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tion, but Calvin wanted to point everyone agreed: chained to his leg. A monu- divide. Nevertheless, his exe-
show that he could be as Servetus was a heretic. But, ment now stands at the spot, cution was denounced and
uncompromising as his as a foreigner, the worst that while there are statues of him Calvin harshly criticized for
Catholic counterparts. Insults could legally happen to him in Annemasse, Vienne and the inhuman treatment of a
flew when Servetus met was that he should be deport- Paris, as well as in the village religious rival. Servetus is
Calvin. Servetus's trial, ed. Calvin wanted him where he was born. often regarded as the first
which lasted from August to beheaded, but his health was martyr by the Christian sect
October 1553, was followed did not allow him to be pres- Despite his intensive knowl- called the Unitarians, which
closely by Calvin and ent at the trial and his request edge of the Bible, despite his includes the Jehovah's
involved correspondence was ignored. Servetus was passionate devotion to Witnesses.
with other religious groups in finally burned at the stake at Christianity, Servetus suc-
search of solid religious and Champel on 27 October, ceeded in making enemies HAYWARD BEYWOOD
legal arguments. On one with a copy of his latest book on both sides of the religious
THE CRIME OF MICHAEL SERVETUS

Since the death of Jesus Christ and up to 1517, the Roman Catholic Church had adopted certain rites and procedu-
res as a normal part of its religious practice. From time to time throughout its history splinter groups had attempted
to introduce innovations or variations in the Christian faith. However well meaning these groups, they had not been
tolerated by the Church authorities, usually resulting in the heretics being put to a brutal death. In 1553, based on
his study of the Gospels and the early Church, Michael Servetus suggested going back to an earlier and simpler form
of religious practice. Since, in the eyes of the Catholic community in the sixteenth century, any form of change was
heresy, Servetus was a heretic and the punishment was simple: death by burning (as God would wish!!!).

Since the 1520s, a new form of Christianity had taken root in northern Europe: Protestantism or the Reformed
Church. The Protestants had, in their own eyes, returned to an earlier and simpler form of religion; one where there
were no rituals, no priestly robes, no images of saints, no ancient relics and no altars. However, for the Protestants,
the crime of Servetus was entirely different. In searching for a solid foundation for their doctrine, the Protestants had
decided to found themselves on the Holy Trinity and on baptism of the young child confirming its membership of
the church. Servetus rejected these ideas-added to which (and much worse), he had dared to contradict Calvin!

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