I research transformations in nonconformist Protestant communities in early modern Europe. My specialty is Dutch & northern German "Anabaptists" (Mennonites), as well as related groups (Collegiants, plus liberal Calvinists, Jews, & Lutherans). Over the last several years I have been looking at the relationship between the "Radical Reformation" and the "Radical Enlightenment" in the Dutch Republic (ca. 1580-1795). In particular, I am investigating the activities of religious dissident printers, philosophers, and political activists. I am making some results of the work available online at http://dutchdissenters.net/. Since 2015 I have been collaborating with Gary Waite to investigate the role of Dutch dissenters in the Early Enlightenment - i.e., up until about 1700. Our shared project is called "Amsterdamnified." My broader research interests concern the comparative study of religious minorities and new religious movements around the world from the 15th through the 18th centuries, and the relationship between early modern politics and religion. I teach on a broad range of subjects. In the past I have taught courses on subjects including European intellectual and cultural history before 1850, revolutions in communication, Reformation history, and comparative studies of apocalyptic thought and movements. Since 2009 I have begun to focus more of my teaching on historical thinking and research methods.
Supervisors: James M. Stayer, Queen's U at Kingston (1990-1999) and Hans-Jürgen Goertz, Universität Hamburg (1991-1999)
Address: Dept. of History, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2S3A1, Canada