Thursday, October 30, 2008

The Anabaptists

Anabaptists were also known as rebaptizers because they would reject baptizing infants. But, also they were known as radicals which meant they took biblical commands more literally than the mainline reformers. Which explained why they wouldn't baptize infants because they considered it unbiblical. Also they would not take civil oaths or hold public office to do so meant to compromise with unreformed civil society. It impacted European history not only dealing with the religion aspect but also with the society and the customs people were used to. It changed the way alot of people looked at their beliefs and religion. I'm sure it made some question what they had put all their faith in for so long.

4 comments:

spatneaude said...

Do you agree some of the asecpts of the Anabaptists?I thought they were extreme on some of their views.I agree that the Anabaptists changed how people in society viewed religion.I also think that all the reforms changed Europeans pont of view on religion.

Michael H. said...

Yes, the Anabaptists were very critical with their beliefs and no doubt did it change what many thought of their religion, but the whole not baptizing infants thing was confusing. I dont know why they wouldn't do that. But the Baptist religion today is in some ways very similar to Anabaptism in the sense that they are both strict in the eyes of followers of different religion. I don't think present day Baptism is too critical at all, being a Catholic and having attended Baptist services.

Stephanie S. said...

I find the whole Anabaptist culture intresting. I agree with some of the aspects of their culture and some of them I find a bit too extreme. I think that the Anabaptists and Baptists are alike in many ways but there are some differences. I think that the Anabaptists were misunderstood just as the Baptists are today. It was unfair of people to judge them without practicing the Anabaptist religion or at least taking a closer look into it, just as some people do today.

grhodes said...

It is interesting to look at what the Anabaptist reformers were like, and compare it to how Baptists are today. They obviously are nor exactly the same, but the literal interpretation of the bible and the rejection of infant baptisms are still evident in the modern Baptist church.