Foxe's Books of Martyrs/The Radicals BOOK/DVD SET

Goes well together

I recently bought Foxe's Book of Martyrs and The Radicals DVD set. I think the two go well together. I haven't read all the book yet. (I noticed Foxe's view of Constantine the Great was more positive than I think we would now way). Between the two items they encourage Christians to stand up for what we believe in and to be prepared to suffer for it... even to death if necessary. For example on page 129 Anthony Ricetti declared "A good Christian is bound to relinquish not only goods and children, but life itself, for the glory of his Redeemer: therefore I am resolved to sacrifice everything in this transitory world for the sake of salvation in a world that will last to eternity." and on being told someone else had recanted answered "If he has forsaken God, I pity him; but I shall continue steadfast in my duty." My friend said she found it a very heavy book and hard to get through, but I haven't as yet.
The DVD tells the life, beliefs and deaths of Michael and Margareta Sattler, influential in the founding of the Swiss Brethren/Anabaptists. I was unable to play it on my computer for some reason. I don't know if living in the UK made a difference. However I was able to play it on my portable DVD player which I think is also Region 2. The DVD warns that it contains historical violence, which is a reasonable warning. I had an unexpected problem with what I would call "suggestive cuddling" They seemed to be caressing, sitting without outer garments in a bedroom type situation.
The DVD helped me understand why they believed what they did regarding non-violence, separation from the state etc and its relation to believer's baptism. I went on to read the book "Pilgrim Aflame" by Myron S Augsburger, which the film was based on. I noticed the events of the movie are different. I think they did this to make sense of the larger picture in Europe and to tie the scenes together. There are some extras on the DVD. My 11 year old, who I deliberately did not show the main movie to, wanted to watch the children's section and then declared it was boring, as I had thought she would. It is Margareta giving a commentary. We did watch the documentary part together but skipped the burning.
I personally am thinking seriously about what is the Church and what is it's relationship to the World. The Anabaptist view is very different from Calvin, Luther, and Zwingli - the last of which opposed the brethren using the same governmental methods as the Roman Catholics did. The DVD helped me think about what my own response in the present day, and in the UK, should be. I also think it could be very relevant if the New Apostolic Reformation crew were to gain power in government. ??