Calvinism as presented by a history book...

[Tinkerbell222222]

My younger sister's world history class has new books this year, and they've just gotten to the Reformation...The book gives a short little paragraph on Calvin and the Calvinist beliefs...and this is what it says:

John Calvin (1509-1564), a well-eduacted frenchman who turned from the study of law to theology after experiencing a religious conversion, became a highly influential Protestant leader. As a young man in 1535, Calvin published The Institues of the Christian Religion, a masterful synthesis of Christian teaching, Much of the Institutes was traditional medival theology, but in two respects Calvin's teaching differed from that of Roamn Catholics and Lutherans. First, while agreeing with Luther's emphasis on faith over works, Calvin denied that faith could even merit salvation. Salvation, said Calvin was God’s free gift to those God had “predestined” for it. Second, Calvin went further than Luther in curtailing the power of ordanined clergy-men and in simplifying religious rituals. Calvinists congregations elected their own governing committees and in time created regional and national synods (councils) to regulate doctrinal issues.

What do you all think? Kind of misleading in several respects, in my opinion, but I don't have the time right now to point them all out.
God bless!

 

[Reformationist]

My younger sister's world history class has new books this year, and they've just gotten to the Reformation...The book gives a short little paragraph on Calvin and the Calvinist beliefs...and this is what it says:

What do you all think? Kind of misleading in several respects, in my opinion, but I don't have the time right now to point them all out.
God bless!

Misleading isn't the word I'd use. Inaccurate is probably more apropos. Well, what do you expect from secular history books?

Thank God we have so many other resources to inform ourselves and our loved ones.

God bless

 

[theseed]

There is much more to history than his theology. He tried to establish a utopia, for example.

 

[Reformationist]

There is much more to history than his theology.

Ummm...who said there wasn't?

He tried to establish a utopia, for example.

Who did, Calvin? If so, do you mean that that is a bad thing?

 

[theseed]

Ummm...who said there wasn't?

That history book quote.

Who did, Calvin? If so, do you mean that that is a bad thing?

Yes, Calvin. Although, he had some help. The idea was doom to failure. In order to have a utopia, everybody would have to be sinless.

 

[Reformationist]

That history book quote.

It does? Where?

Yes, Calvin. Although, he had some help. The idea was doom to failure. In order to have a utopia, everybody would have to be sinless.

As Christians we be seeking the establishment of that thing every minute of every day. It matters not that we cannot ensure that it comes to pass. God will ensure it.

 

[theseed]

It does? Where?

The quote on the OP only focuses on Calvin's theology.

As Christians we be seeking the establishment of that thing every minute of every day. It matters not that we cannot ensure that it comes to pass. God will ensure it.

Yes, we should live sinlessly, but we can't do the work of the Holy Spirit. Only God can change the hearts of people. We can't establish a utopia, but Jesus can. God has established a Celestial City for those who overcome. (Hebrews 11.10, 16; 13.14).

 

[Reformationist]

The quote on the OP only focuses on Calvin's theology.

Well, I doubt that quote is all the book has to say about the period of the reformation. I think Hands and Feet of Jesus quoted that portion of what the textbook had to say because it referrenced Calvin, who is near and dear to our hearts in Semper Reformanda.

Yes, we should live sinlessly, but we can't do the work of the Holy Spirit. Only God can change the hearts of people. We can't establish a utopia, but Jesus can. God has established a Celestial City for those who overcome. (Hebrews 11.10, 16; 13.14).

As children of God we are to seek to make the invisible church visible. Sure, we know that we will not accomplish that in our own power. We know that it takes the power of God for that to happen. However, we are still supposed to strive for it on the basis that we know God is working in us and through us. I personally think desiring and striving to establish a utopian society is what all Christians with faith in the providence of God should be doing.

God bless

 

[theseed]

Well, I doubt that quote is all the book has to say about the period of the reformation. I think Hands and Feet of Jesus quoted that portion of what the textbook had to say because it referrenced Calvin, who is near and dear to our hearts in Semper Reformanda.

I was just making a comment. Most people who have heard of Calvin don't know what he has done historically--I vaguely know myself.

As children of God we are to seek to make the invisible church visible. Sure, we know that we will not accomplish that in our own power. We know that it takes the power of God for that to happen. However, we are still supposed to strive for it on the basis that we know God is working in us and through us. I personally think desiring and striving to establish a utopian society is what all Christians with faith in the providence of God should be doing.

This reminds me of my encounter with Mormons. They tried to tell me how Christ re-established the church. I quoted that verse in Matthew that say, Christ is the one who established the Church, and he does not fail at what he does. They tried to argue that he did, but with no sucess.

 

[Reformationist]

I was just making a comment. Most people who have heard of Calvin don't know what he has done historically--I vaguely know myself.

Oh. I see.

This reminds me of my encounter with Mormons. They tried to tell me how Christ re-established the church. I quoted that verse in Matthew that say, Christ is the one who established the Church, and he does not fail at what he does. They tried to argue that he did, but with no sucess.

Well, they fail in many areas regarding Scripture. You're completely right.

God bless

 

[puriteen18]

This reminds me of my history class last year. The history book said that while Luther taught that faith alone brought salvation, Calvin taught that it must be faith plus good works.

Then it went on to contradict itself by giving a rather incomplete explaination of Election and Predestination.

?????

Thankfully, we didn't use our history books. Unfortunately, what our history teacher taught was far worse and inaccurate (and rather hateful).

He said that Calvin was a pretty smart guy, but that his followers were fanatics.

For the next two weeks, he went on to explain Calvinism's effect on the world.

I learned that my faith was the cause of racism, sexism, ever hightening price of college tuition, and America's preoccupation with wealth and material possesion.

He was a rather energetic teacher, acting out parts of historicall figures very loudly, and he didn't hesitate to incorperate swearing.

He would dimenstate the Puritans by sailing accros to America, forcing the Natives to follow religious law and to be slaves, and telling them all the time that as he put it:

"YOU PATHETIC HEATHREN ARE TO BE ETERNALLY DAMMNED! PRAISE BE TO OUR GOD!"

"GLORIFY GOD WHO HAS SAVED US, HIS PEOPLE, AND SHALL CAST THEE INTO HELL!"

Those were my professor's exact words. I wrote a paper to him refuting his claims, and using historicall proofs, but it didn't change his mind.