Anabaptist

Anabaptists (Greek ana+baptizo "re-baptizers", German: Wiedertäufer) are Christians of the so-called radical wing of the Protestant Reformation. The term was coined by critics, who objected to the practice of performing baptism for adults whose previous baptism, as infants, the Anabaptists claimed was not valid. Various groups at various times have been called Anabaptist, but this article focuses primarily on the Anabaptists of 16th century Europe.

Anabaptists today

Several existing denominational bodies may be legitimately regarded as the successors of the Continental Anabaptists — Amish, Baptists, Brethren, Hutterites, Mennonites, Bruderhof Communities and Quakers. Some writers prefer to distinguish institutionally lineal descendants (Amish, Hutterites, Mennonites) and spiritual descendants (Baptists, Brethren, and the Bruderhof Communities; the Quakers share the distinction of also being a peace church). Nevertheless, some historical connections have been demonstrated for all of these spiritual descendants, though perhaps not as clearly as the notable institutionally lineal descendants. However, although many see the more well known Anabaptist groups (Amish, Hutterites and Mennonites) as ethnic groups, the Anabaptist bodies of today are largely no longer ethnically descended from the Continental Anabaptists. According to the Mennonite World Conference (MWC), "Today, close to 1,300,000 believers belong to this faith family; at least 60 percent are African, Asian, or Latin American."

Related Topics:
Amish - Hutterite - Mennonite - Baptist - Brethren - Bruderhof Communities - Quakers - Peace church - Hutterites - Mennonites

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One of the historical Anabaptist doctrines — that people must personally, volitionally, and consciously relate to God — is a doctrine found among much of Evangelical Protestantism, even though these churches may not be historically linked to the Anabaptists.

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Today in response to post-modernism, what some theologians are calling ?the end of Christendom? and the ecological crisis the earth is facing, some churches and theologians are drawing upon the Anabaptist traditions as a paradigm for Christian spirituality in the 21st century. This movement, sometimes referred to as ?neo-Anabaptism?, includes theologians and communities from wide diversity of Christian denominations which are not part of the Historic Peace Churches, yet who see in the witness of the 16th century radical reformers an authentic witness to early Christianity and to the life and teachings of Christ. Scholars who are sometimes identified with this line of thinking include Stanley Hauerwas, Lee Camp, Thomas Finger and Marva Dawn.

Related Topics:
Peace Churches - Stanley Hauerwas

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Neo-Anabaptist communities are often identifiable by their desire to live as a prophetic alternative to larger society through their commitment to Christ?s Sermon on the Mount as normative for the Christian life when empowered by the Holy Spirit. Outworkings of this spirituality include simple yet joyful lifestyle, peace and justice making, the practice of nonviolence, communal living and the voluntary sharing of goods, particularly with those in need.

Related Topics:
Sermon on the Mount - Holy Spirit - Nonviolence

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