Reformation of the Senses

By Jacob M. Baum

Book Description

Jacob M. Baum invites readers to reconsider one of history's most transformative spiritual movements through an entirely fresh lens. Rather than accepting the traditional view that the Protestant Reformation marked a decisive shift away from sensory-rich worship toward purely intellectual faith, this scholarly exploration reveals a far more nuanced reality.

Drawing from extensive research into German religious life between 1400 and 1600, Baum demonstrates how late medieval Christianity was already a complex, locally diverse tradition that defies simple categorization as merely "sensuous." The author then examines how early Protestant reformers, despite their rhetoric of radical change, actually maintained significant continuities with the spiritual practices they claimed to reject.

This investigation challenges readers to question long-held assumptions about religious evolution and the nature of authentic spiritual experience. By revealing how our modern understanding of Protestant versus Catholic worship has been shaped by centuries-old cultural narratives, the book offers valuable insights for anyone seeking to understand the relationship between intellectual and embodied forms of faith.

For contemporary spiritual seekers, this work provides a thoughtful framework for examining how different traditions approach the integration of mind, body, and spirit in religious practice. Baum's careful historical analysis illuminates patterns that continue to influence how we think about religious difference and authentic spiritual expression today.