Familist

The Familists (Latin familia charitatis, love brotherhood, England Family of Love ) were a religious group of mystical direction that emerged in Holland and England in the 16th century and 17th century.

The founder of Familists is Heinrich Niclaes (* about 1501 in Münster), a student of David Joris. Niclaes worked in the most important cities in the Netherlands, then 20 years in Emden ( Ostfriesland) and, temporarily, in England (where the focus of Familists in East Anglia were ), as Queen Elizabeth I in 1580, his writings had burned.

The Familists saw the essence of religion in love, they were ceremonies or beliefs indifferent. Pro forma they belonged mostly to the respective ( Catholic or Anglican ) the Established Church. Around the middle of the 17th century disappeared Familists.

Whether the English Familists have been merged into the Quakers or have influenced their theology is controversial in research.