History With The Oppositions Eyes

Anabaptism lived under the shadow of Münster for a long time. In the public mind throughout Europe, Anabaptism became virtually synonymous with Münster. In spite of the peaceful and passive stance that came to be the norm for Anabaptism, religious and political authorities feared and assumed that Anabaptism's is rejection of the established ecclesiastical authority would inevitably lead to another Münster. Repression of Anabaptists was the result.. Historiography has reflected the presumed identity of Münster and Anabaptism. In a virtually unbroken line of writings from Martin Luther and Heinrich Bullinger to Karl Hall in the 20th century, it was assumed that early Anabaptism began with the revolutionary Thomas Münster and reached its logical conclusion in Münster. I American historiography, not till the twentieth century did scholars such as John Horsch, Harold S. Bender, and Cornelius Krahn successfully challenge that interpretation of Anabaptist origins."

- J. Denny Weaver. Becoming Anabaptist: The Origin and Significance of Sixteenth-Century Anabaptism