He is genuine in his attempt to reform the church rather than make mockery of it. He quite genuinely showed courtesy to those with whom he disputed and tried not to lay too much blame on them. He concedes that his sources may not be reliable, but nevertheless uses them to show how indulgences are being perceived by the common people.
This is a sharp contrast to the manner in which our politicians now debate. As made clear by the 2016 U.S. Presidential elections, subtlety or courtesy have been completely erased, making way for a blunt and accusatory form of debate. Trump and Clinton both made no effort to see each other's position. This is dangerous. Its purpose is not to persuade, but to ridicule, heightening tensions rather than loosening them.
https://www.ydop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/trump-vs-clinton.jpg
I believe that to foster an effective political environment, we need to take a leaf out of Luther's book. His criticism is sharp, and his points clear, but he uses a tone of respect and considers the position of his audience before writing. With that kind of foresight, the level of distress between political parties would assuredly be better controlled.
This is very well said, Andrew. I think we can all learn a lesson from from Martin Luther on how to handle debates and controversies. It's not that we need to agree with everything that we hear, but there are more appropriate and respectful ways to handle these situations. It speaks volumes when one is able to handle a disagreement in a polite manner.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this completely. In the modern world, especially in politics, people are so unwilling to listen to each other's points of view and are rude about it. We've forgotten how to debate with others in a civil way or even let arguments be a learning experience that can expand or change our owns views. And truthfully, many of the people in these positions may not have intentions that are as pure as Martin Luther's.
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