Unitarians, Baptists, and Quakers

Very good documentary session! You provide many interesting information which helps us to understand History better. I enjoy your sessions very educative! Thank You for sharing!!

Salve, Dr. Reeves.
As a graduate in Classics and Philosophy from a West Coast school, I find your lectures very interesting and fun. I am glad I ran across, what I believe to be, your online class in church history. I am curious on whether or not you plan to do a lecture on the European Enlightenment period in the late 16th century? If you will, I hope you touch on the Invisible College, and in saying that, you might easily guess where I live. Note: I ask only because this Invisible College believes itself to be promoting Christian mystics, though I have seen Kabbalists and Eastern Hindu/Buddhist influences from within it. Also, do you ever touch on the Amanita Muscaria in European religions, specifically, the "Apples" of the various gardens in Christian and Odinist (Saga of the Volsungs) writings?

Thank you for your informative lectures! I really appreciate the time and effort you have put into this educational series.

This is a slightly different perspective than what I take. I think the weakness and disagreement of the romist theologians rippled with the alteration of popery. A freedom of descent became somewhat tolerated and gave rise to concepts that never was allowed to be spoken out loud before, at least between educated men behind closed doors. We also probably shouldn't ignore the men that was murdered by the 'church' prior to these movements. Did I miss John Hus here? Men that by their deaths and convictions got the topics at least acknowledged, even if their murders were justified by a sadistic cult trying to silence them.
We can speak about Luther, but he for all practical reasons was a roman catholic when rome went into a 'new' version of itself. Basically the weakness and the inability of rome to declare a consistent theology probably did help spur new fundamentalism. Luther would have been murdered if it wasn't for disgruntle catholic theologians protecting him.
The reformers were almost all educated priests of rome. Disillusioned with the faith that they swore an allegiance to and their life to serve.
The question is, can we really even point two twenty or thirty causes? No. The lecturer was correct. It took almost the perfect storm to get us where we are today. I personally think all the faiths went to extremes, leaving exactly what they claimed they were about. But we shouldn't worry, the history books will clean it up.

The more I look into my faith, the more I am unsure about what I identify as.

this is my first time WRITING a comment, rather than the standard thumbs-up (or down). I, for one, appreciate the absolutely unwavering commitment you have to present your material in an unbiased manner. I've devoured your videos, whether watching one episode or 8 hours of episodes. I cannot even deduce your specific religious affiliation. Consider this a blessing to so many of us who just want to know history in a format simple enough for anyone. And one more thing! My 7 yr old granddaughter stays 3-4 nites per week and loves the stories and the beautiful artwork that accompany each lesson. She is considered to be "gifted" and is easily digesting the great material and expounds on what she is learning to the degree that my family and friends are bewildered at her genuine enthusiasm. Two enthusiastic thumbs up!! one teeny tiny suggestion--- you sometimes overuse the word "ethos," without defining exactly what it is. We will wait for your response ;-)

Muggles?

I'm sorry to disturb you, but could tell me simply
-What is a unitarian belief.
-What does it depend on.
-What book is the real root for it.
Many thanks.

I am a Jew and respect Quakers and Mennonites...They are the kindest people and righteous gentiles never harming anyone.שלום

Ryan, I have a few friends who are Primitive Baptists (an American counterpart of Strict and Particular Baptists in the UK) . Being of a Reformed persuasion, I share with them a lot as regards the doctrines of grace / Calvnistic soteriology. Yet the Primitive Baptists have a peculiar ecclesiology and historical perspective on their own movement. They claim that the conventional church history is written either by Roman historians or by Protestant historians who came out of the Romish church, and inherited some errors from it, etc. Primitive Baptists insist on their own, alternative church history, which they perceive as an unbroken succession of Baptist / immersionistic churches, which allegedly have held to the doctrines of grace down from the time of the apostles (who they claim, of course were "Primitive Baptists" as well). Have you encountered such view(s)? Do their claims have any validity actual history-wise?

