The Fifteenth Annual REFORC Conference will take place May 19-May 21, 2026, hosted by the University of Wrocław (in cooperation with the University of Cologne and the University of Bonn). Short paper submission and registration are open.
Theme Plenary Speakers: Early Modern Christian Materiality
At the time of the Reformation, new ways of perceiving bodiliness and materiality began to reshape Western thought, particularly in relation to the understanding of the Incarnation and the Eucharist. In a sharp critique of medieval Aristotelianism, especially the doctrine of transubstantiation grounded in Aristotelian hylomorphic theory, the Reformers developed new understandings of Christ’s presence, the Holy Spirit, human being, and the material world. While these reinterpretations varied among the different reformers, they commonly marked a departure from medieval theological frameworks and opened the door to (re)configurations in how materiality was understood, experienced, and practiced. The reconfigured understanding of the sacraments had a substantial influence on liturgy and, consequently, also on ecclesiastical art, architecture, and music. Likewise, the role of materiality in everyday domestic piety was reassessed, reflecting broader theological reconsiderations of how the sacred could be mediated through physical forms.
More information on the website: https://reforc.com/events/fifteenth-annual-reforc-conference-on-early-modern-christianity/
