Can someone explain Calvinism?

Question

Tried doing a search about it, but I got conflicting info.

Thanks!

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Answer 1

Calvinism is basically Presbyterianism in its purest form, according to the teachings of John Calvin, a 17th century Protestant revolutionary who defied the true Church.

Modern Presbyterians often refer to themselves as Calvinists to distinguish from other Presbyterians who are more liberal or who do not adhere to the Westminister Confessions.

John Calvin is best known for his "tulip" of Protestant teachings:

T - Total Depravity of Man (no one is good - we are born wretches that are damned to hell)
U - Unconditional Election (Those that God elects to save are not saved for any special reason pertaining to them)
L- Limited Atonement (only a few are saved, all others are damned)
I - Irrisistible Grace (those that God wishes to save cannot resist His grace - He literally drags them to Heaven against their will)
P- Predestination (God choose from before all time those who are saved and those who are damned)

Calvinism falls under the broad category of "Reformed Theology." Calvinists also preach the dogmas of "Scripture Alone" and "Faith Alone."

Answer 2

Not sure what your conflicting info would be, except for Arminian/Pelagian interpretation of what Calvinism is. Too many times I've heard "God doesn't want robots," and this isn't Calvinism at all -- otherwise you'd hear all kinds of arguments for robotic lifestyles, yes? And those arguments would of course be ridiculous, you can't defend "Christian robotics" anyway. Calvinism doesn't deny human responsibility either, it just interprets it differently. "Responsibility" implies a duty, a work, that Christians are "supposed" to do. For what, merits to gain Heaven on our own? You get "God wants" that way, and now we have a begging God, rather than the joy it should be in following God's law.

Take a look at the references you've been provided, but www.reformed.org also has apologetics and white papers for your perusal. Good luck with finding your answer.

Answer 3

The Wikipedia has a pretty good explanation of it.

John Calvin was a Roman Catholic Priest, similar to Luther, and his big thing was that while Luther taught salvation comes by faith, Calvin taught that salvation came by God's pre destination.

That is, in Calvin's view, God picked some to be saved and the rest to be lost.

Calvin's five points are known by the TULIP

T = Total depravity of man ( Man is totally evil )

U = Unconditional Election ( means same as predestination )

L = Limited atonement ( Jesus only died for the Elect )

I = Irresistable Grace ( If you are part of the Elect, when you hear the Gospel, you must respond by saying "yes". )

P = Perservearance of the Saints ( also known as "once saved, always saved", a phrase NOT found in the Bible )

See links below.

By the way, I disagree with Calvinism.

I believe John 3:16 proves Calvins five points to be wrong.

I could say a lot more but I'm trying to be brief.

The links below argue both sides of the issue, some agree and some disagree.

Most Baptists and Presbyterians are Calvinists.

Most Methodists, Free Will Baptists, Nazarenes and Pentecostals and CMA's are not. Any group with Free Will in their name are not Calvinist.

Jacobus Arminius who was 4 years old when Calvin died was the first major theologian to take issue with Calvin's teaching. He taught that man has a free will choice.

Pastor Art

Answer 4

Calvinism is a theological system and an approach to the Christian life that emphasizes God's sovereignty in all things. Named after John Calvin, it falls within the realm of Protestant Christianity and is sometimes called the Reformed tradition, the Reformed faith, or Reformed theology.

Answer 5

Try a google search on Calvinism & predestination. I think you'll find a lot of info.

Answer 6

Here is an explaination of calvinism, your search is over, and you no longer need to worry about conflicting info.
1) http://www.bible.ca/calvinism.htm2
2) http://christianbeliefs.org/articles/calvinism.html

Answer 7

Calvinism a Protestant viewpoint originated by John Calvin which includes predestination and election of believers from before the world was created. So the saved are chosen and God knows that they will accept salvation before they are even born.

This is pretty accurate---read this----

Answer 8

" people who believe in him believe because of the fact God needs them to believe and that people who do not believe gain this because of the fact God does not choose them to believe." -- this could be a straw guy view of Calvinism. you're working from the concept of an means to income Heaven with the aid of a sufficiently holy existence. Calvinism takes away this suggests and says that guy can on no account be sufficiently holy. "God hated Esau in the past Esau became into even born and there became into not something that Esau ought to do to win God's choose." -- A a million/2-actuality. there isn't something everyone can do to win God's choose of their very own means, shop with the aid of Christ on my own. "if Calvinism is actual then what approximately loose will?" -- we've loose business enterprise, not loose will. we've the means to make day by day judgements. None of those judgements convey approximately fellowship with God of our very own means. "Why would God create those souls if he knew they have been going to pass to Hell besides?" -- you are not extra suitable off with Arminian theology that announces loose will AND God's understanding on an identical time, an inner contradiction. you additionally are by applying definition giving guy a "sparkling slate" with a view to return to a call. The Bible denies the considered guy's "cleanliness" and provides us a Savior quite, given to the choose for, quite than negotiated by applying a introduction who can tell the author the thank you to run issues.

Answer 9

Calvin was a persecutor and murderer. Other than that he came up with the idea that all things are predetermined; that is, if you were meant to go to heaven then you will and it can’t be changed. There is no choice. But then he contradicts himself and his bible by preaching and witnessing. It’s just another Christian theological absurdity.

Answer 10

The study and worship of Calvin Kline.