I converted to the religion of the Greek Philosophers...the greatest flowering of human intellect the world has ever seen.

Both Plato and Aristotle impacted Christianity.

Dr. Reeves, I must admit I am disappointed you spent next to no time explaining Unitarianism and their heretical dogma... It leaves one thinking they're Christian when in fact they are deniers of Jesus Christ divinity and puts them squarely in the Jehovah Witness camp.

Why were Puritans so intolerant and evil?

1john5:7-8 Trinity invented by Tertullian and forced into NT scripture by Constantine after Nice an council .All who objected were burned as heretics .Arius and Arian's being the first to "protest "...
Jan Hus and Hussites later object to church dogma and creeds...
So Anabaptists who were against such corruption of original church and scripture are hero's...No?
The NIV bible notes hundreds of words and phrases such as Trinity which are not found in original koine greek scriptures....Nor are the hundreds of changes made by Origen and the roman church to the Hebrew Tanakh and are not found in the dead sea scrolls...

So no Christian bible used today matches original scriptures...all meddled with by various European politically motivated translators.
Martin Luther and Erasmus admitted this...But Luther said to burn all the Jews and theirs books in their synagogues in his evil writing "the Jews and their lies"...he also at his many talks of the round table said to the German noblemen "the people are as dogs we are as gods"...read Luther and his evil...worse than some of the Popes...
Mein Kampf quotes Luther and they printed a gold coin with him on it.
This subject is avoided in WASPy schools. Mennonites are aware of evil Luther they also were persecuted and killed.שלום

thanks for this short yet info filled lecture, I enjoyed it very much.

the first dated/recorded believers baptism is written by the Apostle Luke in the book of Acts 80-90 AD . as is often the case, "doctors" who pretend to know baptist history always leave out the scripture in their research and presentation , all the history of baptist's should begin with John " The Baptist"

They are not heretics according to Torah....lol.
Anabaptists along with us Jews were also persecuted and killed for not following Constantine and Luther's dogma and creeds...

hi ryan, im a Dutch humanist. that means i believe in the sanctity of humankind. jesus thought we could become gods/immortal before the end of times. this is the Dutch principle: work the truth until its no longer viable. do you agree?

Jesus Christ the same yesterday today and forever

Baptist came from John the Baptist.

Dr. Reeves,

I find myself as a modern day evangelical that agrees with all 5 of the Anabaptist Marks this makes me very uncomfortable in my current church. The more I grow in my faith and understanding the more I see many Christians around me as compromising especially ones with Government or Military positions. I feel like I need a different church being a radical and odd ball is not fun and most people are not up for the deep intellectual and spiritual growth debate. Any advice on a modern church where I can grow? And it also bothers me when Pastors like David Platt preach being radical yet don't question Christian involvement in war seems like they use the sermon on the mount to pick on worldly Christians but yet don't have a problem with keeping some of that worldly thinking in their own mind comments on that?

just to sum it up..Christian believers using politics as their guide instead of Christian commands guiding their politics. these atrocities further prove Christ's explanation of "narrow is the way". still amazes me how muddy the waters got immediately after the death of the Apostles. the very things Christ was against crept in quickly just as the Apostles warned against. true repentance holds power and weight. from the Old Testament to the New Testament until this present day. a good example being the slave trader John Newton turned Christian that wrote the hymn Amazing Grace. that is an account of true repentance. thank you for uploading this video.

what is this God squad fiction that idiots believe?

They were burned by Church along with us Jews.

anabaptists sound like christian anarchists.

