The Anabaptists



Characteristics of the Anabaptist Tradition


They were champions of liberty of conscience,
church-state separation, and religious freedom.

There was no division between the sacred and the secular.

There was spiritual equality of women and men, especially
 among the Quakers.

Many had a preference for rural life; many became farmers.

The Anabaptists were close to nature and God's creatures.

They believed in the closeness of God to this world.

Anabaptist church structure was democratic in nature.

They were very missionary minded.

They had a more optimistic view of man than did the Roman Catholics and Magisterial Protestants.

They believed God was both immanent and transcendent.

They tried to follow the New Testament as closely as possible, emphasizing the Gospels.

They believed that all life is sacramental; they affirmed the Presence of God in even the smallest of everyday tasks.

The Anabaptist Christians were passionate about peace and justice.

The Anabaptist tradition was anti-authoritarian.

It stressed local spiritual unity rather than universal uniformity.

It valued personal sanctity more than doctrinal orthodoxy.

Anabaptist Churches held to believer's baptism.

They held to a practical mysticism.

The Quakers, in particular, believed in silent contemplation.

They held a non-legalistic view of the Atonement.

The Anabaptists valued community, family, and simplicity.



Note: I am including this information here for those who would like to know more about the Anabaptists and their spiritual descendents such as the Quakers, and also to show how the Anabaptist tradition and the ancient Celtic Church share some characteristics. Check the "Celtic Tradition" page to see the characteristics these two traditions have in common.