Ethan Walker
Calvinism, the theology advanced by John Calvin, a 16th-century Protestant reformer, and his followers, spread across Europe and beyond. It appealed to people of all social classes with its emphasis on the authority of God and the interpretation of scripture. Calvinists broke from the Roman Catholic Church over differing beliefs on predestination, election of salvation, and the role of the Church. The Catholics viewed the Reformation as a threat and wished to eradicate it, leading to tensions and conflicts between the two groups. The fight between Calvinists and Catholics was over religious rights and freedoms, with each side vying for dominance and the right to practice their faith without persecution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Predestination | Calvinists believe that God chooses who is saved and who is damned, and that salvation is only possible through God's grace. Catholics believe that humans have the ability to respond in faith to the gospel and that good works can lead to salvation. |
| Authority | Calvinists believe that authority belongs to God and that the Catholic Church has frequently misinterpreted Scripture. |
| Worship | Calvinists reject the Catholic view of transubstantiation and the use of musical instruments and icons, considering them violations of the Ten Commandments. |
| Persecution | Calvinists persecuted Catholics, closing convents, expelling religious orders, and confiscating Church property. |
| Political Organisation | Catholics were the first to organise themselves as a political party, with the Triumvirate of three staunch Catholic soldiers. |
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What You'll Learn
Predestination and salvation
Predestination is a doctrine in Calvinism that deals with the question of the control that God exercises over the world. The term predestination is also used to refer to the belief that God has appointed the eternal destiny of some to salvation, while leaving the remainder to receive eternal damnation for their sins. This belief is called ""unconditional election", with its counter-view known as "conditional election", which emphasizes the importance of a person's free will.
Calvinists believe that God decided who would be saved and brought to Heaven before the world was created, and that those not saved by God will go to Hell. This is known as ""double predestination", a term sometimes used erroneously. John Calvin taught this belief in his foundational work, "Institutes of the Christian Religion" (1539). Calvin noted that Scripture requires that we "consider this great mystery" of predestination, warning against unrestrained "human curiosity" regarding it. Calvin also believed that those who were saved could never lose their salvation and that the ""elect" would know they were saved through their actions.
Some modern Calvinists respond to the ethical dilemma of double predestination by explaining that God's active predestination is only for those chosen for salvation. God provides grace to the elect, causing their salvation, but withholds salvific grace from the damned. Calvinists teach that God remains just and fair in creating persons he predestines to damnation because, although God unilaterally works in the elect, producing regeneration, he does not actively force the damned to sin.
The doctrine of predestination has historically been a hotbed of controversy, with Catholics and Protestants disputing the primary authority of Scripture, the doctrine of justification, and the nature of the sacraments. However, Catholic scholar Ian Hislop observed that there are theological parallels between Thomism and Calvinism on the question of predestination, noting that "there is not much in the Scriptural Commentaries [of Thomas] that Calvin could object to". Similarly, Thomas Aquinas affirmed what has been generally accepted by Calvinists, namely, that Christ's death is sufficient for all but efficient only for the elect.
In conclusion, predestination and salvation were central tenets of Calvinism, with John Calvin's teachings on these topics diverging from Catholic interpretations and shaping the beliefs and practices of his followers.
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Authority of God vs. human interpretation
Calvinism is a denomination of Protestantism that adheres to the theological traditions and teachings of John Calvin and other preachers of the Reformation era. Calvinists broke from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century, differing in their beliefs on predestination and the election of salvation, among other factors.
Calvinists believe that there is no authoritative human interpretation of Scripture and that authority belongs to God alone. Interpretations are only authoritative when they are true, and Calvinists believe that the Roman Catholic Church has frequently misinterpreted Scripture. For example, on the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, Calvinists reject both the Catholic view of transubstantiation and the Protestant symbolic interpretation, teaching instead that Christ is spiritually present during the sacrament.
Calvinists also believe that God is sovereign and that salvation is only possible through His grace. God chose some people to be saved even before creation, and this is an idea central to Calvinism, known as predestination. Calvin stated that this was clearly taught in the Bible, and that God alone knows who is saved and who is not. This is in direct contrast to the Catholic belief in salvation through good works, which Calvin hated.
Calvinism was immediately popular and spread across geographic and social boundaries, finding adherents in the nobility and urban upper classes in France, among burghers and princes in Germany, and across all social groups in England and the Netherlands. Geneva became the centre of an international movement, with John Knox, the Calvinist leader of Scotland, describing it as "the most perfect school of Christ that ever was on the earth since the days of the Apostles".
The spread of Calvinism led to the persecution of Catholics, with convents being closed, the religious being expelled, and Church property confiscated. The Triumvirate, a political party of three staunch Catholic soldiers, put pressure on Catherine de' Medici, the Queen Mother of France, to resume the persecution of Protestants. This led to the Edict of January in 1562, which granted Protestants the right to worship outside fortified cities and access to hospitals and offices. Fervent Catholics were furious, and the spark that lit the powder keg of France was the discovery of Calvinists praying inside the walls of a small fortified town, Vassy, in March 1562.
