The Protestant Reformation took place in the 16th Century with two of the prominent leaders being Martin Luther and John Calvin. While Luther and Calvin disagreed on many things, they agreed on more than just separating from the Roman Catholic Church: They held onto close ties to the governing authorities, such as the local princes.
There were those who looked at the changes made by Luther and Calvin and concluded that they had not gone far enough. This was the beginnings of the Radical Reformation.
Of course what is considered “radical” is very subjective. What is the line that one must cross to be considered “radical”? Having said that, it is not a stretch to see a Radical Reformer such as Thomas Müntzer as pushing the boundaries.
There was not one Radical Reformation in the sense of one person shaping a unified movement. There were similarities and differences. Many of the groups were millenarian in their eschatology. They also taught about the importance of a believer’s church, meaning every person in the local church was a baptized believer with a real faith.
Speaking of baptism, some like the Anabaptists focused on believer’s baptism, requiring those who had been christened as babies to be “re-baptized.” They also believed in the importance of separating from secular governing bodies which caused some conflict.
The various groups under the umbrella of the Radical Reformation often found themselves being persecuted by the Roman Catholics, as well as the Lutherans and Reformed churches.
Anabaptists and some other groups continue the legacy of the Radical Reformation, although often there is more of an ecumenical spirit to the interactions with other groups.
