Im Angesicht der Macht

Time and again, preachers - both men and women - stand before those in power and protest against their actions in the name of God. This article analyzes two such protest sermons: Thomas Müntzer's »Sermon to the Princes« (»Fürstenpredigt«) - in memory of the 500th anniversary of his death in 2025 - and the sermon delivered by Mariann E. Budde at the second inauguration of U. S. President Donald J. Trump in January 2025. The comparison sheds light on the potential impact a protest sermon can (and should) have but also its limitations.