Müntzer had initially traveled over the border…
December 1521 CE
Müntzer had initially traveled over the border into Bohemia to the town of Zatec (Saaz)—this town had long been known as one of the five ‘safe citadels’ of the radical Taborites of Bohemia.
But Müntzer had only used this as a stopover en route to Prague, where his spiritualistic and radical tendencies blossom.
It is in Prague that the Hussite Church is already firmly established and Müntzer had thought to find a safe home where he could develop his increasingly un-Lutheran ideas.
Arriving here in late June of 1521, made welcome as a ‘Martinist’, a follower of Luther, he had been allowed to preach and to give lectures.
He had also found the time to prepare a summary of his own beliefs, which appear in a document known to posterity—slightly misleadingly—as the Prague Manifesto.
This document exists in four forms—one in Czech, one in Latin, two in German; one of them is written on a large piece of paper, about fifty centimeters square, much like a poster, but written on both sides.
It is evident, however, that none of the four items was ever published in any shape or form.
The contents of this document indicate clearly just how far he had diverged from the path of the Wittenberg reformers, and how much he believed that the reform movement was something apocalyptic in nature.
“I, Thomas Müntzer, beseech the church not to worship a mute God, but a living and speaking one; none of the gods is more contemptible to the nations than this living one to Christians who have no part of him.” Claiming insights based upon visions and dreams, Müntzer also composes an inspirational, evangelical liturgy and a choral Mass in the vernacular.
He is among those (sometimes called "spirituals") who emphasize that the faithful are living at the end of all ages.
A social radical, he denounces the princes and preaches the imminent coming of the Kingdom of God, in which all people will be equal and all property held in common.
In November or December 1521, having discovered that Müntzer is not at all that they had supposed, the Prague authorities run him out of town.
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