What is Calvinism and its beliefs?

[Hentenza]

Then, for the third time - my position is the same as Barth's.

Perhaps to advance our discussion I should elaborate his position.

God’s grace is absolute and victorious. In Barth’s theology, Christ’s atoning work is decisive for all humanity. Through Christ’s incarnation, death, and resurrection, the whole of creation is reconciled to God.

Hell remains possible but not necessary. Barth acknowledged the reality of divine judgment and human freedom to resist God, but he refused to affirm that anyone must be damned. Instead, he argued that we cannot know that anyone is lost, only that God has acted to save all.

Therefore, Christians may hope - though not assert - that God’s mercy will finally triumph and that hell will, in the end, be empty.

Thus we cannot preach universal salvation as doctrine, but we must not deny the possibility that God’s grace will save all.

Now that I have elaborated my position perhaps you will elaborate Calvin's reading of, say, Luke 7:30? This thread is after all about Calvinism.

I’m not a Calvinist. Assuming is not a good thing is it? I replied to your post because you made it like you where hitting some philosophical view but in further inspection is just about someone else’s thought and opinion not yours.

 

[Colo Millz]

I’m not a Calvinist. Assuming is not a good thing is it? I replied to your post because you made it like you where hitting some philosophical view but in further inspection is just about someone else’s thought and opinion not yours.

Very good.

PS: Though I would still like someone's opinion about Luke 7:30.

 

[Hentenza]

Very good.

Why?

 

[Colo Millz]

Why?

It's just a way of saying ok, fine, very well, excellent, etc.

 

[Aaron112]

p.s. it is apparent that Barth, and those who pay heed to Barth (or Calvin),
are grossly in error.

 

[Colo Millz]

I’m not a Calvinist. Assuming is not a good thing is it? I replied to your post because you made it like you where hitting some philosophical view but in further inspection is just about someone else’s thought and opinion not yours.

Incidentally I am struck by your description of Karl Barth as just "someone else".

He is described for example as the "[l]eading Protestant systematic theologian of modern times".

Michael Glazier and Monika K. Hellwig, The Modern Catholic Encyclopedia (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2004), 68.

and

"[o]ne of the most influential theologians of the 20th century".

Andrew R. Talbert, “Hermeneutics, History of,” in The Lexham Bible Dictionary, ed. John D. Barry et al. (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

and

"probably the most important Protestant theologian of the twentieth century".

Thomas G. Weinandy, Jesus the Christ (Ex Fontibus Company, 2020), 162.

His work reshaped theology after the collapse of 19th-century liberalism and continues to affect nearly every branch of Christian thought today.

His influence on Catholic theologians such as von Balthasar and Rahner was immense, as well as Protestant figures like Bonhoeffer and Moltmann.

He also helped prepare the ground for the Second Vatican Council’s renewed focus on revelation and Christocentrism.

Calling Karl Barth "someone else" in a forum that is supposed to be about General Theology is kind of like calling Plato "some guy" in a philosophy forum.

 

[Aaron112]

Jesus Boldly Says His Father in Heaven hides salvation and everything about salvation from the educated ones.

He has no respect for them at all.

 

[Hentenza]

Incidentally I am struck by your description of Karl Barth as just "someone else".

He is described for example as the "[l]eading Protestant systematic theologian of modern times".

Michael Glazier and Monika K. Hellwig, The Modern Catholic Encyclopedia (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2004), 68.

and

"[o]ne of the most influential theologians of the 20th century".

Andrew R. Talbert, “Hermeneutics, History of,” in The Lexham Bible Dictionary, ed. John D. Barry et al. (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

and

"probably the most important Protestant theologian of the twentieth century".

Thomas G. Weinandy, Jesus the Christ (Ex Fontibus Company, 2020), 162.

His work reshaped theology after the collapse of 19th-century liberalism and continues to affect nearly every branch of Christian thought today.

His influence on Catholic theologians such as von Balthasar and Rahner was immense, as well as Protestant figures like Bonhoeffer and Moltmann.

He also helped prepare the ground for the Second Vatican Council’s renewed focus on revelation and Christocentrism.

Calling Karl Barth "someone else" in a forum that is supposed to be about General Theology is kind of like calling Plato "some guy" in a philosophy forum.

I know who Barth is but I always hope, usually with disappointment, that people here will discuss the topic from their educated understanding in their own words not using others to ”prove” their point.

 

[A New Dawn]

"Heart" rather than salvation, ok.

So where in scripture does it state that God's desire is thwarted by mankind?

In Genesis, after the fall. God created man with a free will. Adam, the only person who actually had the ability to utilize his free will, chose to rebel, causing the fall and causing sin and death to enter the world. If you want to call that “thwarting”.

 

[A New Dawn]

“We can only say that the grace of God is so clear and decisive in Jesus Christ that it is not our task to set limits to it.”

- Karl Barth

Where in scripture does it state that God's desire is thwarted by mankind?

Universalism can only be discussed in the Controversial Christian Theology forum.

 

[Bob Crowley]

Catholicism agrees with Calvinism on some issues and Arminianism on others. Individual Catholic theologians and religious are going to lean one way or the other, but the main Catholic theological strands preceded both of them.

A Protestant friend claims that the Catholic Church is Arminian rather than Calvinistic. Is this correct?

The Catholic Church cannot be said to be “Arminian” because it came before Arminianism and is not a product of that theology. Rather, it is better t...

www.catholic.com

The Catholic Church cannot be said to be “Arminian” because it came before Arminianism and is not a product of that theology. Rather, it is better to say that Calvinism and Arminianism agree with Catholicism on some issues and disagree with it on others.

In some respects Catholicism and Calvinism agree (e.g., Catholic theologians from Thomas Aquinas to Robert Bellarmine have taught unconditional election) and in some they disagree (the Church does not teach that all believers are predestined to persevere in the faith). In some respects Catholicism and Arminianism agree (the Church teaches universal redemption) and in some they can disagree (the Church allows for the possibility of unconditional election).

My old Presbyterian pastor (who was originally Methodist, and not much of a Calvinist) once said to me "I think Catholics soft pedal judgement. I think they do anyway."

We might lean a bit too far towards mercy sometimes, and forget what the "mercy" is for. It's for deliverance from God's judgement when it is all said and done.

 

[Colo Millz]

Universalism can only be discussed in the Controversial Christian Theology forum.

Take it up with the Reformed Calvinist theologian Karl Barth - who of course did not preach universalism. We are, however, again, according to him, permitted to hope, genuinely hope, that in the end all of God's creation will be brought back to him.

 

[Colo Millz]

Catholicism agrees with Calvinism on some issues and Arminianism on others. ...

For example, I happen to think that there's nothing much for both sides to discuss with respect to TULIP.

The real points of difference is in the solas.

That view may be a bit controversial.