The Penitents' Treasury

Book excerpt: The granting of indulgences by the Catholic Church has long been infamous as one of the grounds for Martin Luther's revolt from Christianity in the sixteenth century. Modern scholars have usually characterized the medieval practice as a defective one. In The Penitents' Treasury, historian Robert W. Shaffern debunks this argument through a reexamination of indulgences that shows how their alleged evils have been exaggerated throughout history. This provocative volume, a necessary read for anyone interested in medieval history and the history of religion, calls for much rethinking about the state of the church on the eve of the Reformation.