In this episode I present my research on the Servetus affair in the
life of John Calvin. This event is used by anti-Calvinists typically as an ad
hominem attack against Calvinism more generally. Not only is such an argument
logically fallacious, but in this instance it is built on clearly demonstrable
revisionist history.
So did John Calvin have Servetus murdered? Let's find out and see why
accurately handling history matters.
Enjoy the show!
Thanks for the podcast. Your findings do resonate with a lot of what I've read about the case. The biggest point is that people thought Calvin had a lot of power in Geneva at that time. I think he had influence, but this is more likely a case of: 1. Servetus not just preaching some out of line doctrines but outright blasfamie; 2. The magistrates wanted to make a stand, showing protestant municipalities could also act strongly against outright heretics; 3. Servetus unreconcilitairian personality - he does seem to be a trouble maker everywhere he went.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Sjaak