What are the basic beleifs of calvinism?

Answer 1

Calvinist' theology is translated into the following basic doctrines, expressed by the word TULIP:

T: Total Depravity (Inability) refers to the fact that human sin has affected every aspect of the human character - thought, emotions, will, etc. Calvinism teaches that an unsaved person is completely unable to find salvation on his or her own. Salvation is only possible if God wills it and causes it through the work of the Holy Spirit.

U: Unconditional Election is the doctrine which teaches that God chooses some to be saved and some to be damned. These choices are not, however, based upon any acts performed by those people or any merit which they have achieved (otherwise, there would be a violation of the principle of Total Depravity). According to Calvinism, election and damnation are based solely upon God's will and nothing else. In fact, election and damnation were decided before the world was even created, which results in complete predestination for all humans. Somehow, though, humans are still responsible to believe in Christianity - not that this appears to do any good. Denying either is heresy, thus it is necessary to believe both, despite the fact that they contradict each other.

L: Limited Atonement is a concept which teaches that Christ died for the sins of some (those predestined to heaven), but not for others (those predestined to hell). Thus, Christ did not die for the sins of the entire world, because otherwise the entire world would go to heaven. Instead, Calvinists believe that Christ died to atone for the specific sins of specific sinners, and only God knows who they are.

I: Irresistible Grace refers to the fact that when God has bestowed his grace upon a person because they have been predestined for heaven, it is impossible for a person to "resist" this grace and not end up in heaven. No matter what they do and no matter what they think, they are saved. In Calvinism, this is the corollary of the principle of Total Depravity, which teaches that it doesn't matter what a person does or thinks, it is impossible for them to avoid hell unless that happens to be what God wills. Calvinists take comfort in the idea that God's love will overcome their sins, but only because they assume that they are among the elect.

P: Perseverance of the Saints is the doctrine which argues that the saints (i.e., those whom God has saved) will always remain under God's protection until they are brought to heaven. In other words: Once a Saint, Always a Saint. The difference between this and Irresistible Grace is more a matter of emphasis than content.

The central thought of Calvinism is, therefore, the great thought of God. Someone has remarked: “Just as the Methodist places in the foreground the idea of the salvation of sinners, the Baptist—the mystery of regeneration, the Lutheran — justification by faith, the Moravian — the wounds of Christ, the Greek Catholic — the mysticism of the Holy Spirit, and the Romanist — the catholicity of the church, so the Calvinist is always placing in the foreground the thought of God.” The Calvinist does not start out with some interest of man; for example, his conversion or his justification, but has as his informing thought always: How will God come to His rights! He seeks to realize as his ruling concept in life the truth of Scripture: “Of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To whom be glory forever.”

Answer 2

Pagans save on with earth base spirituality, we've reverence for the earth as manifested with the aid of fact the goddess & god. maximum pagans save on with a pantheon of gods & goddesses often taken from the ancients. The wiccan's are a "denomination" of paganism extra often than not attributed to Gerald Gardner's writings from the 1950's. Our Rede is: An Ye harm None, Do What Ye Will Our rule of three: although capacity a individual places out into the worldwide, be it helpful or adverse, would be back to that individual three times )O(

Answer 3

The information and links listed so far have been very good. But I've noticed they all focus on ONE piece of Calvinism, the so-called "five points". But these were never meant as a summary of the faith -- they were just a resposne to a challenge in one important area being debated among early 17th century Protestants. (Also, ALL the early Reformers, including Luther, were "Augustinian" and agreed very much about things like man's depravity and election.)

To begin with, note that most "Calvinists" prefer the label "Reformed". While they acknowledge the important role Calvin played in this theological view, the viewpoint is broader than his work. If any one thing focuses the whole it is the attempt to center theology (and so life) on "What's in it for GOD?"/"How does it bring him glory?" and to apply this to principles of worship, government, culture... ALL of life.

If you wish to get a solid grasp of the viewpoint and distinctive teachings of Reformed theology, here are a few tips.

First, it may help to recognize the various groups and people that hold to "Calvinist" or "Reformed" view. There are the Reformed churches (spread all over Europe), to the Presbyterians and evangelical Anglicans of the British Isles, to the English Puritans to Reformed Baptists. It includes famous preachers from George Whitfield and John Newton ("Amazing Grace") to Charles Spurgeon. Not to mention many important academic institutions.

As for the TEACHING of these Reformed churches -- there are many resources

You might start with the personal "Brief and Untechnical Statementof the Reformed Faith" by leading 19th century Princeton theologian Benjamin Warfield:
http://www.mbrem.com/reformed/reformed-war.htm

Perhaps the best tools to understand Reformed ideas are the major confessions and catechisms produced by these churches.

I would recommend a look at the two most famous Reformed Cathechisms --- the Heidelberg Cathechism and the Westminster Shorter Catechism (each of which has a powerful and well-known first question -- "What is your only comfort in life an in death?" and "What is the chief end of man?").
http://www.carm.org/creeds/heidelberg.htm
http://www.searchgodsword.org/his/ad/cac/cat/westminstersm.html


If you want to dig deeper, you may look at the Reformed CONFESSIONS, such as the Westminster Confession.
http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_Confession_of_Faith

But there are also many great publications that help to explain these things from Scripture. One example online that might help is the following "Summary of Reformed Theology": http://www.mbrem.com/shorttakes/berk.htm

More updated, there are some great titles from InterVarsity Press. Many of my friends were first exposed to Reformed Theology in the wrirtings of J.I. Packer (esp his book *Knowing God*).

Answer 4

Stated simply, Reformed soteriology (Calvinism) stipulates (and I believe) that:

* after the fall, all of humanity hates God and anything that has to do with God. This is humanity's natural condition after the fall, and it is impossible for us to escape it. In fact, we don't really want to escape it until God has rescued us from it.

* God could not have chosen to save people on the grounds that He saw that they would one day love Him. We all naturally hate God; that's a part of who we are as fallen creatures until He makes us new creations.

* for someone to be saved, God must change that person's heart. God reaches down to a fallen humanity and changes people, one person at a time. He doesn't only make change possible; rather, He actually changes people.

* those whom God chose to save, after their hearts have been changed, will grow in Christ as a part of their salvation, though it may or may not always be a steady growth, until Christ returns. Salvation is permanent on ongoing. It's more than fire insurance.

* Jesus Christ's perfect obedience is all the righteousness that God requires, and when God applies it to a person, that person is saved. Only those to whom God applies Christ's righteousness will believe the gospel and be saved. The others will not.

Answer 5

Calvinish
CALVINISH, n. The theological tenets or doctrines of Calvin, who was born in Picardy in France, and in 1536, chosen professor of divinity, and minister of a church in Geneva. The distinguishing doctrines of this system are, original sin, particular election and reprobation, particular redemption, effectual grace in regeneration, or a change of heart by the spirit of God, justification by free grace, perseverance of the saints, and the trinity.

Answer 6

Calvinism teaches that people are utterly unable to follow God or escape their condemnation and only by drastic divine intervention in which God must change their unwilling hearts can people be turned from rebellion to willing obedience. Their are five points to Calvinism:
Total Depravity
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement
Irresistable Grace
Perserverance of the Saints

Answer 7

too much too list; but, go here for full answer:
http://www.thecaveonline.com/APEH/calvinTULIP.html
and here
http://apochrypha.tripod.com/Calvinism/tulip.htm

Answer 8

idk