapes, destruction of the innocent, all spring from the ego fed well of darkness that exists in every flawed heart. It is this same darkness that convinces us away from true repentance. It is the quiet insidious voice that rages how we need not feel guilty or responsible for our own actions, that we mustn't blame ourselves, we need only love our own families, give money to charity and everything will be ok.

Interesting question about who Luther would write to if he lived today. Who, if anyone, would he consider having true moral authority? Looking around the world as it is, nobody fits that bill.

Thank you for the kind words. I must disagree on the source of corruption. The heart is life's reflection, there is no darkness within. I learned this from forgiveness.

[UltraBudgie]

Having a really hard time working through this. Trying to find the source of the corruption that lead to many massacres and that continues in current times.

I wonder what Martin Luther would have written if he lived today and who he would send his letters to.

I wonder if he'd still blame the Jews. Probably would hide it in some "synagogue of Satan" double talk. Or just straight out blame the Devil, which would be consistent.

It occurs to me that the difference between "the heart is life's reflection" and "life is the heart's reflection" is nothing less than the distance put between ourselves and God, the Cross upon which Christ is the salvific transcendent of narcissism.

Or something.

[Sirius]

I wonder if he'd still blame the Jews. Probably would hide it in some "synagogue of Satan" double talk. Or just straight out blame the Devil, which would be consistent.

It occurs to me that the difference between "the heart is life's reflection" and "life is the heart's reflection" is nothing less than the distance put between ourselves and God, the Cross upon which Christ is the salvific transcendent of narcissism.

Or something.

My mistake was looking at history in reverse on a path of death and stopping on one man. I could have continued my journey but for events.