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The Fall and free will
Calvinists believe that the Fall removed humanity's ability to respond in faith to the gospel. They argue that any instance of a person coming to salvation is because God has renewed that person's heart to respond positively in faith. This belief is based on the concept of predestination, which holds that God chose some people to be saved even before creation. For Calvinists, God is sovereign above all else, and salvation is only possible through His grace.
In contrast, Catholics teach that the Fall did not take away humanity's capacity to respond in faith to the gospel. They believe in free will, but with the understanding that it is beholden to sin. In other words, while humans can do what they will, they cannot will what they will. This means that, in a state of sin, a person's will is attached to unrighteousness, but in Christ, their will allows them to be righteous and do good works.
The Catholic concept of free will assumes the possibility of choosing to act against one's sinful nature. Conversion and repentance, for instance, are acts that go against a person's sinful nature. Catholics believe that while the Holy Spirit draws people towards the Truth and the life of Faith, it is the individual who ultimately accepts it freely.
Some Calvinists argue that they do believe in free will, but within the boundaries of human nature. They suggest that while individuals have the ability to make choices, they cannot change what they want or desire. This belief is reflected in the idea that humans are enslaved to their desire for sin until they are born again.
The disagreement between Calvinists and Catholics on the nature of free will and the Fall ultimately revolves around differing interpretations of Scripture and the role of God, humanity, and salvation.
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Communion and transubstantiation
Calvinists believe that authority belongs to God and that interpretations are only authoritative if they are true. They argue that the Catholic Church has frequently misinterpreted Scripture, including the concept of transubstantiation, which Calvin himself referred to as "the devil's doctrine".
Transubstantiation is the Catholic doctrine that, during the Mass, the substance of Christ's body is conjoined with the visible signs, or accidents, of the bread and wine. In other words, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ, despite still appearing as bread and wine.
Calvinists reject the Catholic view of transubstantiation, as well as the purely symbolic interpretation of some Protestants. Instead, they teach that Christ is spiritually present during Communion. Calvin believed that during Communion, believers are transported into heaven to be in the presence of Christ. This belief is based on the idea that the body of Christ is not present everywhere, but his spirit is universal, and there is a genuine communion with the risen Lord.
The Calvinist view of Communion has been criticised as contradictory and incoherent. Critics argue that if Communion involves being transported to heaven, then it requires a similar act of faith as believing in transubstantiation. However, others defend the Calvinist position, stating that it provides a symmetry between the two views, as both require a denial of the senses and belief in something beyond them.
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Persecution and coexistence
Calvinism is a branch of Protestantism that adheres to the theological traditions and teachings of John Calvin and other preachers of the Reformation era. Calvinists broke from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century, differing in their beliefs on predestination, election of salvation, and other theological emphases.
Calvinism was immediately popular and appealed across geographic and social boundaries. It spread into England, Scotland, France, the Netherlands, the English-speaking colonies of North America, and parts of Germany and Central Europe. Geneva became the centre of an international movement and a model for churches elsewhere.
The spread of Calvinism and the Reformation led to the persecution of Catholics. For instance, convents were closed, religious figures were expelled, and Church property was confiscated. The edict of Ecouen, signed in 1559, stipulated that any fleeing Protestants could be executed without a trial. This period also witnessed the formation of the Triumvirate, a political group of staunch Catholic soldiers who pressured Catherine, the Queen Mother, to resume the persecutions.
However, Catherine resisted and attempted to find a middle ground. She passed the Edict of January in 1562, which granted Protestants the right to worship outside fortified cities and access hospitals and offices. Unfortunately, this compromise enraged fervent Catholics, and the tensions eventually sparked the Wars of Religion in France.
Despite heavy persecution, the Reformed Church of France, largely Calvinist in direction, made steady progress across the nation, particularly among the urban bourgeoisie and parts of the aristocracy. This appeal could be attributed to Calvinism's ability to explain the disorders of the age and provide comfort through its activism and doctrine.
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Frequently asked questions
Calvinism is a branch of Protestantism that follows the teachings of John Calvin, a 16th-century Protestant reformer. Calvinists broke away from the Roman Catholic Church due to differing beliefs on predestination, election of salvation, and other theological interpretations.
Calvinists believe that God has predetermined who will be saved, while Catholics hold that salvation is achieved through faith and good works. Calvinists reject the Catholic view of transubstantiation during the Lord's Supper, instead teaching that Christ is spiritually present. They also emphasize the authority of Scripture over human interpretation.
Geneva became the centre of Calvinism, providing refuge for Protestant exiles who were trained as missionaries and sent back to their countries of origin. This led to the formation of the French Huguenots and the conversion of Scotland under John Knox. Calvinism's appeal crossed social boundaries, attracting followers from the nobility, urban upper classes, and other social groups.
Calvinism had a significant impact on the formation of the modern world. It encouraged believers to engage with and transform society for God's glory, promoting activism and a simple lifestyle. The spread of Calvinism also contributed to decades of religious warfare in France and conflicts with Catholics, who sought to eradicate the Reformation.
