Strassborg, a city of toleration. Well, Kind Of!

Strasbourg, was on of the largest cities in the Holy Roman Empire. It was city that was governed by a City Council, who operated out of the convictions of "toleration". Under there guiding philosophy of toleration, both the evangelical movement and the radical movement was free to flourish. In Strasbourg,the radical movement was somewhat like the topography of the church in the Midwest, there was a different congregation on every corner. Between 1527-1533, the radical movement was growing rapidly and many of the leaders were in the City. There was a diversity of belief, but yet there is some indication that each leader, recognized the other leaders as part of the radical even though they did not agree on every aspect of theology they did however hold that believer's baptism was central to their faith.

Pilram Marpeck, was one of the leaders that held some sway among the political winds of Strasbourg. In 1528, Mar peck became a citizen, by a cash purchase. He was soon arrested for holding Anabaptist meetings in his house. But the meetings topic were what to do about the poor refugees that were pouring into the city. The peasants that had already been poor now had attained refugee status. Rueblin, Kautz, and Meyger were arrested as well. Meyger recanted and swore the oath to the city. Rueblin and Kautz remained in prison. Marpeck would be released soon thereafter and had attained a position building up the infrastructure of the region be building up the local logging industry via the Rhine. Marpeck was one of the exceptions in Anabaptism who believed that yes, there were two kingdoms, but that it was not against scripture to serve in the capacity of a civil servant, however it was to swear an oath. One wonders how he got around this point, except perhaps for the guiding philosphy of "toleration". By 1532, however it seems that Marpeck had worn out his welcome and was exiled.

Strassborg even though "toleration" seems to be the order of the day it seems that the radicalism of the Anabaptists was to much for the city. The city seems to have embraced toleration as long as there was not an upheaval with the status qou. How much has really changed in the world. We are tolerant as long as we are not stretched, if one is changing to much of what is central to society, society has no choice but to bring its weight down. Movements, seem to work out of a minority with new convictions if there is growing sentiment with the populace at large, change might can happen.