Out of the Flames
Book Description
In the turbulent landscape of sixteenth-century Europe, one man's quest for spiritual truth ignited a revolution that would echo through the centuries. Michael Servetus, a brilliant scientist and independent theologian, dared to challenge the religious orthodoxy of his time, paying the ultimate price for his convictions.
This gripping historical narrative follows the extraordinary journey of both a man and his forbidden book. Servetus discovered pulmonary circulation in the human body while simultaneously crafting a theological masterpiece that would shake the foundations of established Christianity. His work, the Christianismi Restitutio, directly confronted the doctrines championed by John Calvin and other Protestant leaders, marking him as a dangerous heretic.
When Servetus was burned at the stake in 1553, authorities believed they had silenced his voice forever, chaining the last known copy of his book to his dying body. Yet three copies survived, beginning a clandestine odyssey through history that would inspire generations of free thinkers.
Lawrence Goldstone traces this remarkable story of intellectual courage and the power of ideas to survive persecution. The narrative reveals how Servetus's legacy influenced luminaries like Voltaire, Jefferson, and others who championed freedom of thought. This compelling account demonstrates how individual conviction, preserved through the written word, can ultimately triumph over oppression and transform human understanding across centuries.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~10 hours)
📄 Length: 368 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Christian heresies
- ✓ Explore Biography
- ✓ Explore Servetus, michael, 1511?-1553
- ✓ Explore Christianity
- ✓ Explore Christianismi restitutio (Servet)
- ✓ Explore Unitarianism
- ✓ Explore Europe, church history
- ✓ Explore Biografie