Spurgeon said,

"History has hitherto been written by our enemies, who never would have kept a single fact about us upon the record if they could have helped it, and yet it leaks out every now and then that certain poor people called Anabaptists (Anabaptist was the name given to Baptists before the 16th century. "Ana" means "again," but the entire name, Anabaptist, was applied to those who believed and practiced what Bible-believing, separatist Baptists do today) were brought up for condemnation. From the days of Henry VIII to those of Elizabeth, we hear of certain unhappy heretics who were hated of all men for the truth's sake that was in them. We read of poor men and women, with their garments cut short, turned out into the fields to perish in the cold, and anon of others who were burnt at Newington for the crime of Anabaptism. Long before your Protestants were known of, those horrible Anabaptists, as they were unjustly called, were protesting for the 'one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.' No sooner did the visible church begin to depart from the Gospel than these m e n arose to keep fast by the good old way The priests and monks wished for peace and slumber, but there was always a Baptist or a Lollard tickling men's ears with Holy Scriptures, and calling their attention to the errors of the times. They were a poor persecuted tribe. The halter was thought to be too good for them. At times, ill-written history would have us think that they died out, so well had the wolf done his work on the sheep. Yet here we are, blessed and multiplied, and Newington sees other scenes from Sunday to Sunday As I think of the multitudes of your numbers and efforts, I can only say in wonder, 'What a growth!' As I think of the multitudes of our brethren in America, I can only say, 'What hath God wrought!' Our history forbids discouragements."

Professor Reeves,

Excellent video. I noticed you jumped right into the 1689 London Baptist Confession, which is cool; but is there any reason the 1644 London Baptist Confession wasn't mentioned in this video?

Thank you in advance!

As a Quaker, this was a great video to see

"Quaker" is technically a derogatory term in which the Friends of the Light eventually began to utilize themselves and even now.

George Fox is one of my ancestors from my biological dad's side...

That Baptists' should be grouped with Unitarians and Quakers...

"Quakers are officially called "The Society of Friends". The word "quaker" was originally a derogatory term used by King George (I think) to William Penn, who would not take his hat off in deference to his majesty. Penn told the King that instead of worrying about silly thing like hats, he should be "Quaking before the Lord." The King then responded "Get this quaker out of here!" So at first, "Quaker" was actually a slur. Now, although we still are called "Friends," we are also called "Quakers" by many people, including ourselves!"

So anabaptists then, remove theism and anarchists now.
Yeah, as usual, as bad as religion can get, it's worse even without it. I grew up under communism. Whenever atheists have taken power, the bloodbath exceeds even Islam.

this is good. I came out of the IFB "church". scary childhood. glad that's over

Sadly I learn the Mennonites also collaborated with nazi germany....sad.

And I foolishly promoted them while today they BDS Israel and helped nazi germany.

Now only the Quakers seem to be free of this... Or did they burn witches and indians also?..

Someone please direct me to a Christian group that didnt participate in genocide forced conversions etc?

Theologically if Trump, Kellyanne Conway, and Hillary were to be burned in cages, which religious building should the cages be mounted on?

I think you've neglected the Mennonites...

Why you included the Baptist denomination as descendent from Anabaptism is beyond me. When you read their Confession, especially the 1677 (published in 1689), none of the five marks you list apply to them. The Baptists, specifically the Particular Baptists, arose out of Anglican Puritanism.

I'm aware that Marx and Engels referenced Muntzer as a Proto-Socialist, but I don't think their understanding is quite right. Based on the wording of the demands of the German peasantry in the 12 Articles, it does not appear than any of the demands in question seem Socialist or even Proto-Socialist. According to their wording, their demand is to have common access to rivers, streams, meadows and forests. They also demanded not to tax the inheritance of widows and orphans. Additionally, they demanded to be paid a wage and further that they no longer remain as serfs but as day laborers. That doesn't seem very Socialist to me. I think Marx and Engels merely read into the past in order to justify their political ethos. What do you think Dr. Reeves?

One of these things are not like the others. One of these things just doesn't belong

When will you do a video on the Jehovahs Witnesses and the Mormons?

If God really wanted to save us, then why didn't he make his message more clear? So that there would pretty much only be one church (with maybe a few minor heretical churches).