Adam Neuser
Encyclopedia
Adam Neuser was a Protestant pastor of Heidelberg
who held Antitrinitarian
views.
Adam Neuser was a popular pastor and theologian in Heidelberg in the 1560s serving at the Peterskirche and later the Heiliggeistkirche. During the controversy over church discipline
that developed in the late 1560s, Neuser became a leading member of the Antidisciplinist, and thus anti-Calvinist
, faction led by Thomas Erastus
. His disaffection with the ecclesiastical regime perhaps played some role in his doubts concerning Orthodox Christian dogma. He wrote letters sternly attacking the doctrine of the trinity. He wrote to the Ottoman Sultan
assuring Sultan that he would receive support in Germany if his conquests push him that far. Neuser along with another Antitrinitarian, Johann Sylvan
, sought to dialog with the Turks
. Neuser was accused of denying divinity to Jesus Christ and was consequently imprisoned. His associate, Johann Sylvan
was tortured and beheaded. Neuser confessed but managed to break out of prison. He later converted to Islam
and traveled to Istanbul
where he served the Ottoman
Sultan.
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
who held Antitrinitarian
Nontrinitarianism
Nontrinitarianism includes all Christian belief systems that disagree with the doctrine of the Trinity, namely, the teaching that God is three distinct hypostases and yet co-eternal, co-equal, and indivisibly united in one essence or ousia...
views.
Adam Neuser was a popular pastor and theologian in Heidelberg in the 1560s serving at the Peterskirche and later the Heiliggeistkirche. During the controversy over church discipline
Church discipline
Church discipline comes in two types: formative and corrective. Formative discipline, or discipleship, seeks to help form the character and life of the believer. In this sense, every church disciplines it members. Jonathan Leeman has noted that "every church disciplines its members formally...
that developed in the late 1560s, Neuser became a leading member of the Antidisciplinist, and thus anti-Calvinist
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
, faction led by Thomas Erastus
Thomas Erastus
Thomas Erastus was a Swiss physician and theologian best known for a posthumously published work in which he argued that the sins of Christians should be punished by the state, and not by the church withholding the sacraments...
. His disaffection with the ecclesiastical regime perhaps played some role in his doubts concerning Orthodox Christian dogma. He wrote letters sternly attacking the doctrine of the trinity. He wrote to the Ottoman Sultan
Ottoman Dynasty
The Ottoman Dynasty ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1299 to 1922, beginning with Osman I , though the dynasty was not proclaimed until Orhan Bey declared himself sultan...
assuring Sultan that he would receive support in Germany if his conquests push him that far. Neuser along with another Antitrinitarian, Johann Sylvan
Johann Sylvan
Johann Sylvan was a Reformed German theologian who was executed for his heretical Antitrinitarian beliefs.-Origins and early career:...
, sought to dialog with the Turks
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks is scarce, but they take their Turkish name, Osmanlı , from the house of Osman I The Ottoman...
. Neuser was accused of denying divinity to Jesus Christ and was consequently imprisoned. His associate, Johann Sylvan
Johann Sylvan
Johann Sylvan was a Reformed German theologian who was executed for his heretical Antitrinitarian beliefs.-Origins and early career:...
was tortured and beheaded. Neuser confessed but managed to break out of prison. He later converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and traveled to Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
where he served the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
Sultan.
Further reading
- Burchill, Christopher J. (1989) The Heidelberg Antitrinitarians. Bibliotheca Dissidentium 11, ed. André Séguenny. Baden-Baden: Editions Valentin Koerner.
- Gunnoe, Charles D. (2011) Thomas Erastus and the Palatinate: A Renaissance Physician in the Second Reformation. Leiden: Brill. (treated in the article with Sylvan)