Constant comments on Best videos inspiring first interest in rationality or the singularity - Less Wrong
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What you state seems to largely reflect the claims made by the Catholic Encyclopedia, which states:
However, Wikipedia cites Luigi Firpo as including among the reasons for Bruno's condemnation and execution:
I tracked down what appears to be the original book - pdf - by Firpo, which lists:
Running this through the ever more amazing Google Translate:
From which we extract:
I also found a Vatican reference (notice the "va" domain), which mentions:
This is indirect evidence, but it is evidence. Why at this late stage is Bruno defending these theories as scientifically founded and not against the Holy Scriptures if he is not on trial for these theories (among others)? Of course, being on trial for these theories is not the same thing as being convicted for these theories - so I say, it is only evidence, not proof, of the reason for conviction. (Though, that he was put on trial for these theories - which I think is much more well established by the evidence than that he was convicted for them - is itself bad enough.)
[edit - the phrase "before the execution of the sentence" suggests that the statements are made after conviction; it is not clear to me how this alters its import as evidence, though I tend to think it strengthens it, because he is saying these things in light of his conviction]
Constant, thanks for the detailed reply. After considering the evidence you presented, I now agree that at least one (out of fifteen?) of the charges that he was on trial for had to do with his astronomical theories. Also, I am very surprised to learn that one of his charges was that he thought Jesus was rightfully "hanged" for being a deceiver.
I'll see if I can hunt down a decent source on whether or not he was actually convicted of the fifth charge.