Indulgences
Definition
Indulgences were a practice in the Catholic Church where individuals could purchase pardons for their sins or for their deceased loved ones' sins. This practice was seen as a way to reduce time in purgatory.
Analogy
Imagine you have a big project due, but you don't want to do it yourself. So, you pay someone else to do it for you and take credit. Indulgences were like paying someone else to take the punishment for your sins.
Related terms
Purgatory: A place or state of suffering where souls went after death to be purified before entering heaven.
Reformation: The religious movement led by Martin Luther in the 16th century that aimed to reform practices and beliefs within the Catholic Church.
95 Theses: List of grievances against indulgences and other practices in the Catholic Church written by Martin Luther.
"Indulgences" appears in:
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Practice Questions (2)
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