Now if that very special executive producer would stop by.
The image below shows recent activity.
Supporting "The Passion of the Heretic", a narrative feature film script about the life of Michael Servetus (1511-2011).
Showing posts with label The Passion of the Heretic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Passion of the Heretic. Show all posts
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Servetus Project website exceeds 4000 hits
The Servetus Project website has exceeded 4000 pageviews. Today, the total pageviews reached 4020 at 5:00 EDT August 1, 2013. I appreciate all the attention and feedback. I'm looking forward to a bright future and I hope we will all be able to see a feature film about Michael Servetus' life in the near future.
Now if that very special executive producer would stop by.
The image below shows recent activity.
Now if that very special executive producer would stop by.
The image below shows recent activity.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
The Servetus Project and the book, Rebel With a Cause: The Radical Reformer, has been featured on two European websites. One French Unitarian and one Italian Unitarian church have placed an announcement of the book on their websites.
I appreciate this publicity a great deal. It is special to me when Unitarian groups express interest in my work on The Servetus Project. You can see the web pages at:
Unitarian News French
Unitarian Christians of the "BET DAVID CHURCH" Italian
Michael servetus plays an important role in the development of Unitarianism. His role is based mainly on his earliest book, On the Errors of The Trinity which gave focus to the various anti-Trinitarian ideas and groups in the 16th century. His last book, The Restitution of Christianity, was nearly eradicated by his enemies before it could be distributed widely. It was not able to affect Christian theology, though it has many important memes that developed much later in Christian history. These mostly positive changes could have come much earlier if his ideas had been distributed as widely as On the Errors of The Trinity.
There are only three extant copies of The Restitution of Christianity in libraries and they have only been translated from the original Latin into Spanish and English in recent years. they have not yet received the theological examination they deserve.
I appreciate this publicity a great deal. It is special to me when Unitarian groups express interest in my work on The Servetus Project. You can see the web pages at:
Unitarian News French
Unitarian Christians of the "BET DAVID CHURCH" Italian
Michael servetus plays an important role in the development of Unitarianism. His role is based mainly on his earliest book, On the Errors of The Trinity which gave focus to the various anti-Trinitarian ideas and groups in the 16th century. His last book, The Restitution of Christianity, was nearly eradicated by his enemies before it could be distributed widely. It was not able to affect Christian theology, though it has many important memes that developed much later in Christian history. These mostly positive changes could have come much earlier if his ideas had been distributed as widely as On the Errors of The Trinity.
There are only three extant copies of The Restitution of Christianity in libraries and they have only been translated from the original Latin into Spanish and English in recent years. they have not yet received the theological examination they deserve.
Friday, July 19, 2013
An Overdue Update
I can remember when I expected to have my revision of The Passion of the Heretic script and of Rebel With a Cause: The Radical Reformer finished in November of 2012. Life interfered. I interfered. The Economy interfered. This all held up the reprinting of my sold out book, Rebel With a Cause. Now I am poised to finish the script re-write by the end of July, 2013, and begin the additions to the book and a rewrite of the former non-script parts of the book. So it looks like a fall printing date. If nothing interferes.
As for the film, no one with millions to invest has shown up as of today. I'm still convinced this story could be a money making film for some enterprising Executive Producer. Whether it is my script, my script revised by professional screenwriters, or another vision of Michael's story, I do not care. My part in this project is to be a catalyst to getting a narrative film made about the life of this extraordinary Enlightenment man who was, unfortunately, born in the Renaissance period. Somehow, someway, someone in the movie industry will tell the right person this dramatic story and the money grease will fall into place. Wheels will turn.
It is my contention that had Michael been born one hundred fifty years or two hundred years later, he would be celebrated with John Locke, Francis Bacon, Voltaire, Issac Newton, Gottfried Liebniz, Benjamin Franklin, Immanuel Kant, and many other Enlightenment notables. He could have known and discoursed with many of them. The primary difference would be the Inquisition would have been laid to rest and his ideas and contributions could have been more easily accepted or critiqued. Though there could have been an adversary as powerful as Calvin, there would have also been more protectors. Martin Luther only succeeded in his breakaway from Catholicism because German Princes gave him protection. Michael's ideas were too radical in 1553, but could have at least gotten a fair hearing in 1753.
I digress from my writing, or rather, my lack of writing. I am at page one hundred in the script, having gone over the previous pages and added improvements (I hope) and more drama at important moments. I have been reading also. I have started Michael's Christianismi Restitutio (English translation, Christopher Hoffman and Marian Hillar, Edwin Mellon, 2007). That is hard reading for me, even in English since I am not a theologian and it would be dense reading even if I were. I'll get back to that, but for now I have moved on. I re-read Jerome Friedman's Michael Servetus: A Case Study in Total Heresy. This book provides an explanation of Michael's theology, not exhaustive, not necessarily correct, but available. I wish there were more scholarly studies of Michael's thoughts and beliefs.
