Abecedarians were a 16th-century German sect of Anabaptists who effected an absolute disdain for all human knowledge, contending that God would enlighten his elect from within themselves, giving them knowledge of necessary truths by visions and ecstasies (with which human learning would interfere).

They rejected every other means of instruction, and claimed that to be saved one must even be ignorant of the first letters of the alphabet; whence their name, A-B-C-darians. They also considered the study of theology as a species of idolatry, and regarded learned men who did any preaching as falsifiers of God's word.

Nicholas Storch led this sect, preaching that the teaching of the Holy Spirit as all that was necessary. Andreas Karlstadt even adopted these

Abecedarians were a band formed in Los Angeles in the 1980s. They had a style reminiscent of English bands like the Sisters of Mercy and Dead Can Dance. The 'best-of' album AB-CD collected 13 songs from the "Eureka" album, several singles originally released by Factory UK and the "Resin" LP in 1986, 1985, and 1989 respectively. Abecedarians were Chris Maneke (guitar, vocals), Kevin Dolan (drums), and John Blake (bass).

External link

Sources

• "Abecedarians " in Catholic Encyclopedia, by John J. A'Becket
• The Joy of Sects: A Spirited Guide to the World's Religious Traditions, by Peter Occhiogrosso

This article incorporates text from the public domain Catholic Encyclopedia.

• "AB-CD" Caroline Racords, 1988, by Abecedarians