This is a series about secrets of the inquisition. As someone who is not a historian, and only having a basic understanding of the history of Christianity in Europe (still probably more than most), I found it informative.
For example, I didn't know that the inquisition spanned 600 years. And I didn't know that it existed outside Spain. And I didn't know that Napoleon tried to put an end to it. And I didn't know that it was still going on in the 19th century. And I didn't know that the current Pope held the office of inquisitor, now renamed something more publicly acceptable.
The fact that the series dwells on records from the Vatican doesn't bother me. The title of the series suggests that, and the introduction to each episode makes clear that the series is based on access to Vatican records, and that even that access was limited, so we're not getting the whole story as even the Vatican knows it.
However, there is slight bias in the series, tending to justify Catholic actions by blaming them on the times, while neglecting the obvious which is that religions claim to produce better people, so the defence of blaming bad behaviour on the times is invalid. One inexplicable scene minimizes the obvious torture of being immersed in boiling oil, by accepting at face value the claim that the victim was stoic and silent, and showing him that way in the re-enactment. People can endure a lot with proper training, but I simply don't believe a person can be cooked to death in boiling oil (taking 15 minutes) and not make any expression of anything.
One thing people might take note of... If the Roman Catholic church, with all its power, could not censor the printing press, I think it's folly for anyone to try to censor the internet. That won't stop many from trying, but we can smile knowing they will be defeated.
For example, I didn't know that the inquisition spanned 600 years. And I didn't know that it existed outside Spain. And I didn't know that Napoleon tried to put an end to it. And I didn't know that it was still going on in the 19th century. And I didn't know that the current Pope held the office of inquisitor, now renamed something more publicly acceptable.
The fact that the series dwells on records from the Vatican doesn't bother me. The title of the series suggests that, and the introduction to each episode makes clear that the series is based on access to Vatican records, and that even that access was limited, so we're not getting the whole story as even the Vatican knows it.
However, there is slight bias in the series, tending to justify Catholic actions by blaming them on the times, while neglecting the obvious which is that religions claim to produce better people, so the defence of blaming bad behaviour on the times is invalid. One inexplicable scene minimizes the obvious torture of being immersed in boiling oil, by accepting at face value the claim that the victim was stoic and silent, and showing him that way in the re-enactment. People can endure a lot with proper training, but I simply don't believe a person can be cooked to death in boiling oil (taking 15 minutes) and not make any expression of anything.
One thing people might take note of... If the Roman Catholic church, with all its power, could not censor the printing press, I think it's folly for anyone to try to censor the internet. That won't stop many from trying, but we can smile knowing they will be defeated.