Anabaptists transitioning various directions at the same time

[cmbl]

One thought that comes to mind is that John Funk, who was in many respects an innovator, also published an English translation of the Martyr's Mirror - the one that's still used today.

Also, Robert Friedmann considered the 1900s a time of Anabaptist renewal. Perhaps that reflects only the rarefied air of the academy, the historians he worked with. The early 1900s was considered by others first a "Great Awakening," and later, decidedly more neutrally or even negatively, the "quickening." Someone has said that the 1900s "were hardly an Anabaptist awakening."

It is also interesting how many of the academic books that began to recognize genuine spirituality among Mennonites before the encounter with Revivalism came out in the 1970s and 80s, just as the church was, from the perspective of conservative groups, apostatizing. I am thinking of "The Theology of Anabaptism," "Gospel versus Gospel," "American Mennonites and Protestant Movements."

[Ernie]

It is also interesting how many of the academic books that began to recognize genuine spirituality among Mennonites before the encounter with Revivalism came out in the 1970s and 80s, just as the church was, from the perspective of conservative groups, apostatizing. I am thinking of "The Theology of Anabaptism," "Gospel versus Gospel," "American Mennonites and Protestant Movements."

I think it is interesting how many books from the mid-1900's are espoused by conservative Anabaptists today, even though the Mennonite Church as a whole never read them or embraced them.

[cmbl]

It is also interesting how many of the academic books that began to recognize genuine spirituality among Mennonites before the encounter with Revivalism came out in the 1970s and 80s, just as the church was, from the perspective of conservative groups, apostatizing. I am thinking of "The Theology of Anabaptism," "Gospel versus Gospel," "American Mennonites and Protestant Movements."

I think it is interesting how many books from the mid-1900's are espoused by conservative Anabaptists today, even though the Mennonite Church as a whole never read them or embraced them.

Can you name some? Are you thinking of books by Mennonites in the mid-1900s, or books by others?

[MennoSimons1998]

One thought that comes to mind is that John Funk, who was in many respects an innovator, also published an English translation of the Martyr's Mirror - the one that's still used today.

John Funk was himself lambasted by more conservative groups for his work, wasn't he?

[JohnH]

I think all three of these have been in action since the founding. I don't think there is a pure anabaptism. It started from more than one location and has constantly been adapting, receiving and rejecting.

"Constant change" along with the idea it is impossible to return to roots is a manifestation of a common liberal idea, but also fundamentally at odds with Anabaptism, which called for a return to Christianity as taught in the New Testament, not "constantly adapting, receiving, and rejecting".