This work investigates the fundamental transformation of Western Christianity from a communal, pre-Reformation structure into the distinct, institutionalized Protestant and Catholic regimes that emerged between 1400 and 1700. John Bossy, a noted historian of early modern Europe, utilizes a sociological and anthropological lens to move beyond institutional church history. He argues that the Reformation was not merely a theological schism but a profound shift in the social and moral fabric of Western life, examining how the transition altered the daily existence and belief systems of the populace.

Historians frequently cite this text as a seminal contribution to the social history of religion for its departure from traditional ecclesiastical narratives. Scholars often highlight the clarity of Bossy's prose and his ability to synthesize complex social changes into a coherent historical argument.