Johann Conrad Beissel

Johann Conrad Beissel: Mystic And Martinet 1690-1768 is a book written by Walter C. Klein that delves into the life and beliefs of Johann Conrad Beissel, a German immigrant who founded the religious community of Ephrata in Pennsylvania in the 18th century. The book explores Beissel's background, his spiritual journey, and his leadership of the Ephrata community, which was known for its strict adherence to religious practices and ascetic lifestyle.Klein examines Beissel's mystical beliefs, which drew from a variety of sources including German Pietism, mysticism, and alchemy. Beissel believed in the importance of spiritual transformation and sought to create a community of like-minded individuals who would work together to achieve this goal. He also placed a strong emphasis on music, which played an important role in Ephrata's religious practices.However, Klein also explores the darker side of Beissel's leadership, including his authoritarian tendencies and his use of physical punishment to enforce discipline within the community. Despite these flaws, Beissel's legacy has endured, and the Ephrata community remains an important part of Pennsylvania's religious history.Overall, Johann Conrad Beissel: Mystic And Martinet 1690-1768 is a comprehensive and engaging exploration of one of America's most fascinating religious leaders.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.