(Newswire.net — November 19, 2014) Thomson, Illinois — Johannes Gutenberg certainly played a major role in Christian history by developing a printing press that could produce Bibles in large quantities, but was he himself a believer?
Historian and Christian audio theater producer Bill Heid says Gutenberg was indeed a Christian. In fact, Heid says many figures in world history – such as William Wallace and William Thomson – were Christians, despite what secular textbooks may indicate.
Heid wrote about several of these men in his latest blog post, “5 Heroes In History You Didn’t Know Were Christians.”
“While modern secularists insist on marginalizing Christians, characterizing them as irrelevant and removing them from the public discussion, Christians have played bigger roles in history than we are told,” Heid wrote. “In fact, history is chocked full of heroes who gladly bore the stigma of their personal relationship to Christ. And, while you will probably recognize the names of most of these prominent figures, their Christian faith may surprise you.”
Heid is the executive producer of a new children’s audio movie, In Freedom’s Cause, that tells the Christian story of Wallace, who moviegoers may remember as the main character in Braveheart.
“Wallace was a man equipped with great physical power and mental vigor, and he marked his military life with prayer and Christian character,” Heid wrote. “He also served as a foreign ambassador for Scotland throughout Western Europe.
“His courageous actions left him a target for those seeking power. During his trial for treason, he defended himself with intellectual skill and great tenacity and humility. His last action while living was to ask that his Psalter – given to him as a boy – be held in front of his face until he expired.”
And Gutenberg?
“Gutenberg revolutionized intellectualism by his development of the moveable type press,” Heid wrote. “While the development expanded literacy more than any other movement in history, his purpose was not to create a more intellectual population, but rather a more biblically literate population.”
For more information about Gutenberg, Wallace and other Christian heroes, click here.
Based on the book by G.A. Henty, In Freedom’s Cause has received high marks from many, including homeschooling and curriculum expert Cathy Duffy. The project is the second one by Heirloom Audio Productions, which also released Under Drake’s Flag last year. Each 2-CD set is accompanied with a study guide and discussion starter.
“While other publishers have created outstanding audio recordings, both abridged and unabridged, the new presentations from Heirloom Audio are really something special,” Duffy wrote. “The script writers, the sound engineer, the actors, the creator of the musical score, and others involved in making these productions have been involved in major, critically-acclaimed productions, and their expertise shows! These are really top-notch, audio theater experiences as well as an entertaining way to learn some history.”
In Freedom’s Cause features Joanne Froggatt (Anna Bates of Downton Abbey), Billy Boyd (Pippin of The Lord Of The Rings), Skandar Keynes (Edmund of The Chronicles of Narnia series) and James Cosmo (Campbell, Father Christmas of Braveheart and The Chronicles of Narnia, respectively), as well as a score by composer John Campbell (Lamplighter Theatre, Focus on the Family Radio Theatre, Adventures in Odyssey).
For more information, visit InFreedomsCause.com.