The Radical Reformation

This course will describe and analyze the settings, ideas, and personalities that shaped first generation Anabaptism (1525 – 1561) within the context of late medieval and sixteenth century church and society. This includes comparisons and contrasts with Spiritualism, another stream of the Radical Reformation. The secondary thrust of this course is to study the transition of Anabaptism from a many sided revolutionary movement shaped by martyrdom into three sectarian denominations (Hutterites, Swiss Brethren, Mennonites and their sub-sets) seeking a settled existence (1561 – 1660).   There is an increasing diversity of views concerning the theological and geographical range of Anabaptism. This course focuses largely on leaders and teachings that became the foundation of Anabaptism’s three descendent denominations, Hutterites, Amish, and Mennonites; it confines itself to developments in Dutch and German speaking territories.