“I approached the task of destroying images by first tearing them out of the heart through God’s Word and making them worthless and despised. This indeed took place before Dr. Karlstadt ever dreamed of destroying images. For when they are no longer in the heart, they can do no harm when seen with the eyes. But Dr. Karlstadt, who pays no attention to matters of the heart, has reversed the order by removing them from sight and leaving them in the heart. For he does not preach faith, nor can he preach it; unfortunately, only now do I see that. Which of these two forms of destroying images is best, I will let each man judge for himself.”

—  Martin Luther

Source: Against the Heavenly Prophets in the Matter of Images and Sacraments (1525), pp. 84-85

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Martin Luther photo
Martin Luther 214
seminal figure in Protestant Reformation 1483–1546

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