Outcome: "Servetus: Freedom of Science and Religion"

London, November 15, 2003
By Richard Boeke

"Jesus, thou son of the Eternal God, have mercy upon me." These were the last words of Michael Servetus as he was burned alive in Geneva, 27 Oct 1553. In autumn 2003, the 450th Anniversary of his death, Servetus Conferences were held in Spain, Geneva, Paris, and Budapest.

On the 15th of November, a full day Servetus conference was held at Croydon, England. Speakers ranging from Imam Abduljalil Sajid to Professor John H. Brooke found lessons from the life of Servetus that could be applied to our own efforts to reconcile religions and science. Born in Spain in 1511, Servetus was Physician, Scientist, Geographer, and Theologian.

The morning session focused on "Calvin, Servetus and Religion." The encounter of Servetus with Calvin was presented in a drama by Louis W. Jones, followed by Imam Sajid's discussion of the Rev'd Marcus Braybrooke's paper, "The Trinity, an obstacle for Christian Dialogue with Jews and Muslims." (Church Times, 31 Oct 2003) A report of the October Servetus Conference in Geneva was given by Cliff Reed with special reference to the contribution of Dean Elek Rezi of Transylvania. Rezi documented the connection between the books of Servetus and the beginnings of Unitarianism in Transylvania in 1568. This was followed by Andrew Hill's controversial paper, "Does Unitarianism owe more to Calvin than to Servetus?"

Alan Ruston chaired the afternoon session, on SERVETUS, SCIENCE AND RELIGION. David Williams, Emeritus Perren Professor of Astronomy, University College, London contrasted "Servetus: an holistic view of knowledge," with the fragmentation that characterizes university departments today. John H. Brooke, Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion, Oxford, begin his talk by pointing out that 16th and 17th century thinkers did not differentiate sharply between their science and their religion. "Servetus is a prime example: A radical innovator in his theology and a reformer of Galen's physiology, these seeming disparate elements were unified by his understanding of divine immanence in the world: 'The vital spirit of Galen was identified with the Holy Ghost.'" Richard Boeke, Secretary of the World Congress of Faiths www.worldfaiths.org <http://www.worldfaiths.org/> , focused on breath, the Ruach Hagofen, as a link to the holy in every religion. He linked "the breath of God" and Servetus to the "Elan Vital" of Philosopher Henri Bergson. He responded to Andrew Hill's paper with reference to Bergson's book "Two Sources of Morality and Religion." In religion there are the priests, like Calvin, who maintain the institution and the society. There are also the prophets, like Servetus, who "dream the impossible dream." Who risk rejection and death for the sake of the new truth they have discovered. In science, in religion, and in each of us, there are always elements of both priest and prophet. After discussion, the conference closed with thanks to the speakers, and thanks to our hosts: the Rev'd Elizabeth Birtles and the Croydon Unitarian Church.

Servetus: A modern INDIVIDUAL? l Servetus studied the stars. He predicted the eclipse of Mars by the moon on 13 February 1538. In 2003, Mars was closer to earth than it has been for centuries. mmm Servetus denied the Trinity. He wrote to Calvin,"Instead of God, you have a Cerberus of three heads: the Trinity." E Servetus lived in a world which killed & expelled Jews & Muslims. We witnessed Hitler's Holocaust, and now war with many Muslims. Servetus envisioned a common spiritual reality worshipped by Jew, Christian, and Muslim. He sought to reconcile these enemies. We sense Holiness, a reality greater than any one creed.

Y Servetus was a scientist, who discovered the pulmonary circulation of the blood 75 years before Harvey: the spirit inspired in the lungs."God breathed into the human form, and the human form became a living soul." h Servetus was a doctor, who sought to heal body & soul. We encourage good diet, exercise, meditation & yoga. P Servetus was a geographer, who saw the relation between the way we care for our world and the way we live. In his editions of Ptolemy's Geography, he saw our planet as the common home of humanity. Earth was given us as a garden. He lived in a time of rapid change. As he was born, da Vinci drew a model of an airplane. The New World of America was being explored. Servetus wrote, "It should be named for Columbus." Henry the VIII switched wives & created the Church of England. 2003, the 100th Anniversary of the first airplane flight. Think of the changes in our lifetime. E Servetus was stubborn and single minded. He was not a "team player" but more of a Don Quixote who tilted at Windmills. Of course, none of us are like that.