Martin Luther

Martin Luther used remarkably vulgar, coarse, and scatological language in his writings and table talks. This was not an occasional slip but a consistent and deliberate part of his rhetorical style, which he used for emphasis, ridicule, and to connect with the common people.

Here are detailed examples categorized by his targets:

1. Against the Papacy and Catholic Clergy

Luther reserved his most graphic language for the Pope, bishops, and priests, whom he labeled as the "Antichrist."

The "Ass-Pope" and "Papal Ass": Luther frequently used the German word Eselskopff (ass's head) and Papstesel (Papal ass). In his 1545 pamphlet "Against the Papacy at Rome, Founded by the Devil," he included vicious woodcut images commissioned by him, depicting the Pope being defecated and vomited out of the mouth of a demonic monster. The text is equally graphic.

Excrement and Latrines: He often compared the doctrines and decrees of the Church to excrement. In his commentary on Galatians, he wrote:

    "The Pope and his vermin… fill the world with their dung, their filth, their stinking ordinances and traditions."

    He famously suggested that the Devil, after tempting him, would eventually "void and empty his belly… a papal decretal of the most exquisite sort would come out."

    Sodomy and Depravity: He frequently accused monks and priests of homosexuality and perversion in graphic terms. In his Table Talks, he stated that monasteries and convents were nothing but "brothels" and that the clergy were "sodomites."

2. Against Theological Opponents (e.g., Lord Albrecht of Mainz)

When Lord Albrecht of Mainz continued to sell indulgences, Luther wrote him a letter in 1539 that was filled with shocking insults:

"You should show your contempt for the devil, who has made such an ass of you, and stop protecting your vomit and your shit… those blasphemous, poisonous indulgences of yours."

He then suggested that Albrecht should have a "vomiting spell" to purge himself of his indulgences and his "idolatries."

3. Against the Devil

Luther's scatological battles were not just against human opponents but also against the Devil during his periods of spiritual anguish (Anfechtungen).

The "Fart" Defense: One of the most famous anecdotes comes from his Table Talks. When plagued by the Devil, Luther is reported to have proclaimed:

"I have fought against him with flatulence." (The original German is more vulgar: *"Ich hab ihn mit Furzen abgewehrt").

Defecating on the Devil: In another instance, he is said to have told the Devil: "I shit on you and in your name." This was his way of expressing utter contempt and rejecting the Devil's accusations, believing that the victory of Christ made the Devil a defeated, contemptible foe.

4. General Vulgarities and Earthy Language

Luther's vulgarity extended to his general writing and speech:

In his "On the Jews and Their Lies" (1543), he uses extremely coarse language, recommending that synagogues and Jewish homes be burned, and that Jews be subjected to hard labor or expelled.

He commonly used phrases like:

    Leck mich am Arschn ("Kiss my ass")

    Dreck ("filth" or "shit") to describe worthless ideas.

    Hurenkind ("whore's child" or "son of a whore") as a general insult.

Conclusion

Martin Luther's use of vulgarity was intentional, strategic, and prolific. It was an integral part of his identity as a blunt, passionate reformer who believed he was engaged in a cosmic war. To remove this vulgarity from the historical record is to sanitize and misunderstand his character and the ferocity of the Reformation conflict.

For modern readers, it is jarring and can be offensive. Scholars debate its effectiveness; while it undoubtedly made his writing memorable and powerful to his supporters, it also made reconciliation with his opponents impossible and contributed to the violent and divisive nature of the period. It remains one of the most striking and controversial aspects of his vast literary legacy.