Lions Led By Donkeys Podcast Episode 316 - The Münster Rebellion: Part 1
Jun 16, 2024
The podcast dives into the chaotic Münster Rebellion, sparked by a religious critique of the Reformation. Anabaptists, led by charismatic figures like Melchior Hoffman, embraced radical beliefs like adult baptism and communal living. The movement quickly escalates into a fervent, militarized cult opposing both Protestant and Catholic authorities. Tensions rise as leadership rivalries unfold, and the city morphs into a self-proclaimed 'New Jerusalem'. This wild narrative is filled with apocalyptic visions and violent power struggles, laying the groundwork for a gripping historical saga.
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Belief Must Be A Personal Choice
- The Anabaptists split from mainstream Reformers by rejecting state authority and infant baptism.
- They insisted faith must be a conscious adult choice tied directly to scripture in the vernacular.
Hoffman's Barefoot Street Preaching
- Melchior Hoffman traveled as a barefoot, rag-clad preacher reading the Bible in German to crowds.
- His radical style and attacks on clerical wealth built a devoted following among the poor.
Religious Text Fueled Communal Politics
- Early Anabaptists mixed apocalyptic faith with communal property drawn from scripture.
- Their call for holding goods in common blurred religious revival with proto-socialist ideals.