Around page one hundred in the script, Michael arrives in Geneva and the great trial gets underway. This is the most difficult part of the script for me to write. How do I show the trial drama to an audience without making it into a boring journey through legal and theological arguments? And when that is necessary, how to show the intense theological debate Calvin and Michael had to an audience that would not follow it anyway? As I said about Christianismi Restitutio, I have a lot of trouble following it myself. In this quandary, I turned to the current masterpiece of legal investigation into the trial, Did Calvin Murder Servetus. At five hundred and sixty-two pages, sixteen appendices, and fourteen pages of biographical references, this is a mighty tome to study. It does, however, explain the intricacies and substance of the trial. Stanford Rives, Esq., the author, has explained the trial and Calvin's part in it in great detail with nearly one thousand (990) footnotes. I haven't finished re-reading it, but it will make the presentation of the trial much more exciting. Mr. Rives has honored me with several email exchanges over the past few years.
Another thing I must mention is the encouragement to keep working on this I have received. My wife has always been a source of understanding support. Several friends ask me about the project when they see me. I have gotten two requests for books through social media networks in the last week. Since the book sold out in October of 2012, it is exciting to have this mini-revival of interest. A few months ago my dear friend and blogger buddy, Helen Holshouser bought a book Helen has mysteriously been interested and impressed with my script and book to a greater extent than most of my other peeps. She has bought more books and talked to more people than anybody else. She also gives me more flattery (of the good kind) than I probably deserve. Helen wrote a magazine article about me and my writing for Our State magazine. They only accept articles from their regular writers. We are holding publication by someone until the new book is ready. I'd like to extend many thanks to all my friends with a special tip 'o the hat to Helen.
And if I finish the book in the fall, that is just in time for your Christmas giving list.
As for the film, no one with millions to invest has shown up as of today. I'm still convinced this story could be a money making film for some enterprising Executive Producer. Whether it is my script, my script revised by professional screenwriters, or another vision of Michael's story, I do not care. My part in this project is to be a catalyst to getting a narrative film made about the life of this extraordinary Enlightenment man who was, unfortunately, born in the Renaissance period. Somehow, someway, someone in the movie industry will tell the right person this dramatic story and the money grease will fall into place. Wheels will turn.
It is my contention that had Michael been born one hundred fifty years or two hundred years later, he would be celebrated with John Locke, Francis Bacon, Voltaire, Issac Newton, Gottfried Liebniz, Benjamin Franklin, Immanuel Kant, and many other Enlightenment notables. He could have known and discoursed with many of them. The primary difference would be the Inquisition would have been laid to rest and his ideas and contributions could have been more easily accepted or critiqued. Though there could have been an adversary as powerful as Calvin, there would have also been more protectors. Martin Luther only succeeded in his breakaway from Catholicism because German Princes gave him protection. Michael's ideas were too radical in 1553, but could have at least gotten a fair hearing in 1753.
I digress from my writing, or rather, my lack of writing. I am at page one hundred in the script, having gone over the previous pages and added improvements (I hope) and more drama at important moments. I have been reading also. I have started Michael's Christianismi Restitutio (English translation, Christopher Hoffman and Marian Hillar, Edwin Mellon, 2007). That is hard reading for me, even in English since I am not a theologian and it would be dense reading even if I were. I'll get back to that, but for now I have moved on. I re-read Jerome Friedman's Michael Servetus: A Case Study in Total Heresy. This book provides an explanation of Michael's theology, not exhaustive, not necessarily correct, but available. I wish there were more scholarly studies of Michael's thoughts and beliefs.
Around page one hundred in the script, Michael arrives in Geneva and the great trial gets underway. This is the most difficult part of the script for me to write. How do I show the trial drama to an audience without making it into a boring journey through legal and theological arguments? And when that is necessary, how to show the intense theological debate Calvin and Michael had to an audience that would not follow it anyway? As I said about Christianismi Restitutio, I have a lot of trouble following it myself. In this quandary, I turned to the current masterpiece of legal investigation into the trial, Did Calvin Murder Servetus. At five hundred and sixty-two pages, sixteen appendices, and fourteen pages of biographical references, this is a mighty tome to study. It does, however, explain the intricacies and substance of the trial. Stanford Rives, Esq., the author, has explained the trial and Calvin's part in it in great detail with nearly one thousand (990) footnotes. I haven't finished re-reading it, but it will make the presentation of the trial much more exciting. Mr. Rives has honored me with several email exchanges over the past few years.
Another thing I must mention is the encouragement to keep working on this I have received. My wife has always been a source of understanding support. Several friends ask me about the project when they see me. I have gotten two requests for books through social media networks in the last week. Since the book sold out in October of 2012, it is exciting to have this mini-revival of interest. A few months ago my dear friend and blogger buddy, Helen Holshouser bought a book Helen has mysteriously been interested and impressed with my script and book to a greater extent than most of my other peeps. She has bought more books and talked to more people than anybody else. She also gives me more flattery (of the good kind) than I probably deserve. Helen wrote a magazine article about me and my writing for Our State magazine. They only accept articles from their regular writers. We are holding publication by someone until the new book is ready. I'd like to extend many thanks to all my friends with a special tip 'o the hat to Helen.
