The Second Commandment: Media and Representation
Listen to the lecture “The Second Commandment: Media and Representation” in the media player below or directly on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Listen on Spotify or Apple Media.
Transcript of lecture:
Quick links to some primary sources: Samuel Mather’s sermon
As a reminder, the learning goals of the lecture are:
…for learners to be able to discuss Reformation-era views on images in worship as well as identify some of Samuel Mather’s reasons for banning visuals in churches.
Discussion questions and forum:
- How did Calvin interpret the second commandment, and what is a way to interpret the second commandment in a way different from Calvin? Why do you think some Reformed Christians did not completely destroy all images in churches?
- Samuel Mather states that “organs and cathedral musick” constitute idols in his sermon. He indicates that the particular forms and contexts of organ music in his time did not correspond with the music that God had commanded the Israelites to play. Mather writes, “And he doth also well observe, that musical instruments do more stir up the minde to delight, then frame it to a right disposition, they raise natural, rather than true spiritual joy: which they that commend them as an help partly natural and partly artificial, to the exhilarating of the spirits for the praise of God, may do well to consider.” Does Mather’s reasoning for banning religious visuals hold for banning aural productions? Why or why not? How would the music in a worship service affect congregants differently from something like statues of religious figures?
Respond to these discussion questions (or other topics of your choosing, relating to the lectures) here: