Good Works Down the Toilet
Archaeologists in Germany say they may have found a lavatory where Martin Luther launched the Reformation of the Christian church in the 16th Century.
The stone room is in a newly-unearthed annex to Luther’s house in Wittenberg.
Luther is quoted as saying he was “in cloaca”, or in the sewer, when he was inspired to argue that salvation is granted because of faith, not deeds.
The scholar suffered from constipation and spent many hours in contemplation on the toilet seat.
Out with the bad, in with the good, I guess.
Luther left a candid catalogue of his battle with constipation but despite this wealth of information, certain key details remain obscure - such as what the great reformer may have used in place of toilet paper.
Perhaps Luther was ahead of his times and culture in more than his theology.
October 27th, 2004 at 11:22 am
My oral interp prof. once said that most of life’s greatest epiphanies come to us in the bathroom. Maybe she was right after all.
October 28th, 2004 at 3:41 pm
I know it sort of ruins the fun, but this site argues that Luther was only talking about meditating in his cloister.
October 28th, 2004 at 4:59 pm
Yeh, it does kind of ruin the fun, but I was amused by Martin Marty quoting Erik Erikson.