This co-hosted history podcast delves into the life and execution of Michael Servetus, a 16th-century polymath and theologian whose radical Protestant views led to his burning at the stake in Geneva. The hosts discuss Servetus's contributions to science (e.g., describing blood circulation before Harvey) and his theological controversies, particularly his rejection of the Trinity, which ultimately led to his conflict with John Calvin. The discussion then shifts to Calvin's influence on Geneva, establishing it as a model Protestant city-state with a unique balance of religious liberty and strict moral order enforced by a consistory. The episode concludes by drawing parallels between the historical tensions surrounding religious freedom and contemporary debates about free speech and its limitations. A specific example is the comparison of Servetus's actions to a modern-day controversial speaker appearing at a university.
