The Pacifism

Soon after the Reformation began to take ground through - out Europe, ideas and practices that can be subsumed under the broad category of `pacifism' became a significant part of the political ideology of the so-called Radical Reformation. Focusing on two of the most famous groups that developed a pacifist ideology - namely the Anabaptists and the Socinians - this essay traces the history of non-resistance theories from the early years of the Reformation to the mid -seven - teenth century, revealing that opinions against the legitimacy of a Christian magis - trate or against warfare were an integral part of early modern political debates.