Anabaptism

Zurich, January 21, 1525

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Brethren


 * Grebel


 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conrad_Grebel


 * Blaurock


 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Blaurock

Schleitheim Confession (Feb. 24, 1527)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schleitheim_Confession

http://www.anabaptists.org/history/the-schleitheim-confession.html


 * "This excludes all infant baptism . . ."


 * Michael Sattler
 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Sattler


 * Two Kinds of Obedience
 * http://gospel-of-the-kingdom.org/2010/10/michael-sattler-two-kinds-of-obedience/

Note: Conrad Grebel becomes a decisive force in Reformation history because in his break from his mentor Zwingli and the Zurich Brethren he declares independence of church from state. In the Schleitheim Confession two years later, adopted by a gathering of radicals coordinated by Michael Sattler, the independence movement declares rights to organize its own membership, choose its own leadership, authorize its own sacraments and stand apart from "the sword" of earthly dominions. Thus today we have the Amish, Mennonites, Quakers, and other "peace churches". But more broadly, and despite our faith affiliations, we enjoy hard-fought rights to the separation of church and state, to freedom of religion, and to freedom of assembly (see The Anabaptist story: an introduction to sixteenth-century Anabaptism By William Roscoe Estep, p. 18., a Google book).

Infant Baptism
"I believe that an independent individualism as expressed in believer's baptism is a uniquely American and modern western phenomenon" -- Tan, Simon G. H. "Reassessing Believer's Baptism In Pentecostal Theology And Practice." Asian Journal Of Pentecostal Studies 6.2 (2003): 219-234. Religion and Philosophy Collection. Web. 1 July 2013.

"The problem, as Wright sees it, is not the practice of infant baptism as such, but that it became normative, and remained so in an increasingly secularised world, in many instances irrespective of Christian commitment on the part of those bringing the baby to baptism." -- (Review article) Taylor, N. H. "What Has Infant Baptism Done To Baptism? An Enquiry At The End Of Christendom. By David F. Wright." Heythrop Journal 49.5 (2008): 875-876. Religion and Philosophy Collection. Web. 1 July 2013.

"There is always attraction in the adult drama of individual choice, of someone gathering up her life and committing it to a larger purpose. But there is something mystical about our gathering around this still embryonic person, about her need for us and our passion to attend to her. Perhaps this type of Baptism is not about individuals coming to decision, but about persons in relationship. Perhaps this ritual is grounded in our inner beings, in our mutual, mystical indwelling in one another." -- Shea, John. "Baptism." U.S. Catholic 62.8 (1997): 8. Religion and Philosophy Collection. Web. 1 July 2013.