500 years ago in Zurich: Birth of the Anabaptist movement

On January 21, 1525, the first adult baptism took place in a house in Zurich. This event marked the beginning of a dissident movement within the Protestant Reformation known as “Anabaptism”. Alongside baptism, the second point of contention was the refusal to bear arms and to become involved in state affairs. Persecuted (some of the Zurich leaders drowned in the Limmat), this movement nevertheless developed rapidly throughout Central Europe, adopting a variety of forms.

Born into a Mennonite family, Pierre Bühler is Honorary Professor of Systematic Theology at the theological faculties of Neuchâtel and Zurich. He is a recognized specialist in the works of Martin Luther, Soeren Kierkegaard and Paul Ricoeur.

In this lecture, Pierre Bühler will discuss the origins of the movement, its subsequent evolution over the centuries, its specific contribution to the heart of Christian tradition and its current relevance.