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Anabaptism is a diverse branch of Christianity that emerged during the Radical Reformation. It rejects infant baptism and emphasizes a simple life, charity, and the Bible as the highest religious authority. Anabaptists also believe in the separation of church and state and some are pacifist. The term “Anabaptist” was originally a pejorative. Anabaptism is still present in the United States, with numerous churches expressing Anabaptist values.
An Anabaptist is a member of one of the many Anabaptist Christian sects that emerged during the Radical Reformation in the 1600s or even after. Some examples of churches considered Anabaptist include the Amish, Hutterites, Baptists, Mennonites, Church of the Brethren, Quakers, and Brethren in Christ. As you can gather from this list, Anabaptism takes a number of forms and is an incredibly diverse branch within the larger theological family of Christianity.
The hallmark of Anabaptism is the rejection of the concept of infant baptism. Anabaptists believe that infants cannot be held accountable for sin, because they have no knowledge of good or evil, and therefore do not baptize their infants or honor infant baptisms. Instead, an Anabaptist believes that baptism is a confession of faith, and Anabaptists practice believer’s baptism, in which people choose baptism as an expression of their religious faith.
Anabaptists have many other traits in common. They consider the Bible to be the highest religious authority, rejecting Rome’s authority over the Christian faith, and many are also inspired by the early Church, trying to live as Jesus and his contemporaries did. The refusal of infant baptism is also a reflection of the early values of the Church; Jesus himself, after all, was baptized as an adult by John the Baptist.
Many Anabaptist sects also place emphasis on living a simple life. It is common for members of an Anabaptist sect to work together on charitable projects as well, and many Anabaptists feel that charity is an important expression of Christian values. Some Anabaptist churches are also pacifist, and sometimes quite radical, arguing that Christ was radical and that they should follow in his footsteps.
The Reformation was a time of intense upheaval and strife in Europe, and the Anabaptists were just one among an assortment of fragmented Christian sects who rebelled against Rome and attempted to redefine the faith. Many Anabaptists believed, among other things, in the separation of church and state, and were considered radicals by their contemporaries. The term “Anabaptist” was actually originally a pejorative, meaning “to baptize again.”
Especially in the United States, Anabaptism is alive and well, with numerous churches across North America expressing Anabaptist values. This is likely related to the mass exodus of Anabaptists from Europe in the aftermath of the Reformation; some thought they could create their own religious communities in the New World once they were freed from persecution. The United States is also home to some very conservative Anabaptist sects, such as the Amish and Old Order Mennonites.
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