THE ANABAPTIST CONTROVERSYChris discusses an email from a listener who inquired about the often repeated allegation that the Reformers persecuted the Anabaptists for rejecting the doctrine of infant baptism.  But  is this really the case?  Were the Anabaptists a non-violent, peace-loving group of believers whosimply wanted to "re-baptize" others once they were old enough to fully understand the Gospel?  Or were they bloodthirsty, mass murdering radicals?  Friedrich Engels (co-author of the Communist  Manifesto) claimed they had helped to lay the foundation for the Marxist revolutions of the 19thand 20th centuries.  Others claim they were martyred as heretics (most often) by the Church of  Rome.  There is no question that history paints different portraits of exactly who the Anabaptists  were.  But with this in mind, is it possible that a misunderstanding has occurred concerningthe Reformers?