The Early Anabaptists

[R7ehr]

I think many plain Anabaptists assume that non-plain Anabaptists have nothing in common with the early Anabaptists. I think that is partly because of clothing - we don't LOOK like what they expect Mennonites to look like. I think that a lot of what we have in common with plain Anabaptists is precisely what the early Anabaptists taught and did. Not just on clothing, but on many other things.

And just as plain clothing is an identity issue for many plain Mennonites, the teachings of the early Anabaptists is an identity issue for me.

I think many worldly people and liberal Mennonites often wonder if non-Plain Mennonites have much in common with the early Anabaptists too.

[Bootstrap]

I think many plain Anabaptists assume that non-plain Anabaptists have nothing in common with the early Anabaptists. I think that is partly because of clothing - we don't LOOK like what they expect Mennonites to look like. I think that a lot of what we have in common with plain Anabaptists is precisely what the early Anabaptists taught and did. Not just on clothing, but on many other things.

And just as plain clothing is an identity issue for many plain Mennonites, the teachings of the early Anabaptists is an identity issue for me.

I think many worldly people and liberal Mennonites often wonder if non-Plain Mennonites have much in common with the early Anabaptists too.

Right now, the MC-USA Mennonites who have the most in common with early Anabaptists are deeply at odds with those who do not.

[Ernie]

I think many plain Anabaptists assume that non-plain Anabaptists have nothing in common with the early Anabaptists. I think that is partly because of clothing - we don't LOOK like what they expect Mennonites to look like. I think that a lot of what we have in common with plain Anabaptists is precisely what the early Anabaptists taught and did. Not just on clothing, but on many other things.

And just as plain clothing is an identity issue for many plain Mennonites, the teachings of the early Anabaptists is an identity issue for me.

I think many worldly people and liberal Mennonites often wonder if non-Plain Mennonites have much in common with the early Anabaptists too.

Right now, the MC-USA Mennonites who have the most in common with early Anabaptists are deeply at odds with those who do not.

In what way(s) do MC-USA Mennonites have the most in common with early Anabaptists?

[Soloist]

I think many worldly people and liberal Mennonites often wonder if non-Plain Mennonites have much in common with the early Anabaptists too.

Right now, the MC-USA Mennonites who have the most in common with early Anabaptists are deeply at odds with those who do not.

In what way(s) do MC-USA Mennonites have the most in common with early Anabaptists?

I think... he's meaning they are on conflict with other MC-USA Mennonites?

[Ernie]

Right now, the MC-USA Mennonites who have the most in common with early Anabaptists are deeply at odds with those who do not.

In what way(s) do MC-USA Mennonites have the most in common with early Anabaptists?

I think... he's meaning they are on conflict with other MC-USA Mennonites?

Got it. So who gets to decide who has the most in common with early Anabaptists?

[Bootstrap]

Got it. So who gets to decide who has the most in common with early Anabaptists?

Which modern Mennonites and Anabaptists have the most in common with them is not the subject of this thread. What we can learn from the early Anabaptists is.

We have said a lot about clothing, what other themes should we look at? Perhaps their approach to Scripture?

[R7ehr]

Would you like to nominate another topic about what the early Anabaptists were like? I think most people here consider the early Anabaptists to be an example to learn from, though I suspect none of us considers them infallible or perfect.

We can no doubt learn some things from them, but I don't think they had a better handle on the Scriptures than my grandpa or my father. I enjoy history, and so I enjoy studying some things about practices and beliefs in prior years, but I place a much higher priority on what the Scriptures say about how to live life and what my Christian brothers have to say about practical application of Bible truths to everyday life, compared to what the early Anabaptists believed, practiced or wrote. I find the most value in Anabaptist history in seeing how their choices affected them and their children and in being encouraged to do what is right regardless of the cost - not necessarily in believing that their interpretation of Scripture is better than that of faithful brethren today.

I agree. This is why it easy to be unperturbed by the things we may differ on with our forefathers.

[Bootstrap]

Reminder: This is the subject of the thread. From the OP:

What distinguished the early Anabaptists from their neighbors? How were they different, and why?

Request: In responses to this question, please identify (1) a specific group of early Anabaptists at a specific time, (2) how they differed from their neighbors, and possibly (3) how they differed from other Anabaptists before them or at the same time.

Direct quotes and reliable historical sources are appreciated. Hand waving and generalizations ... not so much. And please don't make this about modern groups, focus on the early Anabaptists.