I have read the board some before joining and do appreciate the civil atmosphere and hope to occasionally contribute. I use the name Servetus because, though I recognize some of their faults, I tend toward the Unitarian and even Deistic forms of Christianity and also because Michael Servetus is, to me, a fascinating though comparatively minor historical character. One of his biographers said that he was the only Christian to have ever been burned by Roman Catholics in effigy and by Protestants (John Calvin) in actuality. I would say, in any case, that the Spaniard got some attention.
It is said, moreover, that Martin Luther called Servetus “the Moor,” perhaps an indirect reference to his possibly being at least a crypto-Muslim, and the record shows that John Calvin’s prosecutor did, in fact, ask Servetus, when the latter was put to trial and ultimately death for heresy for his having published his manuscript, On the Errors of the Trinity, whether he had read and been influenced by the Quran.
That was long ago, and, though I am still spitting charcoal, I hold no grudges (even against Calvinists
). With that said, I am not only interested in religions as such, but, as an amateur student of both history and political science, I also watch the intersection of religion and politics: especially the chiliastic, or “messianic,” idea in politics, because I consider that the predominant political movements of the 20th Century, from National Socialism to Communism to Zionism, were largely chiliastic if secular in nature. Thus, to me, chiliasm is both politically and spiritually potent.
Finally, and more personally, though I call myself a student, I am world-traveled and am, at times, an (unfortunately usually self-conscious) participant in the religious mysteries, so called. Having spent the greater part of my youth being “progressive” and consciously dismantling most things my Christian predecessors considered worthwhile, true to form, now, as age, in John Donne’s phrase, snows white hairs on me (I am 51 yrs old), I find myself returning with a greater appreciation to the God of my Christian father and forefathers. It would all be rather like the Prodigal Son, except that I cannot recall being reduced to tending pigs, even metaphorically speaking. For that I am grateful.
Best regards,
Servetus
It is said, moreover, that Martin Luther called Servetus “the Moor,” perhaps an indirect reference to his possibly being at least a crypto-Muslim, and the record shows that John Calvin’s prosecutor did, in fact, ask Servetus, when the latter was put to trial and ultimately death for heresy for his having published his manuscript, On the Errors of the Trinity, whether he had read and been influenced by the Quran.
That was long ago, and, though I am still spitting charcoal, I hold no grudges (even against Calvinists
). With that said, I am not only interested in religions as such, but, as an amateur student of both history and political science, I also watch the intersection of religion and politics: especially the chiliastic, or “messianic,” idea in politics, because I consider that the predominant political movements of the 20th Century, from National Socialism to Communism to Zionism, were largely chiliastic if secular in nature. Thus, to me, chiliasm is both politically and spiritually potent.Finally, and more personally, though I call myself a student, I am world-traveled and am, at times, an (unfortunately usually self-conscious) participant in the religious mysteries, so called. Having spent the greater part of my youth being “progressive” and consciously dismantling most things my Christian predecessors considered worthwhile, true to form, now, as age, in John Donne’s phrase, snows white hairs on me (I am 51 yrs old), I find myself returning with a greater appreciation to the God of my Christian father and forefathers. It would all be rather like the Prodigal Son, except that I cannot recall being reduced to tending pigs, even metaphorically speaking. For that I am grateful.
Best regards,
Servetus
