The Case of Michael Servetus

The Case of Michael Servetus - Marian Hillar

This text traces the development of modern thought in history as far back as what is acknowledged as its turning point. It follows the first establishment of the morally bankrupt ideology of the post-Nicaean Christianity and its implementation in societies. Within this historical background the figure of Michael Servetus is examined, together with his programme, his struggle to express his ideas, their repression, and their impact on the intellectual spheres of the epoch. The author asserts that Servetus' sacrifice induced another humanist, Sebastian Castellio, to rethink the issue of heresy and its repression and was a crucial step in forcing people to evaluate the morality of prevailing church ideology. Servetus' theological inquiry, initiated the study of the Bible and an attempt to uncover the real religious doctrines contained in it. Both these aspects led to a chain reaction - development of the Antitrinitarian movement - the Socinianism - the Enlightenment - American democracy, and the French Revolution.