ANABAPTIST MOVEMENT The Anabaptist movement officially began in the sixteenth century although Christians of similar theology and circumstances have existed since the third century. Not to be confused with the term anti-Baptist, Anabaptist Christians challenged the reforms of Martin Luther and others during the Protestant Reformation, rejecting infant baptism in favor of baptism (or re-baptism) as believing adults. The early Anabaptists were closest to the Waldensians in their beliefs. The Waldensians originated, about 1160 A.D., in Lyons, France with Peter Waldo, after he discovered huge discrepancies between Scripture and the Roman Catholic Church's doctrines. A wave of God's Spirit was already evident throughout Europe, however, the first sign of emerging Anabaptist was in Zurich, Switzerland under the leadership of Konrad Grebel a disciple of Ulrich Zwingli. Zwingli believed in a strong Scriptural foundation and he placed much emphasis on the hypocrisy of compromise. He taught his followers about ungodly Roman Catholic mandates such as indulgences (money charged for prayer), worship of images, relics, and saints (icons), the sacramental view in the mass, and enforced celibacy. However, when Grebel and Zwingli's disciples took the next logical step, in actively "forsaking all" to follow Christ's example and Biblical teachings, Zwingli retreated and became their enemy and persecutor.

WORLD RELIGIONS COMPARED WORLD RELIGIONS CLIPART

Grebel and his Swiss Brethren openly taught that the Bible negated the practice of infant baptism and other unscriptural practices, much of which Zwingli was not ready to forsake. Again the Word of God became the focal point which divided between "soul and spirit", as it discerned "the thoughts and intents of the heart" of those in authority. Under severe persecution from Zwingli, Grebel soon met his death.

Because of their firm stand taken against infant 'baptism', in favor of believer's baptism, Grebel and his Brethren were mockingly called 'Anabaptists' as the Greek prefix 'ana', means go backwards (again or against).

	AMISH: The Amish are very devout in their faith. They believe in the literal interpretation and application of Scripture as the Word of God.
	CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN: The Brethren are Anabaptist (reject infant baptism) and Pietist (emphasize holy living). Brethren have historically accepted the basic Christian doctrines along with practices sometimes neglected by major groups of Christians.
	HUTTERITES: Pacifists who take no part in politics and remain separate from outside society. Most Hutterites were simple people who had little or no schooling. They believed "literally" everything Jesus said in the Bible.
	MENNONITE: As one of the historic peace churches, Mennonites are committed to nonviolence, nonresistance, and pacifism.

Although many beliefs are shared between Protestants and Anabaptists, there is a fundamental, root difference between them. Generally, the word Protestant denotes the doctrines and practices derived from the champions of the Reformation; including Calvin, Luther, Knox, Zwingli, etc. The main spirit of Protestantism was the "protesting" of abuses in the Church's secular and religious power. Depending on the situation, this  could range all the way from simple debate to physical violence. Therefore the focus of Protestantism tended to center on the Church's abuses and their reform.

On the other hand, the Anabaptist's believe that the world is controlled by the "prince of this world". They believe that Jesus told them to focus on "the kingdom of God and its righteousness". This naturally separated them, as it did the early Church, from being part of the world and its system, then controlled by the Church at Rome. Therefore their focus was only on Jesus Christ, and loving and doing His will. If they were against anything, it was sin in the kingdom of God. The Anabaptists did not see the "kingdom of God" as the Church at Rome.

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul...

Bob Dylan, Masters of War