Acontista

An Acontista (from Greek akontistes, "javelin thrower") was a member of a 16th-century Anabaptist sect that rejected the doctrine of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. They believed that the Eucharist was a purely symbolic act of remembrance. This contrasted sharply with the views of other Protestant reformers, such as Martin Luther and Huldrych Zwingli, as well as the Catholic Church.

The Acontista movement was founded by Caspar Schwenckfeld, a Silesian nobleman and spiritual reformer. Schwenckfeld, although generally aligned with Anabaptist principles, had his own unique theological interpretations. His followers, including those labeled as Acontista, emphasized inner spiritual experience and de-emphasized external rituals and sacraments.

The term "Acontista" was primarily used by their opponents, likely as a derogatory label. The precise etymology of the term in this context is debated, but it is believed to relate to their perceived rejection of core Christian doctrines, "throwing away" key tenets in the same way a javelin thrower discards their weapon. While not all Schwenckfeldians necessarily subscribed to the specific view of the Eucharist associated with the Acontista label, the term was used to broadly associate Schwenckfeld's followers with a radical and heterodox view of the sacraments. The Acontista beliefs put them at odds with both Catholics and other Protestant groups of the time, leading to persecution and marginalization.