BEKKER, BALTHASAR

(1634–1698)

Theologian, Calvinist minis ter in Amsterdam, rationalist, and follower of Rene Descartes. Bekker studied in Groningenand Franeker. In 1691, he published a lengthy tract, De betoverde wereld [The World Bewitched], in which he condemned the belief in the power of witches and the devil as su perstition. Because of his heterodox views, he was suspended by the Provincial Synod, but the burgomasters of Amsterdam supported him.