And if I finish the book in the fall, that is just in time for your Christmas giving list.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
'Unitarian Dome' Makes Groundbreaking Announcement
Unitarian Dome (See comments on 'About this Book' page) has just posted that documented evidence exists for the alternate theory of where Michael Servetus was born and who his father is. I consider this to be big news in the Servetus Studies world. This debate has been going on for centuries primarily because of two different stories Michael told the courts in Vienne and Geneva. UD's quote, "What do we know? That he is miguel de Villanueva, born in Tudela, and that his father is Villanueva. Stated in inspected documents.". I have asked about this documentation and what it consists of. Although Unitarian Dome has repeatedly said he was leaving the discussion, I am hoping he will favor me with a return to explain this groundbreaking discovery. It would be exciting to have this evidence revealed on my website. As I said in my earlier post, "New research is always welcome. One of the greatest benefits of a big hit movie about Michael is that it will spur research of all kinds".
If someone has done the groundbreaking research necessary to solve this riddle of the ages, I hope we can see the results soon. That way other scholars can confirm the accuracy of the evidence or debunk it. But it has to be revealed to an eager world first. If we can't see it, we can't accept or reject it.
Where Michael was born does not affect my script. What he said about his past in Vienne and in Geneva is a matter of record and I won't change that in the scenes of the script. The script begins with Michael in Quintana's service (the second time) and follows him until his death. He speaks of missing his home and family without naming individuals. He is introduced to Charles V as Michael Servetus by Quintana. And, later in the story, he does admit to friends that he changed his name to Villenueve when he moved to Paris and adopted a secret identity. But these are minor things that can be changed easily if this newly announced discovery proves to be legitimate.
If someone has done the groundbreaking research necessary to solve this riddle of the ages, I hope we can see the results soon. That way other scholars can confirm the accuracy of the evidence or debunk it. But it has to be revealed to an eager world first. If we can't see it, we can't accept or reject it.
Where Michael was born does not affect my script. What he said about his past in Vienne and in Geneva is a matter of record and I won't change that in the scenes of the script. The script begins with Michael in Quintana's service (the second time) and follows him until his death. He speaks of missing his home and family without naming individuals. He is introduced to Charles V as Michael Servetus by Quintana. And, later in the story, he does admit to friends that he changed his name to Villenueve when he moved to Paris and adopted a secret identity. But these are minor things that can be changed easily if this newly announced discovery proves to be legitimate.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Stimulating Discussion Continues
In case you have not been to the 'About This Book' page recently, there are interesting posts there about the birthplace of Michael Servetus. On January 2, 2012 'Boston Clifford Center' posted about the research of Gonzalez Echiverriria and his book E Amor a la Verdad (For Love of Truth). On the same day 'Unitarian Dome' wrote another comment about the same thing. Since I had not heard of any of this research in my graduate school research, I was intrigued. I always welcome new academic research on the life of this great man. I immediately set about to search for a way to buy this book that Boston Clifford said "is becoming very important in the USA". I couldn't find a place to buy this book online and I still have not. I have since been assured it is available in the Spanish edition. I wondered, "How can a book be important in the USA and not be available"?
I decided to find out who Boston Clifford Center and Unitarian Dome are. By clicking to their Blogger profiles, I thought I would be able to contact them for more information on the book. Neither profile had information about who they were, nor did they have any blog writings on Blogger. Hmmm, I got curious then. I posted replies to each on February 19, 2012 trying to open the door to a response with some questions and inquiring about the book. So far there has been no reply to either of my replies from either poster.
On August 14, 2012, Jaume de Marcos Andreu responded to the assertions by Boston Clifford and Unitarian Dome. Since then Unitarian Dome and Mr. Marcos have been explaining their positions in a stimulating discourse. I encourage you to click over to the page and read some of it. By the way, Unitarian Dome has given me his name privately, but wishes to remain anonymous publicly.
You can also read a broader discussion of the issue of Michael's birthplace and the reasearch of Mr. Echiverria by going to the Wikipedia article on Michael Servetus and clicking on the 'Talk' button at the top (beside the 'Article' button). Down a bit and to the right is an icon for Archives, under it click on 'March 2005-August 2012'. You will be transported to a discussion of this issue that has been going on for years. Actually, the disagreement over whether Michael was born in Sijena de Villaneuva or Tudela, Spain has been going on for centuries.
The Servetus Project has as it's mission the production of a dramatic feature film about the remarkable life of Michael Servetus. I depend on research from scholars over the centuries to learn about Michael and the context of his times in order to make the best film script possible. New research is always welcome. One of the greatest benefits of a big hit movie about Michael is that it will spur research of all kinds. I use the example of the movie Titanic as an example. The movie production itself did a huge amount of research. The revived interest in society caused research by historians, resulting in documentaries and written history. In addition to historical research, it will be more likely that Michael's religious ideas will get long deserved discourse from theological scholars.
That said, all new research should expect to be subjected to rigorous academic review. Supporters of new research and new theories about Michael's life should expect to be patient while this review goes forth. Defenders of traditional ideas should expect to have some new information survive the review and some to fail on further examination. It is my hope that we can all remain focused on the life and legacy of this great man and the promotion of his contribution to our freedom of conscience, which makes academic discourse possible.
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