There are older threads on this.
Virtually all the Anabaptists denied the doctrine of justification on the grounds that justification
sola gratia sola fide leads to immorality.
Several of the Anabaptist leaders held a docetic Christology, that Jesus had a "heavenly flesh."
Some of them did move toward and/or embrace heretical views of the Trinity.
By denying infant baptism they placed themselves outside all forms of the established churches (Roman or Protestant).
Many of them held an ontological dualism (material is bad; immaterial is good) so that the material world was perceived to be evil
per se. Their radicalism lead them to a radical form of separatism.
They were widely perceived as a threat to the social oder and, indeed, they gave evidence more than once of being just that.
Judged by the catholic, ecumenical creeds, yes, several Anabaptist leaders were heretics. The Belgic Confession Art 29 describes the Anabaptist congregations as "sects" who falsely call themselves churches.
rsc
Quote:
Originally Posted by Puritan Sailor  Most of the Anabaptists were heretical in their views on the Trinity and soteriology. In that day that meant death. The rebaptism issue is historically brought to the fore, but I'm not convinced that was the main cause for their persecution. It certainly marked these groups apart and perhaps became associated with their other heresies in the popular mind. I think looking back most of us would disagree with persecuting them, but we didn't live back then. It's not an excuse, but we just need to understand the times. Also remember that some of the Anabaptists were militant, not pacifists. I'm sure some of the persecutors failed to make that distinction when they wanted to suppress heresy. |