Lee Palmer Wandel Boeken

Focusing on the role of ordinary individuals in the Reformation of the 1520s, this book explores how their actions and beliefs contributed to the movement. It highlights the importance of non-verbal communication, as many lacked access to printed materials. By examining the significance of images and various cultural expressions, the work presents Reformation as a multifaceted dialogue where diverse voices, including those of everyday people, articulated their interpretations of true Christianity through accessible forms.

In this elegantly written book, Lee Wandel discusses the relationship between the reform of poor relief and the Protestant Reformation in early sixteenth-century Zurich. In the introduction she traces the various ways that poverty has been evaluated, and its social and religious connotations, up to the sixteenth century. After providing a portrait of sixteenth-century Zurich, the author goes on to explore the discussion of the poor in various media of the town: the sermons and pamphlets of Huldrych Zwingli, who was preaching that the poor were the true images of God; printed images depicting Christ calling beggars and other poor folk to Him (these appeared on title pages of Zwingli's pamphlets); the language of legislation (in particular the poor ordinances of 1520 and 1525). By exploring each of these different "languages"--the words of Zwingli's sermons, the visual images of title page prints, and the language of legislation--Professor Wandel restores the complex perception of the poor in Reformation Zurich. In each, the poor were located within matrices of religious and social values and were seen as both economically dependent and symbolic within larger theological and ethical constructs.

Exploring a pivotal moment in religious history, this study delves into the Eucharist's role in the division of Western Christendom during the sixteenth century. It examines theological debates, key figures, and the sociopolitical impact of differing beliefs surrounding this sacrament. The book provides a comprehensive analysis of how these controversies shaped the landscape of Christianity, influencing faith practices and church authority in Europe.

The book delves into the system of poor relief in Zurich following the Reformation, highlighting the influence of Zwingli's sermons and pamphlets on social welfare practices. It explores how religious reforms shaped attitudes towards poverty and the support mechanisms established for the needy, offering insights into the intersection of faith and social responsibility during this transformative period.

This book reinterprets the Reformation by intertwining the European encounter with the Americas and the fragmentation of European Christianity in the 16th century. It explores diverse views on divinity, human nature, and materiality, revealing how debates shaped new religious identities and understandings of image, ritual, and the Christian experience.