Dissimilar Similitudes - Devotional Objects in Late Medieval Europe

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Between the twelfth and sixteenth centuries, European Christians incorporated a variety of objects in worship, including prayer books, statues, paintings, and natural materials like stones and earth, which were deemed holy. They also used dolls of Jesus and Mary, as well as consecrated bread and wine believed to embody miraculous flesh and blood. Theologians and worshippers engaged with these objects, which could evoke both anti-Semitic sentiments and the promise of heaven. This dynamic plays a crucial role in understanding the European "reformations," both Protestant and Catholic. In a series of interrelated essays, Caroline Bynum explores examples of these sacred items, such as beds for the baby Jesus, medieval nuns' headdresses, and Christ's footprints brought back by pilgrims. Building on her previous work on materiality, Bynum presents two main arguments. First, she illustrates that these objects convey a paradox of dissimilar similitude, reflecting heavenly glory while also emphasizing that true heaven transcends earthly representation. Second, she critiques current comparative history practices, urging scholars to focus on the diverse and visually dissimilar objects that worshippers and theorists associate with the "other," which imparts lasting significance to their religions.