The Reformations of Medicine: Early Modern Beginnings and Contemporary Possibilities
Ekaterina N. Lomperis, "The Reformations of Medicine: Early Modern Beginnings and Contemporary Possibilities"
English | ISBN: 1506491170 | 2025 | 250 pages | PDF | 7 MB
English | ISBN: 1506491170 | 2025 | 250 pages | PDF | 7 MB
The sixteenth century witnessed unprecedented reformations in both religious belief and medical knowledge, marked by the rise of Protestantism, the Catholic reform movement, and the new approaches to the study of human anatomy, laying the groundwork for the emergence of evidence-based medicine. The Reformations of Medicine investigates the transformations of religious perspectives on medicine and healing during this era, with a particular focus on Martin Luther's thought. Lomperis explores the implications of these early modern developments for current intersections of spirituality and healthcare.
The study reveals how early Protestants reimagined the spiritual significance of medicine. It illuminates previously little-studied aspects of Luther's theological thought concerning physical suffering. Lomperis argues that Luther pursued a spiritual reformation of approaches to medicine and healing, informed by his theology of created means and idolatry. She demonstrates that Luther's theology challenged the long-standing tradition of viewing natural healing through medicine as spiritually inferior to supernatural, divine healing.
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