Comments on: Two Fun New Books

By: Calvinism (Continued From Comments) : Minor Thoughts

Calvinism (Continued From Comments) : Minor Thoughts — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:49:36 +0000

[...] Discussion continued from the comments section of “Two Fun New Books”. [...]

By: Joe Martin

Joe Martin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:53:29 +0000

I'm almost afraid to ask, but -- hey! -- nothing ventured, nothing learned.

I know a lot of Christians disagree with Calvin's theology, but I think this is the first time I've heard his ideas called "bizarre, incoherent, and loathsome". Is there one specific piece you disagree with (the idea of Unconditional Election or Limited Atonement perhaps) or is is the entire system?

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:27:28 +0000

I wonder if the enemy of Calvin mentioned in the description is one of his historical enemies – say, Michael Severtus, whom he had burned at the stake, or Castellio, who protested that he "who burns a man does not defend a doctrine, but only burns a man" as Calvin railed that "Freedom of conscience is a doctrine of the devil… Better to have a tyrant, however cruel, than have man do as he pleases."

Lest my antagonism be too cleverly disguised, I have little respect for the man – though admittedly that is only because I and many people I know remain afflicted today by the bizarre, incoherent, and loathsome theology born by him. I would probably be less hard on him if I were more emotionally removed from his theories.