I was teaching today at the Catholic Adult Education Centre in Sydney, on the subject of “Christian Traditions”. Yesterday we worked on the Eastern traditions, and today we focused on the major protestant traditions.
Of course, I focused a good deal on Lutheranism, including showing a couple of YouTube videos of Lutherans teaching about their own faith – “in their own words” so to speak.
Of course, we let Martin Luther speak in his own words too, but during the coffee break I introduced the class to one of my favourite “Martin Luther” sites on the web: the Lutheran Insulter. While pointing out that the “site in no way represents Lutheranism, the Lutheran Confessions, or Martin Luther’s theology”, its creators do assure you that the insults included on this site are taken from Luther’s authentic works.
They really are great fun – many of them worth learning off by heart for use in situations in which the French Knights’ invective against King Arthur (from Monty Python’s Holy Grail) seems overused and tired. And why stop at just one? Press the button marked “Insult me again” for another round of abuse!
This is my current favourite: “You are admirable, fine, pious sows and asses.” (From On the Councils and the Church, pg. 54 of Luther’s Works, Vol. 41)
“You are ignorant, stupid, godless blasphemers.” must be referring to the Lutheran churches in Scandanavia that have accomodated to the prevailing culture
Close, but no cigar. It’s referring to Jakobus Latomus, a Flemish theologian who defended the divine right of the papacy and the Roman hierarchy .
“You pant after the garlic and melons of Egypt and have already long suffered from perverted tastes.” ah must mean Affirming Catholics -in the Anglican Church
What’s wrong with garlic and melons? It’s almost pythonesque in its lack of intrinsic insultingness. (As in, “your father smelled of elderberries”.)
Or is “melons” perhaps a euphemism here?
This made my day, what a hoot! I’m still fond of Luther’s “earthy” side but so help me, he sounds more like a Bavarian than someone from the Saxon region.
Must go back and keep hitting that “insult” button!