A phrase used to designate a Christian faction during the Protestant
Reformation that was considered more extreme in its beliefs and
actions than the primary Protestant Reformers. Radical Reformers
were also pejoratively called "anabaptists" (rebaptizers)
because of their opposition to infant baptism and their belief
that, if baptized in infancy, one should again be baptized in
adulthood when there is a better cognition of the ritual's symbolic
The Radical Reformers challenged not only Roman Catholic doctrine
and authority, but also that of other Protestant Reformers themselves,
including figures such as Calvin, Luther, Zwingli, and others.
With the intent to fully actualize the principles and practices
of the New Testament, on which the Protestant Reformation itself
was based, the Radical Reformers worked to adapt the Church to
the New Testament. Therefore, the Radical Reformers rejected the
relationship the Church had developed with society since the time
of Constantine, and instead chose to rebel against the mainstream
secular society, as well as the society the Protestant Reformers
were trying to establish.
Because they followed Christ as their first and foremost authority
in establishing an authentic Christian society, the Radical Reformers
saw themselves as the true representatives of Christianity. As
such, their strict adherence to the life and teachings of Christ
caused the Radical Reformers to embrace and commit to pacifism.
Several contemporary Christian denominations which grew out of
this movement, such as the Mennonites, are still committed to
pacifism. However, because during the Reformation some of the
Radical Reformers came to see the end of the world as imminent,
there was, to some degree, a decline in this committment. Some
took up arms and sought to establish the Kingdom of God by force.
Once this armed movement was quashed, however, pacifism again
became the hallmark for denominations growing out of the Radical
Reform tradition. Today, pacifism and opposition to all forms
of militarism are still central to these Christian denominations.
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