Jacques Gruet
Encyclopedia
Jacques Gruet was a libertine
and an atheist, who was put to death in Geneva
during John Calvin
's lifetime in the 16th century.
Gruet used to frequent taverns, and his behaviour was unacceptable by the religious standards of those days. He wrote blasphemous notes and defied social conventions.
Jacques Gruet argued for more personal freedom
, and stated that all laws, both God
's and Man
's, were nothing but laws made by men for their very own pleasure.
Gruet left an anonymous placard threatening Calvin, and the authorities investigated. A search of Gruet's house produced notes he wrote that openly criticized the law, stating that only those that go against the state should be upheld, and also depicting Calvin as a hypocrite. He also mocked the scriptures, ridiculed Christ
, and derided the immortality
of the soul
as a simple fairy tale
.
He was arrested by Calvin, tortured for a month and beheaded on July 26, 1547.
Libertine
A libertine is one devoid of most moral restraints, which are seen as unnecessary or undesirable, especially one who ignores or even spurns accepted morals and forms of behavior sanctified by the larger society. Libertines, also known as rakes, placed value on physical pleasures, meaning those...
and an atheist, who was put to death in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
during John Calvin
John Calvin
John Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530...
's lifetime in the 16th century.
Gruet used to frequent taverns, and his behaviour was unacceptable by the religious standards of those days. He wrote blasphemous notes and defied social conventions.
Jacques Gruet argued for more personal freedom
Freedom (political)
Political freedom is a central philosophy in Western history and political thought, and one of the most important features of democratic societies...
, and stated that all laws, both God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
's and Man
Man
The term man is used for an adult human male . However, man is sometimes used to refer to humanity as a whole...
's, were nothing but laws made by men for their very own pleasure.
Gruet left an anonymous placard threatening Calvin, and the authorities investigated. A search of Gruet's house produced notes he wrote that openly criticized the law, stating that only those that go against the state should be upheld, and also depicting Calvin as a hypocrite. He also mocked the scriptures, ridiculed Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
, and derided the immortality
Immortality
Immortality is the ability to live forever. It is unknown whether human physical immortality is an achievable condition. Biological forms have inherent limitations which may or may not be able to be overcome through medical interventions or engineering...
of the soul
Soul
A soul in certain spiritual, philosophical, and psychological traditions is the incorporeal essence of a person or living thing or object. Many philosophical and spiritual systems teach that humans have souls, and others teach that all living things and even inanimate objects have souls. The...
as a simple fairy tale
Fairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
.
He was arrested by Calvin, tortured for a month and beheaded on July 26, 1547.