THE RADICAL REFORMATION
How might we define religious radicalism/fundamentalism?
Is it in the eye of the beholder? Who decides?
Context of the Protestant Reformation
Atmosphere of religious debate generates range of ideas, disputes, challenges
Alternative versions of scriptural and divine truth
Luther, Zwingli, Bucer and Calvin (mainstream reformers) all struggled with
Political disobedience threatened authority and destabilising to society
Protestants emphasised loyalty to rulers and respect for secular authority
All authority divinely instituted e.g. Luther vs German Peasants’ War
Radical groups
Estimated about 40 different sects emerged though commonly referred to as Anabaptists
Main concentration in Holy Roman Empire – German and Swiss lands, Low Countries
Also C17th England with advent of Civil War which allowed freedom to dissent
Medieval antecedents e.g. emphasis on Second Coming/apocalypticism/millenarianism
Persecution out of all proportion with threat > united front by Prots and Catholics to suppress
Examples
Zwickau Prophets in Wittenberg, 1521, and Swiss Brethren in Zürich, 1523-25
Thomas Müntzer and German Peasants War, 1525-26
Prophets: Hoffman (Strasbourg), Matthys and Leiden > Münster 1535
Balthasar Hubmaier (Zurich) > Moravia > Hutterites
Menno Simmons (Friesland) > Netherlands > Mennonites
Michael Servetus vs Calvin (= non/anti-trinitarian > Unitarians and Socinians)
C17th England: Ranters, Quakers, Levellers, Diggers, Fifth Monarchists, Familists etc
Origins of many groups now mainly found in US e.g. Baptists, Amish, Hutterites
Conclusion
Political impact far outweighed numerical strength > anxiety and reactionary response