Reply #10: the concept of indulgences [View All]

[cassandra uprising]

I'm by no means a scholar, but i think I am correct in saying that one of Luther's major beefs with the RC church was the concept of indulgences. In Luther's day, lay members could buy indulgences (in the form of giving money to the church) as a means of guaranteeing their place in heaven.

This practice has since changed (with Vatican II? -I'm not sure).

Indulgences are now granted through praying the rosary and what is refereed to as the intersession of the saints. Catholics pray to the saints and Mary to intercede on their behalf. It's my understanding that it's a means dipping into the good deeds fund left by the saints.

(note: I am a practicing catholic, but I was raised without having it's dogma slammed down my throat, so I'm not so up on my catechism.)