Balthasar Hubmaier (theologian)

Balthasar Hubmaier was a 16th-century Christian theologian and reformer from Germany, known for his role in the Protestant Reformation. He advocated for believers' baptism (baptism of individuals who personally profess faith) rather than infant baptism and emphasized personal faith and conscience in religious matters. A former Catholic priest, he sought to return to the teachings of early Christianity and promote religious freedom. Hubmaier’s ideas contributed to the development of Baptist and Anabaptist traditions, and he is remembered for his passionate advocacy of Christian liberty, sincere faith, and opposition to state-controlled religion.